[from the Human Services Network, HSN Update 3/3/10]
HSN played a leadership role in many crucial policy arenas last year, including:
• City budget advocacy: HSN was involved throughout the budget process, which culminated in the Board’s restoration of $20 million for health and human services. We analyzed the budget and kept nonprofits informed through both email updates and our new Budget Central webpage – the only place where you can find all health and human service budget information in one location. We advocated against cuts before the Mayor’s Office, the Board, departments and Commissions. We partnered with our allies to form the Budget Justice Coalition, which organized rallies and media efforts, culminating in a June rally with 1000 people marching down Market Street to City Hall.
As the deficit grew, we recognized that service cuts were inevitable, and took on the task of developing “Guiding Principles for Budget Reduction Strategies,” which we disseminated to Commissions and elected officials. We also succeeded in placing an op-ed piece in the San Francisco Chronicle contrasting the health and human service cuts with increases in fire and police budgets.
• Long-term solutions: The fiscal crisis has provided opportunities to bring forth long-overdue policy conversations around the effectiveness, efficiency and sustainability of our service system. HSN has pushed the debate in numerous forums, asking vital questions about how our sector can best deploy itself to provide services in the face of rising demand and shrinking resources. We joined with other coalitions to form the Community Budget Reform Council, which disseminated recommendations and met with Supervisors during the development of Proposition A. We provided input to the Mayor’s Task Force on community-based organizations and the DPH stakeholder process. Our member meetings have provided a unique place for difficult conversations around efficiencies and consolidation, the longterm impacts of city wage and benefit packages on nonprofit services, and the need for an inclusive city planning process that is policy and outcome-focused.
• Other policy issues and events: HSN continues to act as a watchdog for policy decisions that impact our sector and the people we serve, and to maintain opportunities for nonprofits to engage in dialogue with decisionmakers. Our monthly General Member and Public Policy Committee meetings have helped build our relationships with city leaders and explore issues in greater depth. Among our featured speakers last year were Controller Ben Rosenfield, Mayor’s Budget Director Greg Wagner, Board President David Chiu, Supervisors Avalos, Campos, Dufty and Elsbernd, State Senator Mark Leno, and department heads Mitch Katz, Trent Rhorer, Anne Hinton and Maria Su. Finally, our email updates have provided our members with regular information about important issues and opportunities to get involved at city hall.
We thank all of you for the support and participation that have enabled our success. We hope you will renew your membership and continue working with us this year. We would especially like to see more of you at member meetings, where we have had some exceptional speakers and discussions! We also appreciate your input and ideas, and active response to our calls for comment on policies and participation at hearings.
Looking Ahead to 2010
HSN will continue to work diligently in 2010 as we face the serious challenges of these times:
• FY 2010-11 budget advocacy: With the city projecting a $522 million deficit, HSN will continue to serve as an information resource, advocate for programs that serve vulnerable San Franciscans, and put forward policy recommendations to minimize the harm and ensure that our sector will be able to maintain crucial services.
• Revenue strategies: The city cannot address our structural deficit through cuts alone. HSN is already working with policymakers and allies to explore ballot measures for November, when we will have the opportunity to pass revenue measures by a simple majority vote.
• Longterm reforms: We will continue to push forward with our policy and budget process reform efforts, including input into the implementation of the Mayor and DPH nonprofit reports, and the implementation of Proposition A provisions for a two-year budget process, new fiscal policies and five-year financial plans.
• New Realities and Community Congress: For the first time since 2001, HSN is organizing a citywide nonprofit public policy conference to develop action items for the next few years. The “New Realities 4″ conference will look at financial sustainability, our system of care, our partnership with the city, and employment issues. We will then join with other constituencies in a Community Congress to develop a broader community agenda for the future.
• Legislation and Policy: HSN will continue to ensure that nonprofits have a voice at the table when City policymakers face decisions affecting member agencies and the people we serve. We will also continue to build relationships with city leaders to make sure they understand the value and challenges of our sector, and support our work. The upcoming Supervisor elections will give us an opportunity to meet and educate our new elected officials through candidate questionnaires and forums.
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