We’ve reached February, barely, and for those of us engaged in public policy, and working to make sure that policy decisions are based on facts and data and that we have the best information possible to inform our work, this last month has been a deluge of content. At Community Solutions, we thought it might be helpful to share where we go for information that is solid: which we define as trustworthy, accurate, and without opinions that sway anything one way or the other.
Experienced journalists at the local, state and national levels who follow the policymaking process.
The media is a vital source of information in a world where information moves quickly. We keep up to date with the journalists who track and report on the information that is most relevant to our work in health and human services. It is worth the time to figure out, now, who the people are who report on the work most relevant to you, because in times of chaos or, unfortunately, crisis, you will know where to look. This may involve following journalists on social media, for more immediate information.
It is worth the time to figure out, now, who the people are who report on the work most relevant to you.
A few that we look to in particular are Politico, The Hill and The Washington Post—Jeff Stein often has the most up to date info on his X (formerly Twitter) account—for information at the federal level; the members of the Ohio Legislative Correspondents Association at the state level, and local newspapers, both large and small to stay connected to local impact of policy changes.
Original sources of information
Reliable media sources will always refer to the original source of information that they are reporting on. It’s important to review these original sources to work toward fully understanding the impact that a law or policy change may have on the work that we all do. An example of this would be directly reading a memo or directive issued by a government entity or looking at the actual text of proposed legislation.
Official data!
Part of understanding the impact of any given policy is looking to reliable sources of data. This includes data from the U.S. Census, and data collected or analyzed by entities with a strong track record of fact-driven analysis that informs sound policymaking this includes entities across the public and private sectors, as well as partner organizations from the local, state and federal levels.
Our partners in the community
Community Solutions is lucky to be connected to so many partner organizations across the region, the state and the nation. This network is valuable for information, for resources, and for camaraderie. These partners span sectors and areas of expertise, so when a policy change is being discussed or quickly implemented, we can understand what the impact may be across a diverse range of people, organizations and geographies.
We also want to be a resource to our partner organizations as we compile and share information that may be important to inform their work and advocacy.
The Center for Community Solutions is proud to be a member and the fiscal agent host of the Human Services Chamber of Cuyahoga County.
Human Services Chambers and other groups where partners work together
As a nonprofit organization, The Center for Community Solutions is proud to be a member and the fiscal agent host of the Human Services Chamber of Cuyahoga CountyThe human services sector has been a quiet force in the greater Cleveland community for more than a century.
Recent experiences during the pandemic, and very recently in response to public policy challenges, showed the good that can happen when organizations work together for common purpose. The Chamber works to catalyze this energy to help those people and organizations working every day to improve community conditions. There are Human Services Chambers in both Franklin and Hamilton Counties, as well as a statewide coalition, Advocates for Ohio’s Future.
Apply for Chamber membership today!
To ensure that our members will get the most of the collective, we are reviewing membership applications individually. Submit an inquiry form and we will contact you about membership and dues.
