In the current system
Because of how human services are set up and how we share information, it’s hard for people to learn about all the options available to them and make decisions on what to do in order to meet their needs. It can be difficult to learn about how programs and services are structured, and what the rules and requirements are, even while someone may be receiving them. It’s often unclear how to communicate, and who should be contacted for what. These are just some of the difficulties of the human services system, and they are real barriers to people successfully receiving services. These barriers create frustration, trauma and stigma. The way the system operates discourages people from using it, and that means our communities end up missing opportunities.
It’s time
We are working to be proactive and embrace what’s ahead, and will focus on the people and communities we serve before the tools we use. We need a better structure for providing human services — one that connects the dots between systems and gets rid of duplication and inefficiency. An improved, connected system will allow those providing services to spend more time on people rather than processes.