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FrameWorks UK

Human Services

When public programs are likened to a “safety net”, people assume services exist only to catch those who fall. Framing helps broaden thinking.

Language has a powerful effect on how people think about fostering human wellbeing—and the level of investment in it. Common strategies—like defending the “safety net” and rebutting myths about benefits—create a cycle of bickering and budget cuts.

A new narrative can focus the public’s attention on the larger purpose of human services: to bring out the full potential of everyone in our society.

Explore how to change this conversation.

Featured Work

Human Services
Toolkit

Building a New Narrative on Human Services

Welcome to Building a New Narrative on Human Services – a collection of framing research, recommendations, and sample communications designed to help leading voices explain the importance of...
Report

Talking Human Services: A FrameWorks MessageMemo

This study details an investigation into how communicators can reframe human services to fundamentally reshape public understanding of the sector’s work.
Report

Telling a New Coming-of-Age Story: Mapping the Gaps between Expert and Public Understandings of Transition Age Youth

This analysis yields important insights and actionable strategies that communicators can use to navigate and shift public thinking.

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Report

“Anyone Can Do It… Wake up, Rise up and Get Some Gumption”: Mapping the Gaps Between Expert and Public Understandings of Resilience and Developmental Outcomes

This report summarizes the findings of a multi-year study that sought to translate the science of early childhood development and the issue of resilience.
Report

Changing Addiction from a “Sin Problem”: Peer Discourse Sessions on Addiction in Alberta

This research maps the public discourse that shapes how Albertans reason about issues of addiction and treatments that are seen as appropriate and effective.
Frame Testing Recommendations

Framing Early Child Development

This Message Brief offers the most essential considerations when framing early childhood issues.
Frame Testing Recommendations

Talking to Business Leaders About Early Childhood Development

This Message Brief offers advice for talking to business leaders about the importance of early childhood development.
Report

By, or for, the People? A Meta-analysis of Public Opinion of Government

In this review of existing public opinion research, FrameWorks sought to understand the shape of public attitudes toward government.
Report

Framing Community Health as if Food and Fitness Mattered

This message memo synthesizes our research and recommends strategies to communicate more effectively about community health issues, such as food and fitness.
Frame Testing Recommendations

How to Talk About Food, Fitness, and Community Health

This Message Brief distills strategies for framing issues like obesity, fitness, and nutrition from a social determinants of health perspective.
Report

Fostering a Systematic View of Food and Fitness through Metaphor

What metaphors help people see food and fitness as systemic issues, not just lifestyle choices? This study weighs the effects of different comparisons - and finds that some offer more food for...
Report

Implications of the Consumer Frame for Food and Fitness Cognitive Analysis of Media Depictions

How do advertising and news media affect our thinking about food and fitness? This content analysis identifies common tropes - and the way they influence public thinking about public policy.
Report

Priming More Productive Views of Government: Survey Experiment Results

Negative views of government are no surprise. But the effects of different frames might be.
Frame Testing Recommendations

Talking Early Child Development and Exploring the Consequences of Frame Choices

This MessageMemo synthesizes recommendations for how to frame early childhood development.
Report

Framing Public Issues

This resource was created by the FrameWorks Institute to help issues advocates learn and apply new communications thinking to frame their work for better public understanding and engagement. We...