The Public Impact Initiative: A Strategic Partnership with Community Agencies Serving High-Need Populations

Overview: The Public Impact Initiative responds to the challenges of the post-graduate costs of entry into the profession and low salaries that often exist in highest need areas. This program is a mutually beneficial partnership between the college and community agencies, increasing ability of agencies to hire and retain new graduates.Proposal text: It is no secret that health and human services agencies must be nimble when it comes to increasingly challenging funding streams. As unrestricted and non-discretionary support decreases, non-profits are receiving revenue that comes with imposed restrictions, forcing them to supplement other areas of their operations out of their funding reserves. In a study looking at children’s behavioral health agencies, the authors note challenges that impact an organization’s financial stability outside of its own effective fiscal management. These challenges can include changing economic trends, funding limits supporting overhead expenses, and time-limited funding cycles (Bunger, Despard, Lee, & Cao, 2019). Results of the study did paint a sobering picture of the challenges that non-profits have, in general, when it comes to financial stability. Bunger, Despard, Lee, and Cao (2019) confirmed:

As a result, organizations had on average less than three months of operating reserves. Many (42%) had less than
one-month’s reserves on hand, suggesting that if funding were cut, many would be unable to sustain their
operations for long.

When considering the economic decline due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we know that many non-profit agencies are suffering because of budget cuts, while community demand is at an all-time high. The Public Impact Initiative responds to the continuing challenges of the post-graduate costs of entry into the social work profession and the low salaries that often exist in the highest need areas. This program is an innovative, mutually beneficial funding partnership between the college and community agencies, that increases the ability of the agency to hire and retain newly graduated social work students at a reasonable salary. In addition to supporting students, the initiative enables under resourced agencies to increase their ability to serve the most vulnerable populations in our community. The purpose of this initiative is to enhance support for the new graduate, which can range from paying for licensure exams, licensing, and/or supervision and continuing education credits, to supplementing their salary in partnership with the agency of employment. Additionally, our graduates will meet regularly with our office of career services to receive assistance in locating and landing employment. Graduates will then be matched with a mentor who will work with them for one year after employment to help ensure success.

This presentation will specifically cover background on why/how this initiative was created, grounded in research data. We will share two specific programs within this larger initiative including the Public Impact Scholarship Fund and the Public Impact Scholarship for Settlement Houses. We will discuss our overall goals, funding methods, program implementation, and strategies in identifying and collaborating with community agencies.

Attendees will identify the intent of and purpose for the Public Impact Scholarship; learn of two effective funding models implemented and established through philanthropic gifts to support this initiative; learn strategies for leveraging stronger financial partnerships with community agencies to both positively impact the student experience and those the community serves; learn of the strategies for growth for this initiative and consider approaches to adapting it to their own community.