East Texas Human Needs Network & Collective Impact May 30, 2014

East Texas Human Needs Network & Collective Impact May 30, 2014 East Texas Human Needs Network Christina Fulsom

Agenda • East Texas Human Needs Network • Poverty • Data • State of Emergency • Strategic Commitments: Engage, Inspire, Thrive • Collective Impact Team Update • Q & A • Action Items

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 Education Lisa Allen Express Employment Professionals Employment Carlton Allen UT Health Northeast Healthcare Greg Grubb People Attempting To Help Housing Kristy Swann Range NDMJTransportation Christina Fulsom Founder and Network Weaver

Within our richness lies poverty We 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 elderly US 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: • Education • Employment • Healthcare • Housing • Transportation • As 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.

A state of emergency What the data uncovered: 65% live below POVERTY

It’s not just about money It’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 • Common Agenda • Shared Measurement Systems • Mutually Reinforcing Activities • Continuous Communication • Backbone Support Organization

Four Phases of Collective Impact • Generate ideas and dialogue • Initiate action • Organize for Impact • 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

Research A state of emergency

Priority setting and planning Goals based on participants’ identified top needs

Priority setting and planning Strategic action plans in the following areas:

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 Network Christina Fulsom 903.216.3211 christina@ethnn.org www.ETHNN.org

East Texas Human Needs Network & Collective Impact May 30, 2014