The Mayor’s Office created the Nonprofit Resiliency Committee to develop a set of action steps to strengthen the nonprofit human services field. The Committee’s focus aligns with the issues central to the HSC agenda and is a significant opportunity to move the changes we’ve been calling for forward.
Formed in May 2015Â to address the growing trend of human services closures and mergers. It was made up of seasoned nonprofit human services executives, philanthropic leaders, auditors, finance experts, individuals with private-sector and government experience, and others with unique perspectives and knowledge. The Commission completed a report, New York Nonprofits in the Aftermath of FEGS: A Call to Action, which identified three major challenges and makes a series of recommendations (briefly summarized below) designed to work together to strengthen the nonprofit human services sector.
HSC, with our partners, embarked on an advocacy campaign at the State highlighting the need for nonprofit capital investments, culminating in a $50 million Nonprofit Infrastructure Fund included in the FY16 State budget and another $50 million in the FY17 State budget.
The Nonprofit Revitalization Act of 2013 is the first major reform in more than 40 years to New York’s Charities laws which govern the state’s nonprofit sector. HSC served on the Leadership Committee for Nonprofit Revitalization, which was charged with developing proposals to reduce regulatory burdens on the nonprofit sector while strengthening governance and accountability in collaboration with the Attorney General’s office. HSC’s advocacy efforts led to 11 recommendations, put forward by HSC on behalf of its members, being put into the act.
Launched in 2013, HSC worked with the Mayors Office of Contract Services to create an web-based procurement system. HSC has promoted and advocated for government agencies to adopt using HHS Accelerator for their nonprofit contracts. The majority of City agencies have announced that they were moving a significant number of their contracts over to HHS Accelerator. In addition to this, the New York City Council has transitioned their discretionary funds application over to HHS Accelerator.
HSC successfully advocated for the State to create a procurement system similar to the City’s HHS Accelerator and provided critical feedback as NY launched its first Statewide Grants Management System in April 2013.
HSC led the advocacy effort to develop a Standard Health and Human Services Contract, a standardized approach to City contracting that contains mutually agreeable terms and conditions. This new contract has been used across the City’s human services agencies and has reshaped the terms and clauses of human services contracts creating a significant impact on the relationship between contracting nonprofit agencies and the City of New York.
Through HSC’s advocacy and close relationship with the Administration, the City announced an increase to $15 per hour for human services providers with contract amendments to account for the increased funds in 2016.
HSC launched a cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) campaign in April 2015 and was successful in getting a 2.5% COLA in the City budget, the first in six years on City contracts and covering more contracts than previous COLAs. The COLA campaign included an $11.50 wage floor for human services workers.
HSC has been partnering with the National Human Services Assembly and the Frameworks Institute as a leader of a reframing initiative. We are implementing this new sector messaging strategy designed to reframe the role of human services in the public’s mind. HSC has been one of three major cities, alongside Austin, Texas and Chicago, Illinois selected to do this reframing work on behalf of the human services sector.
Started our own radio show between 2013 and 2014. We interviewed a variety of guests from the human services sector, philanthropy, government, academia, and business to raise awareness of human services contributions and issues.
HSC formed and facilitates a Disaster Recovery Group, a collection of 30 leaders of 14 human services organizations deeply engaged in Sandy recovery. The group is chaired by Monsignor Kevin Sullivan, Executive Director of Catholic Charities Archdiocese of New York. The group meets periodically to share information, exchange views, identify common concerns and interests and prioritize the efforts that HSC undertakes in support of the sector.
In October 2013, HSC convened a Sandy Forum attended by 130 leaders from over 80 agencies in the human services sector, academia, government and philanthropies. The event featured a keynote address by NYC Deputy Mayor Linda Gibbs; a presentation of findings of the survey conducted by HSC and the Baruch College School of Public Affairs, focusing on the experiences of nonprofits engaged in the recovery; and panel discussions about housing, case management services, immigrant issues, volunteerism and disaster preparedness. Blogs, a list of panels and panelists, and other documents summarizing the event are located on HSC’s website.
The Sandy forum allowed for the cultivation of relationships among leaders with various perspectives and resulted in agreements to maintain these conversations. HSC subsequently developed Sandy recommendations culled from the report, forum, meetings and discussions held this past year. Working in close coordination with members of our Disaster Recovery Group, HSC has shared the recommendations with philanthropies, the newCity Administration and leaders of State.
