Power of Administrative Advocacy to Improve Service Delivery Monday, April 27, 2015 2:00 pm ET, 1:00 pm CT, 12:00 pm MT, 11:00 pm PT Welcome Jennifer Medina Senior Manager, CFED Advocacy Series 1. Policy and advocacy 101* – January 2. Legislative advocacy* – March 3. Administrative advocacy – today! *Archived on http://assetsandopportunity.org/network/learning_community under Events. Housekeeping • This webinar is being recorded and will be available online within one week. • All webinar attendees are muted to ensure sound quality. • Ask a question any time by typing the question into the text box of the GoToWebinar Control Panel or by raising your hand. • If you experience any technical issues, email [email protected]. Trouble dialing in? Just listen through your computer with speakers or headphones! Today’s Objectives • Share definitions of administrative advocacy • Share administrative advocacy successes / challenges • Identify administrative changes to target in upcoming year Defining administrative advocacy How would you define administrative advocacy? Defining administrative advocacy • Policy, rule or program change achieved outside legislative system • Under discretion of executive branch or state agency • Little or no oversight by legislative body Mechanisms for change • Types of data agency collects • State program applications • Eligibility rules for state programs • Selection criteria for RFPs • Contract provisions • Definitions of allowable uses of funding What would you add to this list? Why administrative advocacy? • Agencies influence legislators • Agencies maintain case-making data • Changes improve agencies’ outcomes • Less agency staff turnover • Less transparency • May be more effective in conservative states Case studies: administrative victories • Nevada excluded 529s from TANF asset test (2013) and increased TANF asset limit (2014) • Ohio removed overdraft option from unemployment prepaid cards (2012) As you listen, jot down notes about: • Questions you have for speakers • Examples of administrative advocacy you have done • Tips on administrative advocacy • New ideas for policy advocacy in upcoming year Nevada asset limits and 529 exclusion Nancy Brown Chair, Opportunity Alliance, Nevada A&O Network Leader Miki Allard Staff Specialist, Division of Welfare and Supportive Services for the State of Nevada Nevada asset limits • Approach: Opportunity Alliance leveraged relationship with Treasurer who approached the Director of HHS. • Policy lever: After holding public hearings on both issues, HHS amended TANF state plan. • Messaging: Asset limit is an inadvertent barrier to achieving financial security. • Practitioner role: Food Bank provided testimony at public hearing. Ohio’s unemployment prepaid cards David Rothstein Director of Resource Development and Public Affairs, Neighborhood Housing Services of Greater Cleveland, Cleveland A&O Network Leader Ohio’s unemployment prepaid cards Approach: OH advocates researched impact of overdraft on clients. Through written materials and meetings, educated agency staff. Policy lever: Jobs & Family Services changed the contract provisions of the unemployment prepaid card vendor, U.S. Bank. Messaging: Resources intended for beneficiaries was going to banks. Practitioner role: Identified impacted clients, shared prepaid card fee schedules Questions / Comments • Questions you have for speakers • Examples of administrative advocacy you have done • Tips on administrative advocacy • New ideas for policy advocacy in upcoming year Takeaways • Administrative advocacy… is a non-legislative way to leverage an administration’s policy position. Circumvents political pressure around a policy position. Can result in better client outcomes—e.g., increased enrollment in programs. Can better align program goals with clients’ needs—e.g., getting benefits quicker. Takeaways – Role of Service Providers • Service providers provide valuable information on client needs and how to best restructure a program or policy to ensure positive outcomes. • Service providers can educate agencies about the impact of policy and how change could result in better outcomes. Takeaways – Agencies • Agencies sometimes underestimate the power/influence they have to change policy. • Efficiencies argument is compelling one for agencies. • Get agency buy-in for change. Resources Administrative Advocacy Rules for Nonprofits http://bolderadvocacy.org/wpcontent/uploads/2012/08/Administrative_Advocacy.pdf Planning to Win Guide http://planningtowin.org/gettingstarted A&O Network Experts Directory http://assetsandopportunity.org/network/learning_community/experts_directory/ Advocacy 101 & Legislative Advocacy Webinars http://cfed.org/knowledge_center/events Thank You!
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