The Voice of the Human Services Community

130 East 59th Street • New York, NY 10022 Tel: 212-836-1230 • Fax: 212-836-1837

www.humanservicescouncil.org

Advocacy Action Response Group

Co-ChairsGary Carter, Executive Director,

Little Sisters of the Assumption Family Health Services Christine Molnar, President and CEO,

Safe Space NYC

Meeting Agenda

• HSC’s New Advocacy Structure

• State and City Budget Update

• Advocacy Strategy

Welcome and Introductions

Restructuring HSC Committees

• Budget Advocacy Committee (BAC)– Help HSC define sector-wide budget priorities

and advocacy strategies.

• Advocacy Action Response Group (AARG)– Implement initiatives and coordinate grassroots

organizing.

Budget Advocacy Committee

• The BAC proactively develops an advocacy agenda prior to the release of the Governor’s Executive and Mayor’s Preliminary budgets to impact the Executive Administrations.

• The Committee then focuses on developing priorities for legislative budget restorations and initiatives that benefit clients City- and State-wide.

Advocacy Action Response Group

• The goal of the AARG is to energize and mobilize the sector by giving them tools to advocate for budget and policy priorities with a unified voice.

• AARG members will receive policy information important to the human services sector.

• AARG members play an integral role in how effective HSC is in advocating for the sector.

• Participants: – Advocates from member organizations– Member organizations interested in learning how to advocate

Advocacy Tools & Opportunities

• State and City budget analysis.• Email updates regarding policies affecting

the human services sector.• Opportunities to meet with key City and

State Officials.• Advocacy training for members who want

to advocate on their own.

AARG Participation

• Send letters to and call elected officials

• Attend HSC lobby days

• Respond to requests for information– Information on how program cuts will affect

your organization’s ability to deliver services. – Analysis of how government policy will impact

your organization.

Budget Calendar

• State- April 1

• New York City- July 1st

Cynthia DamesCynthia Dames Consulting, LLC.

HSC’s Lobbyist in Albany

State Budget

• Overview

• Oppose– MTA Mobility Tax – Delay in the Human Services COLA – Elimination of NYC AIM – TANF

State Budget

•  Concerns– OMIG- Increased Fraud Targets – Late Contract Payments

• Support– Revenue Options – Other Areas

TANF

• TANF funds used to support a variety of social service programs since 1996.

• Governor is proposing to eliminate most of these programs – worth $202 mm.

• NYS receiving three TANF pools of funding:– TANF Block Grant– Contingency Fund– ARRA Emergency Contingency Fund

TANF

• Flexible Fund For Family Services – local block grant ($964.4 mm) – should continue.

• NYS taking a savings of approximately $260 mm.

• TANF programs reduce the number of PA recipients and save NY State money.

City Budget

• Overview

• Contingency Budget

• Budget Timeline

Advocacy Tips

• Frame the issue around clients– Reduction in services/clients served– Impact of the service on the client

• Discuss jobs– NFP sector is an economic engine– Reduction in contracts will result in X number

of jobs lost

Lobby Days

• Bring providers and clients to talk to legislators.• Will always discuss TANF, COLAs, MTA Payroll

Tax.• Focus on a different sub-sector/service area

each visit.• Schedule

– Tuesday, February 23rd- Children and Families– Mondays in March: 8th,15th, 22nd -focus TBA

Contacting Your Legislator• Schedule your own meetings with policymakers, either in

Albany or in district meetings.• Identify your organization, service you provide, if you

provide in their district• Identify that you are a member of HSC• Describe how the policy/budget decision will impact your

CLIENTS• Describe how the policy/budget decisions will impact

JOBS• Send a copy of letters sent to HSC so we can keep track

of advocacy efforts.

HSC Resources• HSC Website www.humanservicescouncil.org

– For log-in information, please speak with your Executive Director and email Shazah Sabuhi Sabuhis@humanservicescouncil.org

• HSC Policy Unit– Allison Sesso, Deputy Executive Director

sessoa@humanservicescouncil.org (212) 836-1127– Chris Winward, Senior Policy Analyst

winwardc@humanservicescouncil.org (212) 836-1644– Michelle Jackson, Policy Analyst- AARG Contact

jacksonm@humanservicescouncil.org (212) 836-1588

Future Trainings

• How to talk to a legislator• Using the press• When and how to testify• Knowing who matters for human service

policy decisions• How to advocate on your own/ Receive

Discretionary Funding

Handouts

• All handouts will be available on our website• State and City Budget Summaries• AARG Meeting PowerPoint• State Human Services Testimony• City and State Budget Principles

– Developed by the BAC before the Executive budget to impact the decision-making process.

– Many of the principles were adhered to in the State’s Executive budget