Shining a Light on 2017 Reframing Successes
December 14, 2017National, state, and local human service organizations across the country are making real progress in implementing the FrameWorks Institute’s research-based communications recommendations for the sector. As 2017 comes to an end, we thought this would be a good time to reflect on some of the human service sector’s reframing highlights of the year.
2017 Reframing Implementation Highlights
The National Human Services Assembly developed resources and shared messages and reframing tips for advocates to use in high-priority public policy issues, including the federal budget, health care and children’s health insurance, immigration, federal nutrition policies, and tax policies.
We also worked with organizations as they reframed key organizational communication materials, such as their advocacy communications, mission statements, and About Us language, including:
- The Alliance for Strong Families and Communities’ Public Policy Platform and 2017-2019 Federal Public Policy Agenda, which uses the full Building Well-Being narrative to define what its network’s policy priorities are and why.
- One Voice Central Texas’ About Us language, which shifted away from listing vulnerable populations served to defining how everyone is connected to the “social resources, opportunities, and support” offered by human services.
Human Services Council of New York’s updated mission statement, which shifted from human services from helping people in need to human services that are benefiting all New Yorkers.
Volunteers of America’s updated mission statement, which now highlights the role that their team of professionals play in helping people reach their full potential.
We’ve partnered with human services coalitions across the country that are committed to building the skills and interest to sustain reframing over the long-haul, including:
One Voice Central Texas’ Reframing Leadership Task Force, which is engaging in an intensive, ongoing learning and implementation process with the National Reframing Initiative in order to build cohesive and consistently reframed messages for human services in Austin.
Illinois Partners for Human Service’s Reframing Task Force, which is developing strategies to facilitate deeper implementation of reframing across the state.- The Human Services Council of New York, which is weaving reframing into a statewide advocacy coalition’s public budget campaign communications.
Mobilizing in Your Community
The National Reframing Initiative Team at NHSA continued our nationwide outreach and mobilization efforts in 2017, providing more opportunities for organizations to learn about, and participate in, the initiative.
- Workshops and Presentations. NHSA’s Reframing Team led a total of 46 workshops, webinars, and presentations in communities across the country, attracting over 4,000 participants over the course of the year.
- National Engagement. We conducted workshops and presentations at conferences and summits for many of our national partners, including APHSA, CenterLink, Independent Sector, the Salvation Army, and Volunteers of America.Workshops and Presentations.
- State & Local Engagement. We partnered with state and local organizations to conduct trainings targeted to the needs of specific communities, including: Austin and San Antonio, TX; Bloomington-Normal, Chicago, Granite City, Moline, and Rockford, Illinois; Albany, New York City, Saratoga Springs, and Westchester, New York; Seattle and Spokane, Washington; and Washington, DC.
- Increasing our Reach. The Reframing Network newsletter list continues to grow, with over 1,800 people now signed up and receiving biweekly tips and resources on reframing human services.
Together, we made real progress in 2017 towards shifting the public’s understanding of human services. We look forward to seeing even more reframing successes in 2018.
Reframing Participation Rates
