Public policy can play a powerful role in making our community more just. And it can help human service nonprofit organizations make important advances that create lasting, positive and transformative policy change.

Unfortunately, the opposite can be true as well. Public policy can be destructive, harming the community and the lives we are committed to improving.

When it comes to our missions, the impact of changes in public policy is rarely neutral.  And - as leaders of our organizations - that means that we cannot be neutral either.

Is there a way to ensure that our public policies are a source of good? The answer is yes - and our human service nonprofit staffs and boards have a key role to play.