Human-Centered Systems Thinking | IDEO U
In the Fall of 2022, I had a chance to apply further systems thinking for The Incoming Project through IDEO-U’s Human Centered Systems Thinking course. The course and project zoomed in and out to understand the refugee resettlement in Baltimore and the people who interact with that system.
Local immigrant and refugee agencies are at times siloed and have trouble communicating with each other when there is a influx of refugees and immigrants to Baltimore (i.e. Afghan Refugees/Operations Allies Welcome). Collaboration becomes a reaction to larger programmatic agencies not supporting smaller local agencies.
An ideal system would allow for resettlement agencies to have better communication and regular collaboration to better prepare for humanitarian crises. The system would also leverage expertise and resources of each agency to support immigrants and refugees.
Once we were able to redesign/re-map the system (Step #2) and revised our “how might we…” statement, we identified a leverage point to intervene for meaningful impact. We focused our efforts to better understand donor funding, “grantsmanship” processes and philanthropy for local resettlement agencies to better position their financial capacity for support services they provide. Six key broad leverage points were identified.
Parts of the Future Development Strategy for the Partner Agency are private due to the Board of Directors voting on adoption and implementation of the Strategy.
Examples of leverage points or “Focus Areas” include:
How might we move from a system where programmatic agencies receive a large portion of donor and financial support to a system that creates bandwidth for smaller local resettlement agencies to increase their financial capacity?
Through the redesigned system, we were able to imagine a complex refugee resettlement system that is more connected and financially holistic.
Local resettlement agencies have access to financial resources equal to larger programmatic agencies.
The network map showed the interconnections within the complex immigrant and refugee resettlement system in Baltimore. Stakeholders and their relationships were mapped along with a zoomed in view of where resources are channeled. The network map boundary is confined to Baltimore City and its immediate surrounding area (app. 15 mile radius). The map was redesigned through a co-creation process with the IOSC to further understand the people/individuals and organizations in the system and how it impacts them.
Step #3: Redesign the System to find Leverage Points
Step #1: Initial Network Map to Visualize the System
Through interviews on how stakeholders perceived the system, we learned the flow of funding is hard to nail down because agencies partner with other agencies on grants and sponsored projects. The revised map removed certain connectors and grouped key stakeholders into "spheres of influence" to better show overlap. Federal and local government agencies were added. This is due to individuals interactions with these government agencies and their effect at local levels.
Partner Agency: Immigration Outreach Service Center
Year: 2022
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Mayors Office of Immigrant Affairs (MIMA)
Maryland Office of Refugees and Asylees (MORA)
International Rescue Committee (IRC) – Baltimore Field Office
Department of State (DoS)
US Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS)
US Resettlement Agencies (IRC, LIRS, HIAS, EMM, CWS, USCCB, etc…)
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Baltimore City & County
Moravia Avenue Afghan Community, Baltimore
International Rescue Committee (IRC) – Baltimore & Sandy Springs, MD
Lutheran Immigration & Refugee Service (LIRS)
The Access Partnership (TAP)
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Immigration Outreach Service Center (IOSC)
Episcopal Refugee & Immigrant Center Alliance (ERICA)
Ahmadiyya Muslim Community (Balt. Chapter)
ESPERANZA Center (Catholic Charities)
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Refugee Families (avg. 5 people)
Soccer without Borders (Baltimore)
Baltimore Medical Systems (BMS)
BCCC’s Refugee Youth Project
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Refugees: Afghan, Syrian, Congolese, Venezuelan, Eritrean, Iraqi
Step #2: Revised Network Map with Clusters to Humanize the System
Baltimore Refugee System - Levels of Analysis Framework
Step #4: Future State of the Refugee Resettlement System