P&P February 2016

director‘s memo By Tracy Wareing Evans

Boldly Leading Through an Ever-Changing Human Service Landscape

T he theme of this issue is one of my personal favorites because it shines a spotlight on what it takes to lead our field in transformation, and illustrates the complex context within which health and human service leaders operate daily. The issues we face are not linear, simple, or predictable. They do not fit neatly into electoral cycles or grant timelines. They involve many fluc- tuating actors, conditions, and norms. Despite these complexities, health and human service leaders across the nation are boldly leading their agencies through transformative changes. Leaders within our field are asking themselves: „ „ How do we move from managing people to managing networks?

the insights of these leaders at the forefront of our thinking. Below, I’ve highlighted just a few ways in which the talented leaders within this field are steering our collective work: Framing Matters. Framing is critical. As APHSA Board President and Commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Human Services, Dr. Raquel Hatter, has noted: “How we speak about our work matters. We have to speak strategically and artfully, creating a degree of cognitive dissonance that gets people to think differently about something that they have believed in for a long time.”

„ „ How do we move from managing programs to managing resources and systems? „ „ How do we shift focus from program delivery focused on a single pre- senting issue to a prevention and population-based health lens that addresses risks before they lead to problems? At APHSA, I have the honor of working with these transformative leaders every day. I am humbled by the stamina, spirit, and smarts that our members and partners bring to the table. As we enter a pivotal year marked by a presidential election and national debate around the growing income divide, we do well to keep

See Director’s Memo on page 30

Illustration via Shutterstock

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February 2016   Policy&Practice