Policy & Practice February 2018

association news

By Tracy Wareing Evans and Susan N. Dreyfus

Unlocking the Power of Human Services to Build Strong Families and Communities

I magine a country where every citizen has the ability to reach their full potential—a country where families and communities have access to the building blocks that sustain well-being and a foundation of supports provided by a range of systems working collab- oratively across sectors that enable all to thrive. This is the shared goal we have for our nation—a goal that is fully attain- able and yet under challenge today by a lack of understanding about the critical role and value that human services community-based organizations (CBOs) play in ensuring all people can live their lives fully. CBOs help build the human capital of our nation that in turn is key to achieving a healthy and vibrant America. These were among the findings of a groundbreaking new report com- missioned by our organizations, the Alliance for Strong Families and Communities and the American Public Human Services Association (APHSA), and prepared by Oliver Wyman and SeaChange Capital Partners. “A National Imperative: Joining Forces to Strengthen Human Services in America” 1 examines the economic and social impact of CBOs and provides a call-to-action for the human services sector, government, and the business and philanthropic sectors to strengthen and preserve the role of CBOs in the greater human services ecosystem.

that prevent the need for deeper-end services and more effectively identify and address root causes when families encounter roadblocks along the way. This could have a transformative impact across a number of related and expensive systems, including the health care, education, judiciary, and corrections systems, to name a few. There is an often-overlooked economic impact of CBOs as well. Human services CBOs employ more than three million Americans and generate in excess of $200 billion per year in economic activity through spending on wages, rent, fuel, and all the other inputs necessary to run organizations and deliver services in communities. While human services CBOs are providing clear value today, their potential value is much greater than what has been realized thus far. Against the backdrop of an increasing need for human services, driven by poverty rates, income inequality, an aging population, the impact of the opioid epidemic, and other life- stressors, the financial stability of CBOs is increasingly tenuous, which will make realizing their transforma- tive potential and contributions to a healthy society and strong economy difficult.

Consider the impact of CBOs on individuals and families. They are the backbone of a human services ecosystem that touches the lives of an estimated one in five Americans—pro- viding vital supports that range from affordable housing and transporta- tion, to employment supports, early childhood development and educa- tion, preventive health and behavioral health services, supports for older Americans, and more. Because they operate at the nexus of families and communities and the systems that support them, CBOs have the potential to deliver more targeted, “upstream” human services

See Association News on page 34

Our reportmakes a clear and compelling financial and business case formaking these long overdue changes, given the potential for larger economic and social returns. It alsomakes a strong case for themoral imperative of a strong and vibrant human services ecosystemwithCBOsworking as a vital partner.

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