Welcome From Kevin Bell : Human Service Advisory Groups Dialogue May 19, 2012

1. Welcome
Human Services Advisory Groups
Dialogue
May 19, 2012
Kevin Bell
Chair, Fairfax County Human Services Council

2. Introduction
Kevin Bell, Chairman Fairfax County Human Services
Council
Welcome to members of human services advisory and
policy groups
The County Board of Supervisors is fortunate to have
so many talented and engaged advisors
Over 28 organized groups were invited to today’s
dialogue and are represented here today
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3. Human Services Council
Thank you to the Human Services Council members
present today
Members of the Human Services Council have spent
the past year considering the Council’s role
The Council solicited feedback from the Board of
Supervisors, the County Human Services department
heads, and the leadership of each of your groups
There was consensus from each of these
“stakeholder groups” about the council’s role...
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4. Communicating, engaging and
educating community on human
services system
Consensus is that the Council’s role is to....
advise the Board of Supervisors on the
needs, effectiveness, and resources required for the
community’s human services system
Promote effective communication and education with
the community, key service partners, businesses, faith
organizations, county residents and service recipients
on the human services system
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5. Why we are here
With this “charge” to the Council in mind, members engaged in
conversations over the last several months on their role to
communicate - and educate - the community about the human
services system
The council established a “Communications and Education
committee” to consider various ideas and approaches to
community engagement and education strategies
Some conclusions the group came to ....
Other human services boards, authorities and commissions also have a
mission/charge to educate, inform and engage
Opportunities may exist for the various groups to work together
Setting up a dialogue with those groups might be a logical place to start
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6. Today’s agenda
So, this is what has led us to this gathering today.
We are fortunate that the newly appointed County Executive, Ed Long, is able to be here this
morning . While he may not need an introduction to many of you, this is an opportunity for us to
welcome him to his new role
We will hear from Deputy County Executive Pat Harrison – who is working to enhance our county
departments’ work through better service integration and focus on outcomes for effective service
delivery
We will begin our discussion of community engagement with Terri Freeman, a nationally recognized
leader in creating capacity for citizen participation and ways to leverage advisory groups’ leadership
in community involvement and engagement.
And the main focus – to discuss with all of you to get ideas on ways we might collaborate - to
engage the community, our citizens, our leaders - to understand - and be involved in - the human
services work we support in the community
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7. Let’s get started
Welcome and enjoy
We hope you will find this a worthy use of your time
Members of the Council are eager to hear your
reaction, ideas, and advice on what we might do
together
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