Notes from the Field...

October 2009 Notes

It has been a very busy month since Labor Day!

What we are finding is that the efforts we have made over the past year to cultivate new relationships with our government partners and enhance relationships with our business and agency partners are showing returns on our investment.The timing for this could not be more critical. We all witnessed the budget crisis that gripped our state government this summer. We are now seeing firsthand the adverse impact it has had on our agency partners. They are on the frontlines of human service delivery for a growing number of people seeking help. Many of our own campaigns are struggling just to achieve last year's goal. We are faced with the prospect of a turbulent economic environment which will continue to threaten both public and private resource development for the foreseeable future. We are called upon to find new and innovative ways to confront the challenges that face all of the communities we serve throughout Illinois. Following are the highlights and latest developments in the work we are doing to continue meeting the human service needs of all of our residents:

  1. We conducted a survey to assess the impact that this year's state budget is having on human service agencies. To date we have received almost 400 responses. This could not have been done without the help of our members who shared the survey with each of their own partner agencies throughout the state or the Illinois Department of Human Services which provided us with their list of program providers. Results from the survey to date can be found at the following link:Survey Results.
  2. Meetings have been held and continue to be scheduled with legislators to share the findings from our agency survey, the impact the budget is having on our communities and to discuss ways to ensure more adequate appropriations for human services.
  3. Through the efforts of the Illinois Partners for Human Service, a coalition which we are playing a leadership role in, we have received the Governor's approval for the establishment of a Human Services Commission. This Commission, which is a key part of our 2009 agenda, will bring together representatives from the legislature, relevant state departments and non-governmental stakeholders in a joint planning process to identify best practices and strategies to develop a system that will provide for more efficient and effective delivery of high quality human services. We have submitted a list of recommended non-governmental representatives to the Governor's office which includes several identified by our own members, among them, two currently serving on the UWI board.
  4. A funders collaborative, consisting of United Way, the Chicago Community Trust, the Donors Forum, the State of Illinois and the City of Chicago has been convened to develop a database which will enable human service funders to make informed decisions surrounding provider funding, resource needs and available service offerings to meet the diverse needs of all Illinois communities.This work is being supported by a ten week commitment of a three person full time team from Deloitte & Touche on a pro bono basis.
  5. Five community forums attended by over 200 people were held around the state to inform and get feedback concerning the 211 statewide business planning process. These sessions and several key stakeholder interviews were facilitated by Tino Paz, the 211 manager for UWW. There was strong representation from local United Way members in all 5 forums.
  6. America’s Promise Alliance, of which United Way Worldwide is a member, is holding an Illinois Dropout Summit on Wednesday, November 4 in Normal. I am including the link that includes registration and encourage any of our members who are working on this issue or the related issue of graduation rates to attend. America’s Promise Alliance

I welcome your thoughts, your comments and your involvement in any and all of our efforts and thank you for all of the important work you are doing to promote the common good.

Live United!
Jack Kaplan
Director, Public Policy and Advocacy
United Way of Metropolitan Chicago and United Way of Illinois

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