THE UNITED NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSES OF NEW YORK INC

UNH DEVELOPED A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE GRADUATE SCHOOL OF SOCIAL SERVICES AT FORDHAM UNIVERSITY TO OFFER MONTHLY COURSES FOR SOCIAL WORKERS AND OTHER SETTLEMENT HOUSE STAFF ON MEANING-CENTERED SUPERVISION AND RESILIENCE-INFORMED PRACTICE. LICENSED SOCIAL WORKERS RECEIVED CONTINUING EDUCATION CREDITS, WHICH ARE OTHERWISE COSTLY AND OFTEN DIFFICULT TO OBTAIN.UNH PROVIDED LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT OFFERINGS AT VARIOUS LEVELS ACROSS THE UNH NETWORK:1) SUPERVISORY ESSENTIALS IS A WEEK-LONG CUSTOMIZED VIRTUAL TRAINING FOR RECENTLY PROMOTED NEW MANAGERS WHO ARE WORKING FOR THE FIRST TIME AS A SUPERVISOR. 2) LEADING FOR IMPACT IS AN 11-SESSION COURSE FOCUSED ON LEADERSHIP AND NETWORKING AND IS DESIGNED FOR SETTLEMENT HOUSE LEADERS WITH TWO TO FOUR YEARS OF MANAGERIAL EXPERIENCE WHO ARE RECOGNIZED AS POTENTIAL FUTURE LEADERS PREPARED TO TAKE THE NEXT STEPS IN THEIR CAREERS. 3) LEADERSHIP FOR THE FUTURE OF WORK IS A FOUR-PART COURSE DESIGNED SPECIFICALLY FOR SEASONED MANAGERS WORKING WITH FIVE OR MORE YEARS OF MANAGERIAL EXPERIENCE IN COMPLEX ENVIRONMENTS.WE ADVOCATED FOR A BILL TO EXPAND THE NATURALLY OCCURRING RETIREMENT COMMUNITIES (NORCS) PROGRAM TO MORE AREAS ACROSS NYS SO THAT OLDER ADULTS CAN ACCESS SERVICES AND AGE WITH DIGNITY IN THEIR OWN HOMES AND NEIGHBORHOODS. THIS WAS APPROVED BY THE NYS ASSEMBLY & SENATE. WE HOSTED THE FIRST STATEWIDE ALBANY LOBBY DAY SINCE THE START OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC WHERE 50 SETTLEMENT HOUSE LEADERS REPRESENTING 28 SETTLEMENT HOUSES ADVOCATED FOR BUDGET PRIORITIES IN 40 LEGISLATIVE MEETINGS. THE SETTLEMENT HOUSE PROGRAM WAS ULTIMATELY RESTORED IN THE STATE BUDGET! WE WERE FIGHTING TO EXPAND THE WORKING FAMILIES TAX CREDIT TO CREATE MORE ECONOMIC SECURITY FOR NEW YORKERS. THOUGH THIS BILL DID NOT PASS, OUR ADVOCACY HELPED TO SECURE THE AGING DOWN OF THE EMPIRE STATE CHILD CREDIT TO INCLUDE FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN AGES 0-3 FOR THE FIRST TIME. HOSTED A PANEL FOR SETTLEMENT HOUSE BOARD MEMBERS ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF ADVOCACY ACTIVITIES, AND SHARING TECHNIQUES FOR HOW WE MUST RAISE OUR VOICES TO SUPPORT NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES AND THE SETTLEMENT HOUSE WORKFORCE. TESTIFIED AT SEVERAL CITY AND STATE HEARINGS ABOUT STRENGTHENING THE EARLY CHILDHOOD CARE AND EDUCATION SYSTEM AND SALARY PARITY FOR ITS WORKFORCE. MOBILIZED SETTLEMENT HOUSES AND OTHER COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS TO RALLY AGAINST THE MAYOR'S PROPOSED BUDGET CUTS TO YOUTH PROGRAMS.