A National Imperative: Joining Forces to Strengthen Human Services in America (Jan 2018)

CONTENTS

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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

FREEDOM COUNTY, 2017

OVERVIEWOF THE HUMAN SERVICES ECOSYSTEM

THE TRANSFORMATIVE POTENTIAL OF HUMAN SERVICES

The National Imperative focuses on strengthening the human services ecosystem to unlock its transformative potential.

In fictional Freedom County, human services CBOs are a critical part of the local economy and community. But they themselves are at risk.

America’s 218,000 human services CBOs range from small volunteer organizations to large, complex institutions. In total they deliver roughly $200 billion of services every year.

Potential of Human Services: A financially strong, sustainable human services ecosystem has the potential to transform societal well-being and spending on our health care and criminal justice systems.

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ROADBLOCKS AND CHALLENGES

FREEDOM COUNTY, 2030

“NORTH STAR” INITIATIVES

CONCLUSION

Human services CBOs face serious obstacles – ranging from financial stress, to government contracting practices, to regulatory compliance burdens – which must be addressed in order for them to be stable, sustainable, and able to realize their full potential.

In the Freedom County of the future, many of human services CBOs’ challenges have been addressed – and society is healthier and better-off as a result.

In this section of the report, we outline five major “north star” initiatives for CBOs, government agencies, regulators, and other stakeholders, to lead to a stronger, more sustainable, and higher impact human services ecosystemover time.

Addressing the challenges facing the human services ecosystemwon’t be easy, or inexpensive. But we believe that the business case in favor of doing so is compelling.

This report also includes two appendices: Appendix A: Summary of Analysis of Human Services CBO Form 990 Filings Appendix B: Summary of National Imperative Survey Results