sustainabilility & creative community engagement parternships

7/31/2019 Sustainabilility & Creative Community Engagement Parternships

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Sustainable Community Engagement Partnerships

Presented by Lylie Fisher

Director of Community Engagement with Iona Senior Services

Certified organization and coach


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Workshop Agenda

Iona Senior Services Our Story

Foundations in Community Engagement

Review and Re-visioning

Success stories

Consulting Partnerships specialist volunteers Research Partnerships local universities

Harnessing Community responding to issues

Day to Day Support maintaining the core

Growth within capacity

Making difficult decisions Converting a challenge into an opportunity

Partnerships that really make a difference

Lessons Learned and Next Steps


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Iona Our Story

Iona Senior Services mission is to support people as they

experience the challenges and opportunities of aging. We

educate, advocate, and provide community-based programs

and services to help people age well and live well. We

envision a community that celebrates, values, respects andprotects the contributions and possibilities of every

individual.

Iona Senior Services was established in 1975 to serve the needs of

people in the community. To improve their ability to handle

the increasing number of requests for guidance on medical

care, public services and other social assistance of localchurches, non profits and community advocates.


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Foundations in Community Engagement

Iona Senior Services is a non profit organization

based on the concept of community. We believe

in the importance of collaboration and

partnership and are proud to partner with

organizations that help us to advance our

mission. Our partners include:

The DC Office on Aging (DCOA)

Iona is a DCOA lead senior services agency

(Ward 3)

Through service delivery funding, DCOA

contributes approx 23% of Ionas annual

budget

Local Aging in Place Village communities Member Congregations

Kindred non profit organizations

Our past and current board members

Recipients and caregivers of our services

Neighborhood supporters

Community stakeholders


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Review and Re-Visioning

Iona Senior Services, like most non profits in the US, has facedchallenges with sustainability, increased demand for ourservices and ramifications from the economic downturn.

In 2007 we commenced a thorough review of our volunteer

corps, community program service delivery and staffing.Major changes resulted in decreased services and staffing.

Joining Iona in August 2009, my role has been to invigorateour community partnerships, bring success driven businessmodels to the organization and introduce innovation to ourcommunity engagement.

My mantra is breathing fresh life into our work andcommunity. Forging professional connections and buildingmutually beneficial relationships with kindred organizationsand universities.


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Success Stories Major Public Health research projects

University of Maryland, School of Social Work review ofservice delivery.

University of Maryland, School of Public Health review ofactive wellness models, existing Iona service delivery andpotential growth.

George Washington University, School of Public Health review of needs assessments and best practice models.

Yale University, Summer Intern review of office on aging and

service delivery models.

Institute on Philanthropy and Voluntary Service, summerinternships review of Spanish speaking senior services inWashington DC, review of affordable care act and long termcare options for seniors.

Significant Community Partnerships - Groups

American University Service Learning, teams and individualstudents.

Compass Consulting Program, team MBA professionals reviewand assessment of potential new growth areas.

Greater DC Cares, Skilled Volunteers determined appropriatecost analysis for Ionas fee for services.

Significant Community Partnerships Individuals

Retired professional working pro bono on key policy, servicedelivery, strategic planning and marketing assignments.


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Growth within Capacity

Iona Senior Services owes its ability to take on major research and development projects through the

support of its community partners, its skilled work force and pro active board.

Iona continues to be a leader in the areas of health services and quality of life advocacy, we shine,

because we:

- Founded the Washington DC Senior Advisory Coalition

- Launched Community Advocacy Forums for seniors and core community partners

- Developed DCOA best practice model for Lunchtime Senior Activity Programs

- Incorporate skilled based volunteers

- Provide a training base for students and their scholarly work

- Support on the job training for skilled change of career professionals

- Operate within budget with reduced fiscal and human resources

- Maintain excellent service delivery irrespective of financial restrictions.


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Lessons to be LearnedHow to achieve best practice and quality service delivery:

Maintain solid partnerships with community of supporters

Be prepared to say NO

NO to internal organizational pressures

NO to goals that are may compromise effective operations

NO to out dated or redundant ideas and models

Find creative alternatives to the existing paradigms

Be wise and attract supporters from forward thinking pro bono volunteers Forge partnerships with schools of higher education

Be a team player in sector and beyond

Look beyond the problem maintain perspective of the big picture


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Next Steps

Essential Ingredients

Passion

Clarity

Integrity

Collaboration

Smart people

Willingness to work that extra 5%

Non profit organizations are prone to economic and

practical resource challenges. Accept this and

maintain focus on excellence.


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Be Creative

Collaboration with volunteers enhances the non profit

workforce and deepens our relationship with the community.

Strive to reflect integrity and trust in these relationships.

sustainabilility & creative community engagement parternships

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