As part of a recent discussion around the state of human services, this blog post is written by Dannette R. Smith, Director, Seattle Human Services Department, City of Seattle
An obvious recent trend in nonprofit funding is the continuing impact of the global recession on the local economy. Everything is interrelated. Despite the fact that the City of Seattle has largely preserved funding for human services over the past few years, nonprofit agencies have endured severe cuts from federal, county and especially state…
As part of a recent discussion around the state of human services, this blog post is written by Nancy Long, Executive Director of 501 Commons
In March 2012 501 Commons conducted (1) interviews with 21 funders, capacity builders, and interim executive directors throughout Washington State and (2) a survey of 150 nonprofits. A summary of the survey results shows:
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As part of a recent discussion around the state of human services, this blog post is written by Debra Doyle, Regional Administrator, Community Services Division (CSD), Economic Services Administration (ESA), Department of Social and Health Services
The Community Services Division (CSD) provides cash, food, medical, child care, work supports and social services to help individuals and families meet their basic needs and achieve economic independence. The Division oversees and determines eligibility for over a dozen anti-poverty programs serving over 2 million men, women…
As part of a recent discussion around the state of human services, this blog post is written by Susan Gemmel, 2-1-1 Director, King County 2-1-1, a program of Crisis Clinic
Both technology and the economic downturn have been major drivers in the way that access to services has changed over time. The need, and ability, to create system efficiencies has broadened access in some areas and narrowed access in others, such as:
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This blog post is written by Patty Hayes, RN, MN, Director, Community Health Services Division, Public Health – Seattle & King County
The economic downturn creates both an increased demand for services provided by nonprofits as well as an increased need for governmental programs while many of these programs are shrinking or facing elimination. The experience of nonprofits can help to guide service development. At WithinReach, a statewide nonprofit in WA that connects families to food and health resources, staff…
This blog post is written by Jon Gould, Deputy Director, Children’s Alliance
In the last five years, public policy advocacy for human services in Washington state has become more diverse in the following ways: 1) Communities of color are more organized and visible; 2) People directly affected by policies are more consistently visible in the halls of power, particularly the state Legislature; and 3) Coalitions, such as the Early Learning Action Alliance, are bringing together old and new partners to advocate with a…
This blog post is written by Alison McCaffree, ED and Rick Anderson, Sr. Policy Coordinator, Washington Nonprofits
Washington Nonprofits is the emerging state association of nonprofits for Washington State and is a member of the National Council of Nonprofits. Washington Nonprofits recognizes that public policy and effective advocacy is vitally important to the efforts of nonprofits to positively influence their communities. However, WN has seen evidence that the vast majority of nonprofits do very little advocacy. In an informal poll of about…
As part of a recent discussion around the state of human services, this blog post is written by Skip Priest, Mayor, Federal Way
We live in a very dynamic and challenging time for delivering access to human services. The changes caused (and still being caused) by the Great Recession as well as ongoing budget cuts at the state and federal level are challenging us all to rethink how we provide services. Additionally, in suburban cities like Federal Way we are in the midst of profound…
This blog post is written by Megan Farwell, Public Policy Researcher and Analyst, United Way of King County
On Monday, March 26, the United States Supreme Court began hearing oral arguments regarding the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA), commonly known as health care reform. The ACA will expand Medicaid coverage to tens of millions of low-income Americans, many of whom currently do not qualify for subsidized coverage or whose risk factors make health insurance unaffordable. A number of legal…
On November 15, Congress released the final, compromise version of the fiscal year (FY) 2012 funding legislation, H.R. 2112, for the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and other related agencies. Compared to FY 2011, the bill cuts $3.8 billion from HUD programs. The legislation includes some good news and some not so good news, but given the magnitude of cuts facing many programs, those helping to prevent and end homelessness like McKinney-Vento were protected from cuts. The legislation includes:
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