Nonprofits are formed upon the idea that a certain segment of the population needs support. Brilliant ideas of how to make a difference is at the heart.  Soon enough in providing these services the need for collecting and managing large amounts of data becomes evident.  This data and its management are a vital aspect of the survival and success of an agency.  The large amount of data required from agencies to meet requirements and provide services would surprise most people. Then let's not forget to factor in donor and grant management.  

Phishing attempts have become a rising concern for organizations in recent years, with examples of stolen identities, credit card numbers, and sensitive information increasing on a regular basis. To compound the problem, phishing assaults will continue to be the most popular method of cyber-attack in 2023, necessitating organizations immersing themselves in the world of phishing in order to understand common phishing attacks and how to prevent them.

This is also a concern for organizations in the social services sector. Unfortunately, the fact that they work with vulnerable populations does not preclude them from these in dishonest attacks.

“Title 42, the policy that allowed the government to quickly turn away certain migrants at the border during the Covid-19 pandemic, is set to expire. Encounters between US border agents and undocumented immigrants had fallen early this year but have recently increased to around 7,000 per day. That number is expected to rise dramatically this week as border towns in northern Mexico are already bursting with an estimated 36,000 migrants waiting for the end of Title 42.” (CNN, May 8,2023).

Social media presence is an important factor that is directly tied to the success of a social service agency. It enables social service agencies to spread the word about their existence, raise awareness about their initiatives, and attract more individuals to donate and volunteer with them. 

Therefore, boosting social media presence should always be a top priority for a social service agency.

Below are a few expert tips to help boost your social service agency’s social media presence. Enjoy! 

Readers of this blog from outside the professional social work community contact us from time to time and ask what they can do to help. We asked 12 social workers what they would suggest, and the consensus was:

“Visit older adults in your neighborhood or residents at a local nursing home or assisted living facility and share the kindness of a personal connection.”

According to recent estimates, over 600,000 American children have recently been placed in foster care. Children who have been abused, neglected, or displaced rely on American social services agencies to help them find a safe home when their families can't.

This makes foster care one of the most challenging sectors for case managers. From compliance challenges to an ever-increasing workload and dealing with the most vulnerable of society, foster care agencies are an integral part of America's safety net.  

Fortunately, there are case management solutions available to help foster care agencies with their work. If you're not sure why your agency requires a software solution, consider just a few of the benefits we are highlighting below.

NARCAN® Nasal Spray has been approved by the FDA as an over-the-counter treatment. 

In February this blog reported on the public health crisis of opioid addiction and the dramatic spike in sudden deaths by overdose caused primarily by the widespread use of synthetic fentanyl.

FAMCare Blog - February 7, 2023

“Opioid addiction is here to stay,” said a social work professor we interviewed. “However, we do have treatment for this particular addiction. But as long as we turn away from the horrors of this widespread addiction and choose to remain in denial, we will not make a concerted effort to widely administer treatment. The pharmaceutical industry has already created both long term treatments and emergency life-saving medications that are simply not being administered on a wide enough scale. I believe that a nationwide effort to make these medications available to anyone trapped in this particular substance abuse disorder should be a number-one priority for the social work profession at large.”

Drug overdose persists as a major public health issue in the United States, with more than 101,750 reported fatal overdoses occurring in the 12-month period ending in October 2022, primarily driven by synthetic opioids like illicit fentanyl. 

Hunger

As we reported earlier this year, few Americans know that hunger has become a serious social problem in the U. S. We tend to think of countries in drought plagued Africa or the war-torn Middle East as places where children suffer malnutrition and die of starvation. However, food insecurity and nutritional depravation continue to haunt Americans in urban pockets of poverty and remote rural regions across our country.

The latest government statistics report that approximately one in five adults reported experiencing household food insecurity at the end of 2022. High food price inflation, along with elevated costs for other basic needs, such as transportation and rent, have likely eroded food budgets in the last year, and some of the safety net responses that buffered food insecurity in 2021 are no longer in place. In addition, 35% (229 million tons) of all food produced in the U.S. every year goes unsold or uneaten and is thrown away while nearly 42 million Americans – one in eight – struggle with hunger.

In our last report on hunger in America we highlighted the role of nonprofits and social service agencies in the battle against food depravation. This week we would like to shine a light on one “for-profit” company that is making an amazing contribution to the fight against hunger in America.

Transparency in a non-profit can entail disclosing to supporters, the public, and the government, the internal operations, board composition, impact, and financials of your agency.  You're telling a story that demonstrates the positive effect your efforts are having for your clients.  A story that is supported by vital statistics.  These vital statistics or reporting is essential for the funding and continued support of your agency. 

Non-profit agencies have become more conscious of their practices and reporting to avoid improprieties, financial or otherwise.  Understanding requirements for transparency and creating a culture built around this, will help your non-profit agency navigate smoother and with more profitably.   
For these reasons let's look at non-profit transparency and its importance to the social service sector.

Technology is transforming American and global industries at a rapid pace. According to a 2018 report, digitization and technology were expected to create over 58 million jobs by 2022. Based on the evidence, the prediction appears to be correct.

Because of the quick adoption of technology in various industries, workforce development has also advanced. The US may have the highest prevalence of technology influencing workforce development worldwide.

Both corporations and social service organizations want their employees to be ready for the challenges and opportunities that accompany new technology adaptation. Let's look at where we can see the effects of technology in workforce development and focus on the benefits for the non-profit sector.