East Texas Human Needs Network

& Collective Impact

May 30, 2014

East Texas Human Needs Network

Christina Fulsom

East Texas Human Needs Network Poverty Data State of Emergency Strategic Commitments: Engage, Inspire,

Thrive Collective Impact Team Update Q & A Action Items

Agenda

East Texas Human Needs Network

The East Texas Human Needs Network was established as a response to meet needs of enormous scale that

transcend the capacity of individual agencies.

Steering Committee

Fred Peters Tyler Junior College EducationLisa Allen Express Employment Professionals EmploymentCarlton Allen UT Health Northeast HealthcareGreg Grubb People Attempting To Help HousingKristy Swann Range NDMJ TransportationChristina Fulsom Founder and Network Weaver

Within our richness lies povertyWe are a County rich in beauty and prosperity, in

education and opportunity, in security and health, in values and vision. Yet, within our richness lies poverty and fear, hunger and homelessness, unmet potential and despair.

The state of economy in recent years has brought attention to the crisis of poverty. The issue is one that is complex. Many different elements connect to create the web of problems that holds individuals, families and communities down.

Poverty in Smith County

pov•er•ty noun, often attributive \ˈpä-vˈr-tē\ 1: the state of one who lacks a usual or socially acceptable amount of money or material possessions

37,075 people

19,091 adults

13,101 children

4,833 elderlyUS Census Bureau

Poverty indicators

Low educational attainment Unemployment Large family size Single parent family Disability Minority race or ethnic group Female gender Size and remoteness of home

community No healthcare coverage

Need reliable local data!

Comprehensive Community Needs Assessment

The purpose of the comprehensive community needs assessment was to discover the unique needs and extent of poverty of the Smith County community as it relates to:

EducationEmploymentHealthcareHousingTransportationAs well as child care, veterans needs, and legal matters.

Executive Summary Institutional Review Board Approval – UT Tyler 65 Questions, 300 possible responses Conducted in June and July 2013 by trained staff and

volunteers at 14 ETHNN Smith County agencies.

EDUCATION

• 33% no high

school diploma or GED

EMPLOYMENT

• 42% unemploy

ed

HEALTHCARE

• 44% no health

insurance

HOUSING

• 12% homeless

TRANSPORTATION

• 34% no reliable

transportation

65% live below POVERTY

What the data uncovered:

A state of emergency

It’s not just about moneyIt’s not just about having enough money

to pay the bills, it’s about how poverty affects families economically, socially, emotionally, and physically. It’s about the erosion of our communities and the lack of hope people have for a better future. No matter how an individual ends up in poverty, chances are it’s not where they want to be.

Unrelenting stress

Poverty is the unrelenting stress of keeping a family sheltered, clothed and fed...and hoping desperately to finally get a full week’s paycheck before the baby gets sick or the car breaks down…and choosing which bills to pay this month.

It’s an exhausting day to day struggle without relief ,that robs body and soul.

Loss of Human Potential

Poverty affects all aspects of life and limits people’s ability to live fruitful and happy

lives.

The data also present how people living in poverty experience a range of disadvantages which

combine to reinforce each other and trap them in poverty, which

reduces the length and quality of life often for multiple generations.

We have a crisis, what can we do?

COLLECTIVE IMPACT

Diverse organizations working together to address complex problems

What we do now

The foundation on which many nonprofits are built is flawed and simplistic, focused on a symptom rather than the underlying set of problems, developed in isolation rather than as part of an integrated system, and organized to administer a narrowly tailored program or benefit rather than generate sustained, significant change for a person or community.

Five Conditions of Collective Success

1. Common Agenda2. Shared Measurement Systems3. Mutually Reinforcing Activities4. Continuous Communication5. Backbone Support Organization

Four Phases of Collective Impact

1. Generate ideas and dialogue2. Initiate action3. Organize for Impact4. Sustain Action and Impact

What ETHNN is doing now

The East Texas Human Needs Network is working to INSPIRE and ENGAGE people

to ensure that ALL families and communities THRIVE.

ETHNN Strategic Commitments

ENGAGE

Organize Communities and Develop Advocates to End Poverty

ETHNN Engagement

Multi-sector engagement Information sharing Research Priority setting and planning Evaluation and learning

Multi-sector engagement

PUBLIC - Government Responsibility to citizens for order,

protection, public services, and economic stability.

PRIVATE - Business Shared value: the health of the

community (citizens) and the health of the company are mutually dependent. 

CIVIC - Non-profit Enhance the quality of life of citizens from disadvantaged circumstances.

Information sharing

Website Facebook Resources Database

EDUCATION

• 33% no high

school diploma or GED

EMPLOYMENT

• 42% unemploy

ed

HEALTHCARE

• 44% no health

insurance

HOUSING

• 12% homeless

TRANSPORTATION

• 34% no reliable

transportation

A state of emergency

Research

Priority setting and planning

Goals based on participants’ identified top needs

EDUCATION

• School tuition

EMPLOYMENT

• Career and job training

HEALTHCARE

• Health Insuranc

e• Dental

care

HOUSING

• Utility assistan

ce

TRANSPORTATION

• Gasoline

Priority setting and planning

Strategic action plans in the following areas: • All children and adults have

access to quality educational opportunities.

Education • Everyone has access to

employment that pays a living wage.

Employment • Everyone has access to quality

affordable healthcare.Healthcare • Families and individuals have

safe and affordable homes to live in.

Housing • Everyone has access to reliable,

accessible and affordable transportation.

Transportation

Evaluation and learning

A work in progress Learning about the Collective Impact

framework has provided needed guidance

ETHNN Strategic Commitments

INSPIRE

Develop Leaders Committed to Ending Poverty throughout Smith

County

ETHNN Inspires

Poverty education Lobbying and advocacy Facilitation and brokering Peer learning

ETHNN Strategic Commitments

THRIVE

Build a Respected, Strategic, Countywide Organization that is an Effective Leader and Catalyst to End

Poverty

ETHNN Impact

Catalyst to end poverty through collective impact

Common Agenda Shared Measurement Systems Mutually Reinforcing Activities Continuous Communication Backbone Support Organization

The East Texas Human Needs Network works to INSPIRE and ENGAGE people to ensure that ALL families and communities THRIVE.

Collective Impact Team Update

Educate Texas … .. .

Q & A

Action Items

Who? What? Why? When? Where?

THANK YOU!

East Texas Human Needs NetworkChristina Fulsom903.216.3211christina@ethnn.orgwww.ETHNN.org