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The Center for Community Solutions is a nonpartisan nonprofit thinktank focused on providing data analysis, research, and policy advocacy in the health human services sector. We help make connections between people and organizations working to improve community conditions and the quality of life of all Ohioans. Our data analysis and research are used by policymakers, funders, nonprofits, and direct service organizations to strategize on developments in health, social, or economic support for Ohioans. Our policy advocacy and analysis help organizations across Ohio understand the complex systems and policies that affect their work.
The work we do in the health and human services sector is focused on five priority areas:
1) behavioral health, 2) maternal and infant health, 3) Medicaid, 4) poverty and the social safety net, and 5) the well-being of older adults.
Closing the Gap: The Policy Ambassadors Pilot Initiative
Historically, our audience has primarily been direct service organizations and decision-makers. Community Solutions found that the pertinent information we share with them does not always reach community residents, after our Community Impact team conducted an in-depth community assessment. Some residents did not know about our advocacy to improve their quality of life or where to find information on health policies and issues affecting their neighborhoods. We sought to bridge this gap by recently launching our pilot Policy Ambassadors Initiative. The goal of this initiative is to bring the community in closer proximity to information on the health and human service issues that impact them. Our hope is that in sharing this knowledge, the community feels more empowered to use their voices to influence policies that can improve their well-being.
A small cohort of 10 volunteers has already been recruited to engage with their neighbors and share information about our advocacy in health and human services. Ambassadors will receive a stipend for their community engagement and ongoing training related to policy and advocacy. We also plan to coordinate opportunities for them to see policy work in action and engage with representatives at the State and County levels. At the end of the program in 2025, the ambassadors will have an opportunity to create their own community policy project.
Orientation for the ambassadors was completed at the end of May 2024. A half-day training to provide tools on understanding the policymaking process and engaging in advocacy was also completed in mid-June 2024. Ambassadors have already begun engaging with the community to share about our work starting this past month in July, and we are looking forward to coming together in August to brainstorm how we can engage the community around voter registration.
Engaging Older Adults in an Intergenerational Effort
The cohort is composed of an intergenerational group from both the East and West sides of Cleveland, representing young and older adults spanning the ages of 30 – 70 years and older. We collaborated with local neighborhood centers, East End Neighborhood House and West Side Community House, to recruit older adult community members to participate. Older adults are often a wealth of knowledge in the community, and already active in civic engagement and advocacy on important issues. Our hope is that this pilot can support the creation of “active hubs” within these centers where the older adult ambassadors can share relevant policy information with their peers, families, and neighbors. The intergenerational component is meant to promote collaboration and community building and stimulate an exchange of knowledge amongst participants. As communities become more informed on our work in health and human service issues through this pilot and build new relationships, we hope that they feel more empowered to engage in creating change for their communities.
Visit The Center for Community Solutions at www.communitysolutions.com.
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