Reports & Publications

Profiles of Caring: The Human Services & Nonprofit Sector in Massachusetts

Released August 2009

Massachusetts’ social and economic strength is supported by strong families and communities, a
prepared workforce, and an innovative spirit that addresses our economic and social needs.

Nonprofits develop our emerging leaders and social entrepreneurs, provide care for our families and children, and protect our most vulnerable residents. Nonprofits promote education and culture, advocate for a better environment, and engage citizens in policy issues. Nonprofits help to define the incredible character of the Commonwealth’s communities and improve their quality of life. They also provide strong incentives for remaining in or relocating to our state.

Nonprofits strengthen our social fabric, and are essential to improving the quality of life in our state. They are an integral part of “what works” in Massachusetts. This report highlights the work of human service providers, a large portion of our state’s nonprofits, and the impact they have on its residents and the economy. The report also includes data about all nonprofits in Massachusetts, which serve every resident of the Commonwealth.

Click here to read Profiles of Caring. The Providers’ Council, the Human Services Providers Charitable Foundation and Public Consulting Group are pleased to present this report, completed in collaboration with the Urban Institute’s National Center for Charitable Statistics and the National Council of Nonprofits. We thank you for your interest in this report and for doing your part to create caring communities in Massachusetts.

Help Wanted 2: Recruiting and Retaining the Next Generation of Human Services Workers in Massachusetts

Released April 25, 2007

While the human services sector is an essential industry to the Commonwealth — the industry’s more than 100,000 employees serve one in ten residents — anticipated changes in need and demographics in Massachusetts foretell an incredible challenge. This critical workforce analysis prompted thought and accelerated the call for viable solutions.

The Council directed its energy to searching for paths to alleviate the impending crisis. We engaged the Donahue Institute for a second report, this one to look at perceptions of and possible solutions to the main questions that arose from the first report: First, How do we meet our job recruitment needs? And just as importantly, What effective retention strategies can we explore? The research included interviewing national experts and local key informants, developing a questionnaire about turnover and vacancies, conducting a focus group with providers, and surveying the Providers’ Council membership.

On behalf of the Providers’ Council and its members, we hope that this report helps to elevate discussion, encourage engagement in seeking solutions, ameliorate the workforce crisis and restore the promise of the Commonwealth to serve all of our residents regardless of need.

Click here to read Help Wanted 2.  If you're interested in hard copies of the report, they can be ordered from the Council for a small charge. Please call the Council at 617-428-3637 to order.

Released April 2, 2007

Human services one of fastest growing professions. This new report shows that employment grew more than 18 percent over five-year period.The state’s human service sector added nearly 15,000 jobs to the workforce between 1999 and 2004. It has the highest percentage increase of any sector that added more than 1,000 jobs during that time.The state’s human service sector added nearly 15,000 jobs to the workforce between 1999 and 2004. It has the highest percentage increase of any sector that added more than 1,000 jobs during that time.

This report offers readers quick, useful fingertip facts on the size and scope of the nonprofit sector in Massachusetts. The report contains vital information on the number of nonprofit organizations statewide and a special focus on human service providers. The publication includes financial details on Massachusetts' reporting public charities, by sector, county and locale, and an overview of total contributions from top foundations and corporations throughout the state.

Produced jointly by the Providers' Council and the National Center for Charitable Statistics (NCCS) at the Urban Institute, in cooperation with the National Council of Nonprofit Associations, and with financial support from the Public Consulting Group.

Click here to read The Massachusetts Human Services & Nonprofit Sector Report. To order a hard copy of the report, please call the Providers' Council at 617-428-3637.

Help Wanted: The Future of the Human Services Workforce in Massachusetts

Released April 2006

This report sheds light on the human services sector in two seemingly opposed ways: the industry’s strong economic impact on the Commonwealth and its communities; and the current and future workforce crisis facing human services. Workforce issues have led the MCHSP agenda for reform.

Some human services agencies report turnover rates as high as 60 percent for direct care staff. Anecdotal data show a concurrent increase for services coupled with a decline in potential staff; Massachusetts is one of few states with a population currently in decline, a trend that is expected to continue. This report is intended to ferret out the truth and/or misconceptions of the anecdotal data, and to provide a base from which all stakeholders can plan next steps and act accordingly.

On behalf of the Council and its members, we hope this report helps to elevate discussion, engage in seeking solutions, ameliorate the crisis and restore the promise of the Commonwealth to serve our most vulnerable citizens.

Click here to read Help Wanted. Hard copies of the report can be ordered for a small charge by calling the Council at 617-428-3637.