Partnering to transition a statewide community resource and referral network from a non-profit organization into a state health and human services agency.
The Challenge
Integrating a statewide community resource and referral network into the state’s health and human services infrastructure during heightened service demands and budgetary constraints caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Outcome
Throughout the transition, we built community rapport, ensured continuity of operations, and upheld state priorities. Our approach resulted in successful stakeholder engagement, budget analysis and cost-saving strategies, and contract review and negotiation.
Values-Centered Approach
We relied on the values of resilience, collaboration, and curiosity to bring an established, statewide entity into state government while ensuring consistent service delivery for residents in need and responding to the ever-changing COVID-19 environment.
Highlighted Results
700 stakeholders engaged. When the pandemic side-lined planned stakeholder engagement activities, Ikaso designed and analyzed a stakeholder survey to gather input on service delivery and transition priorities. Using feedback from community-based organizations, local leaders, staff members, and other stakeholders, Ikaso created an action-oriented priority report for state leadership.
20 contracts reviewed. We reviewed contracts to assess existing operations alongside the state’s priority needs. Ikaso developed a contract strategy to ensure continuity of services and address budgetary limitations. We then facilitated negotiations with the community resource and referral agency’s key vendors. We served as a thought partner in the creation of organizational infrastructures necessary to realize impact and results in the field of human services
