Fors Marsh

Wildfire mitigation and response sparked an AmeriCorps–National Guard partnership. But the lesson is much bigger. As workforce shortages grow and community needs become more complex, collaboration is becoming a necessity rather than a nice-to-have. John Kelly, executive director of Serve Colorado, shares how this innovative partnership is helping communities build workforce capacity while creating direct pathways into careers that support community resilience, homeland defense, and public service. Listen now > https://lnkd.in/eh9_Njbk

California's Commission for Behavioral Health is entering a new phase of growth and implementation.   With a $71.4 million budget fully restored and 13 Innovation Partnership Fund grants awarded, the commission's renewed focus on mental health and substance use is already taking shape. That includes a new law establishing free online suicide prevention training for students, educators, and families statewide.   Read the full recap > https://lnkd.in/eQMT_2Np

The need for public service hasn't changed. The pathways to it are evolving.    Colonel Thomas Banker of the Colorado National Guard discusses how service programs can help communities address workforce needs while creating meaningful opportunities for people looking to make a difference.    The conversation offers a fresh perspective on workforce development, civic engagement, and how investing in people through service can help prepare them to shape their careers.     Listen now > https://lnkd.in/eh9_Njbk  

Helping people get the care and support they need takes more than any one program or service.   HHS's latest funding announcement supports a range of efforts across the continuum of care, from homelessness outreach and suicide prevention to substance use disorder treatment, peer support, and workforce development. Our latest article breaks down where the funding is going and how it may support behavioral health systems nationwide. Read more > https://lnkd.in/eRtFEDMv

If you fund, lead, or support a program that works in one place but struggles in another, the program itself may not be the problem. The difference often comes down to implementation: - Do teams have the capacity to deliver it well? - Does the support reflect the realities of each setting? - Are you measuring what is working early enough to improve it? Implementation science helps organizations answer those questions before uneven results become entrenched. In a new Q&A, our abraham wandersman explains how implementation science and Getting To Outcomes® help leaders identify where delivery is breaking down and build the capacity, support, and feedback loops needed to improve results. Read the Q&A >https://lnkd.in/eHi6Zuk9

When Californians see higher electricity bills, wildfire isn't always the first factor that comes to mind.   But according to California energy regulators, wildfire prevention costs, utility liability, and investments to reduce future wildfire risk are becoming a larger part of the state's electricity affordability challenge. Our latest article explores how those costs show up in customer bills and the efforts underway to help offset them. Read more > https://lnkd.in/e-Hd-RMk

All eyes on California. 👀 Our team closed out a super productive week in LA co-hosting our fifth iHeartMedia Industry Day. We left the room connected, energized, and ready to collaborate and bring more heart and human-centered solving to the Golden State. A big thank you to our co-hosts, Unified Partnerships, and to the current and future partners who joined us. Let’s get to work.

Resilience starts with people.    As communities face growing demands, workforce shortages are becoming a challenge across emergency management, public service, and preparedness efforts.    In Colorado, leaders are testing a different approach to meet the challenge.    In this episode of Empathy Affect, Serve Colorado's John Kelly and Colorado National Guard's Colonel Thomas Banker discuss how a first-of-its-kind AmeriCorps–National Guard collaboration is creating new pathways to service while helping communities prepare for wildfires and strengthen homeland defense and community resilience. Listen now on your favorite podcast platform:    Apple Podcasts > https://lnkd.in/g3Zyw6Gn Spotify > https://lnkd.in/gYqtBej9 iHeart Radio > https://lnkd.in/g3VYRQxr