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Frequently Asked Questions about Core Services Planning
What is the purpose of the Core Services Planning project?
The Core Services Planning project is a data-driven process to identify core service needs,
gaps and duplications in our community's health and human services. The process includes data
collection, analysis, and dialogue among stakeholders and, at the conclusion, decision making,
with change where necessary. The specific intent of this process is to:
- Create a data-driven process to identify gaps and duplications within the core service
areas selected
- Engage community volunteers in a non-biased data-driven decision-making process to
address the identified gaps and duplications
- Improve people's lives by calling attention to and building commitment for core services
for people in need
- Act on community needs identified in the Community Vision Council's call for planning
and coordination of core services
- Respond to environmental changes in our community by making effective use of our resources
- Create new service delivery and funding models focused on addressing root causes of
problems in a systematic, collective way
What prompted United Way to undertake the Core Services Planning project?
The United Way Board of Directors, 200 community volunteers and Community Vision Council members identified the need for a data-driven decision process for resource investments. This was in response to the dramatic change in the human services environment in recent years. The assumption is that data-driven investment decisions will increase efficiency and positively impact the service delivery system. It will also help to avoid duplications and fill gaps in the services.
What is the expected outcome?
Our community will engage in a community dialogue and ultimately make decisions that will set the course for our future health and human service delivery. Potential changes are:
- New service delivery and funding models may emerge focused on addressing problems in a systemic collective way
- Funders may commit to addressing the challenges
- Heightened efficiencies will result from the elimination of duplicated or outdated services
- A clear analytical application of resources will assure core health and human services are reaching the right target at the right time with the desired results
- United Way funding may shift to target areas of greatest need or where current gaps exist within the 82 core service areas
- United Way funding may expand to new admissions to address identified gaps which current members cannot address
Who will make the final decisions on funding, adding programs, eliminating programs and/or making change?
The Community Investment Committee volunteers will continue to make the allocation decisions for United Way of Greater Cleveland and recommend them to the Board of Directors. Collaboration may expand as additional funders, such as government and/or private corporations and foundations participate in use and analysis of data.
What is the timeline?
The data collection is in progress now, and some of the data will be available to the public in February 2006. Planning and direction setting will occur throughout 2007 and 2008. United Way allocations will be impacted in FY 2008.
How will United Way of Greater Cleveland Community Partners be affected?
As active participants in the Core Services Planning process agency executive directors and their board members will have access to the data gathered throughout the project. Community partners will continue to have non-voting representation on the Community Investment Committees that make annual United Way funding decisions.
Agencies have expressed concerns that this process may result in loss of funding, jobs, and service to clients. However, by sharing information and working within a collaborative environment the opportunity exists for agencies to shift their personnel and other resources to other core services that are in demand and within their mission.
Is this just a way to defund some of the programs, rank one program over another or close agencies?
It is not the intent of this program to defund agencies or rank one core service over the other or close agencies. The intent is to assure that our community's needs are being met in a changing environment. And because all decision makers will use consistent standards, based on the research results, we can be assured that no "back room" discussions will influence funding decisions.
Would it be more effective if we allocated all these resources to improving our fund raising skills?
Resource development must remain a top priority of United Way of Greater Cleveland. More funds are always helpful, but if services are not delivered efficiently and effectively at the right time to the right audience, no amount of funding will achieve the results our community needs. Additionally, the reality of shrinking resources in our community coupled with increasing needs is forcing us to seek a better solution.
Why do we have to do anything? The current system is not broke.
True. The current agency-delivered, United Way-funded programs are making a positive difference in our community. The work is good. The needs of our community are changing and the demands of those who fund programs… and how success is measured is changing too. And most important, we have the opportunity to serve our community better, thus we must pursue it.
If my program service is not funded, what will be my United Way partner status?
No decision has been made regarding potentially different levels of partner agency status. As we assess the conclusions of the Core Services Planning process, the definition of United Way partner status will be shaped.
How will Capacity Building Investment Committee programs - i.e. volunteerism, advocacy, research, planning, organization assessments, etc. fit into this process?
This project, as with all United Way of Greater Cleveland projects, is volunteer driven, involving the United Way Board of Directors, Community Investment Committee volunteers, community partners' board members and many others. The services funded through the capacity building investment committee are included in the process. Customized research is being gathered in these areas. There is no intention to eliminate these important components of United Way's approach.
How can we (I) keep up-to-date on the project?
If you would like to be notified when new information becomes available, please register here. Additionally, the data reports will be posted to the United Way of Greater Cleveland web site when complete.
Additional information
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