Human Service Advocates Network
From its beginning in 1913, Community Solutions recognized the importance of engaging public officials at the local, state, and national levels in social welfare issues. One of its first projects involved encouraging City Council to enact an ordinance banning overcrowded “mushroom nurseries” that kept children in unsafe environments. The Great Depression caused unprecedented suffering and greater demands on the limited resources of the community’s human services agencies. In response, Community Solutions advocated for a welfare levy, which was placed on the ballot and approved by Cuyahoga County’s voters in 1932. This became one of two general purpose human services levies that continue to support services today.
Throughout its history, the organization has been active in legislative advocacy, often taking the lead in efforts to change or create legislation to improve the lives of Ohioans. Our legislative agenda has included such issues as welfare reform, nursing home standards, child and elder abuse reporting, patients’ rights, group home zoning, and health care for seniors. Significant ongoing attention is focused on government funding of human services.
In addition to engaging in policy analysis and advocacy on our own, Community Solutions has been a key player in helping to keep other organizations informed and active in those arenas. One method of doing so has been by coordinating the Human Service Advocates Network (HSAN) since the late 1990s. HSAN is a regional coalition of approximately150 health, social services, and education advocates and providers to provide an ongoing opportunity for education, information, advocacy, and professional development.
For each biennial state budget, HSAN works with Community Solutions in creating a set of budget principles to guide our research and advocacy efforts pertaining to the state budget and proposals related thereto.
HSAN meets regularly and hears from elected officials, key administrative personnel, and policy experts. Past guests have included Governor Ted Strickland, Senator Sherrod Brown, Ohio Department of Job and Family Services Director Helen Jones Kelly, state legislators, Cuyahoga County Commissioners Peter Lawson Jones and Tim Hagan, and leaders in the advocacy community.
Membership in the non-partisan HSAN is free and open to Northeast Ohio advocates and others who have a strong interest in health, social, education, and economic issues. Individuals also may join the HSAN e-mail update service which includes daily news clips, action alerts, and policy updates. Anyone interested in receiving such emails may contact David Howard (dhoward@CommunitySolutions.com) or Eboney Williams (ewilliams@CommunitySolutions.com).
Benefits to Membership:
- With opportunities for networking, education, and professional development, HSAN is a great way for local advocates to stay connected with colleagues and current on issues.
- Through action alerts, issue analyses, and policy updates, HSAN provides an easy way for those interested in health and social services issues to remain engaged in the policy process.
- Our meetings draw well-known speakers and provide opportunities for members to interact with policymakers at the local, state, and federal levels.
- Members are also eligible to participate in trainings held by The Center for Community Solutions to help advocates interact more effectively with public officials.
2011 Schedule:
- January 21
- February 11
- March 11
- April 8
- May 13
- June 10
- July 15
- August 12
- September 9
- October 14
- November 18
- December 9