What’s Coming…
A message for reentry program senior management.
On November 21, last year, a little over two weeks after the election, I published a post titled "Change and Disruption.” This post you’re reading now is an add-on, and I’m confident I’ll have others in the coming months. The US is entering a new phase, perhaps a tectonic political and social shift. It’s happening in real-time but will take months and years to materialize fully. Reentry programs around the country will be impacted. The question is, how? Three things come to mind.
Funding
The move to pause federal government grant funding on January 29th sent shock waves far and wide. It’s been rescinded (for now) and is being litigated. Who’s to say how it will end up? One thing is clear: it’s a colossal shot across the bow for all programs that depend, directly or indirectly, on federal money.
Focus
The status quo is on shaky ground, if not on the way out. The new drivers of federal initiatives and policies have points of view and agendas that do not align with government business as usual per the last 70 years since the end of WWII. There are many nuances to this, but keeping it simple, programs that provide federal funding associated with things “social” are on the block. What’s in? Capitalism, of a sort, but let’s leave it there for now.
Results
As George Mason professor Tyler Cowen pointed out years ago when referring to the impact of digitization and the Internet…”Everything that can be measured will be measured.” Simple, straightforward, profound…digits reign. But just because it could be doesn’t mean it would be—it (digitization and associated “progress” across the board) can be held up by the status quo, and in many ways, it has been (until now.) If you haven’t noticed, the current disruption in DC has a distinct tech/digital footprint. We’ll see how things pan out, but to imagine any outcome OTHER THAN Professor Cowen’s is magical thinking.
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As I inferred in my previous post, reentry program operators must assess their internal status quo in light of inevitably forthcoming changes. Expect changes in funding, new passed-down priorities, and an emphasis on for-profit business models, specifically those associated with tech and startups. At the same time, plan for the need (what your program does, who it serves, etc.) to increase, perhaps significantly.
So, in short, here’s the message to you: change and get a move on. But wait, there are two problems with this. First, as noted, the status quo (the thing, the mindset, the convoluted mix of institutional knowledge and self-interest) doesn't like to change. Second, the beliefs, philosophies, and general orientation to life and helping others held by program decision-makers and the rank and file don’t easily align with the soon-to-be-required for-profit, tech, startup programming update. These two issues make for real deer-in-headlights constipation. For real.
Furthermore, one possible solution might be to go all in, quickly, and thoughtlessly on all things digital, adding technology and techiness to existing processes and reducing or eliminating hands-on, face-to-face services. This will be a big temptation, made all the more tantalizing by the abovementioned two problems.
But don’t.
Instead, embrace the status quo head-on. If you don’t adjust things, someone else will do it for you, someone who doesn't have a helper mindset. And as for helping and the beliefs and philosophies that brought you to this work in the first place, don’t devalue them. Do not chuck them overboard. Hold them close and guard them. Craft an updated program format AROUND them. Make it your goal to produce a service product that’s more human because of the tech.
As for the digit and tech, put them to work, assisting you in providing MORE in-person and face-to-face interaction with your program participants. With tech comes tools, not to replace you and your staff but rather to partner with you.
Get serious about this. The locomotive will soon bear down on you even if you can’t hear the whistle. And a couple more things to keep in mind. Shake up the staff org chart. The OGs (that would be me, btw) need to guide and mentor, but the tech solutions will come from those without many gray hairs. Good. They need engagement, and you need to strengthen your team-family. Plan and work together.
Also, take the business-as-usual social service language set, the status quo nomenclature, and set it aside. The new tech-centric business/startup makeover requires different words and terms. Know them and get on board with them.
Okay, more on this as the story develops. For now, take action before there’s a knock on the door.
Onward!