Untapped Talent Consortium

The Challenge

There is an acute workforce shortage in the human services industry, and the importance of foreign-born and BIPOC workers to the stability of this industry cannot be overstated.

The human service industry in Massachusetts is facing unprecedented growth and related workforce shortages. The cycle of prolonged vacancies and being chronically understaffed limits employers capacity to.

Preserve consistent therapeutic relationships with clients and consumers
Maintain proper staff/client ratios
Meet contractual or compliance obligations
Protect the organization’s financial health
Expand services in the community
Provide staff with necessary professional development and supports to foster job satisfaction

Studies highlight increasing dependence on foreign born workers...

1 in 5 human service workers are foreign-born, comprising 80% of the workforce in some agencies.

60% of the industry workforce identifies as BIPOC.

Simmons University was commissioned by ABN and four partner agencies to conduct the “Pathways to Leadership” study to document the concerns of human service foreign-born workers. Completed in March 2020, study findings included:

Limited trajectories for foreign-born into leadership positions
Disparities in salaries for foreign-born and people of color
The need for more professional training opportunities

The Solution

The Untapped Talent Consortium

Provides an opportunity for employers to collaboratively address some of the most daunting roadblocks that affect the consistency, quality, and efficiency of service delivery through the retention and advancement of the foreign-born and BIPOC workforce.

Through the Consortium, human services agencies seeking to support their foreign-born workforce and promptly advance meaningful solutions can join their peers and learn collectively from their experiences. Members are provided with collaboration, peer learning, and support around solutions that will effectively advance the career development and inclusion of the foreign-born workforce.

Members hold bimonthly sessions, facilitated by experienced Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) consultants and ABN, to collaborate to develop and implement new practices, policies and approaches to support and retain foreign-born workers.

Member Results

Increased skills and capacity among foreign-born and BIPOC workforce.
Increased retention of foreign-born and BIPOC professionals.
Increased diversity among leadership team.

Current Membership

Contact Emmanuel Owusu, Executive Director, at emmanuel@africanbn.org for more information.