Policy and Practice | June 2021

COVID-19 continued from page 23

provides a comprehensive road map and set of standards that also work for public agencies to operate effectively. Emphasizing leadership and work- force culture, these commitments also measure organizations’ ability to invest in capacity, such as technology and human resources. This focus enables CBOs to build innovation and inclu- sivity that improves equity, well-being, and health within organizations, and in-turn enhances the capacity of organizations to positively impact communities. If human-serving ecosystems are to effectively support social and economic mobility and advance equity for the people and communities they serve—not only in pandemic times but also as a way of doing business—the financial policies and practices being employed must support the collabora- tive strength and financial well-being of those dedicated to the mission.

modeled elsewhere; “This is a collabo- ration,” he said, “not a competition.” And third, the CBO and public agency communities should unify their orientations to the work they do together from a common framework for driving value and return-on-investment regarding their programs and those they serve. The Human Services Value Curve, 5 developed primarily through efforts in the public-agency sector, points the way from delivering discrete programs to helping whole families access a holistic range of services, and ultimately engaging with families and communities to address their chal- lenges at the root-cause level. This serves to drive efforts toward preven- tion and early intervention or toward customizing supports to achieve optimum impact. The Commitments of High-Impact Nonprofit Organizations, 6 developed primarily through efforts in the human-services CBO sector,

Editor’s Note: A version of this essay ran previously in NonProfit Business Advisor on November 16, 2020.

Reference Notes 1. https://alliance1.org/web/community/ strengthen-human-services/web/ community/national-imperative-joining- forces-strengthen-human-services- america.aspx 2. https://www.johnlocke.org/update/ strengthening-human-services-with-and- without-government/ 3. https://www.helpingfeedpeople.org/ 4. https://www.healthypeople. gov/2020/topics-objectives/topic/ social-determinants-of-health 5. https://aphsa.org/organizational_ effectiveness/OE_Consulting_Practice/ OE_Framework.aspx 6. https://www.alliance1.org/web/ commitments/about-commitments/ web/commitments/about-commitments. aspx?hkey=f48d1b8a-a8a5-40f3-82e4- 85b38f8d237d

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