This initiative is a project of the National Human Services Assembly and is generously funded by The Kresge Foundation and Annie E. Casey Foundation.
A 2018 Reframing Wrap Up
2018 has been an exciting year for the National Reframing Initiative, and we’re gearing up to make sure 2019 is too! Here’s a recap of just some of our 2018 highlights that you and other national, state, and local human service organizations across the country made happen.
Implementation Highlights
The National Human Services Assembly developed resources and messages for advocates to use in high priority public policy debates, including immigration, federal and state budgets, and proposed changes to federal human service programs. We also welcomed new partners and celebrated others’ achievements:
Pictured left to right: Bridget Gavaghan (NHSA), Susan Dreyfus (Alliance for Strong Families and Communities), and Tracy Wareing Evans (American Public Human Services Association) presenting at Essential Conversations on Human Services.
Network Mobilization
The National Reframing Initiative Team had a great year engaging with our growing network through outreach and mobilization efforts around the country:
  • NHSA’s Reframing Team led a total of 35 workshops, webinars, and presentations in communities across the country, attracting over 2,100 participants during the year. We conducted workshops and presentations at conferences and summits for a number of national networks, including CenterLink, Goodwill Industries, the National Child Support Enforcement Association, and Nonprofit Leadership Alliance. We also partnered with state and local organizations to conduct trainings targeted to the needs of specific communities, including in California, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, New York, Ohio, and Texas.

  • The Reframing Network newsletter list continues to grow, with over 2,100 human service professionals receiving biweekly tips and resources on reframing human services.
In the Media
The National Reframing Initiative was highlighted in, and contributed to, prominent nonprofit and philanthropic platforms, including:
Together, we made real progress in 2018 shifting the public’s understanding of human services. We look forward to even more reframing successes next year. Stay tuned for exciting developments in 2019 and, in the meantime, we wish you the most joyous of holiday seasons!
Generations United (GU) recently released a brief, “Frames that Inform Intergenerational Work” by GU Senior Fellow and former NHSA CEO, Irv Katz, and GU Associate, Danica Derriennic. The brief’s objective is to assist intergenerational thinkers and practitioner s in applying to their field common, relevant elements of FrameWorks Institute research on early childhood development, child and youth development, human services, and aging. The brief points out that the human services building well-being metaphor is appropriate for intergenerational approaches and populations that, along with other reframing elements, can be used “to increase understanding of intergenerational strategies.”
We have a robust set of free tools to better equip you integrating this new narrative into your communications strategies.
Contact Us
For more information on how your organization can join the reframing mobilization, or for any questions about this newsletter or the online tools or website information, please contact Bridget Gavaghan at bgavaghan@nassembly.org.

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