The Human Layer: Agency, Advocacy, and Community Engagement
Systems don't implement themselves — people make them work, or make them fail.
Technology alone can’t make work requirement systems succeed, people do. States that invested heavily in tech but little in navigation support saw thousands lose coverage, not due to noncompliance, but confusion. Professional navigators are vital but can’t scale to 18.5 million people. The solution is a layered approach: experts for complex cases, peer-driven support for trust and reach, and volunteers for community engagement. Without this human infrastructure, systems will fail, case managers will burn out, and vulnerable populations will fall through the cracks.
Upon making work requirement systems effective, these community organizations face a tough choice: help individuals comply, or resist policies they see as harmful. Many will do both, balancing navigation support with advocacy while struggling with capacity and mission drift. Sustainable solutions require hybrid funding, trust-based engagement, and innovative models like Community Inclusive Social Enterprises (CISE). With credentialing, payment systems, and matching infrastructure, CISE and volunteer credits can transform work requirements from a burden into an opportunity for agency and mutual aid.
True success in building human infrastructure isn’t just about compliance rates, it’s about whether people experience these systems as genuinely supportive. Users should be able to access clear, timely information in formats that are easy to understand and delivered by trusted sources. Help should respect autonomy and expertise, and navigation should feel challenging but manageable, not overwhelming. Navigators and case managers should feel valued, supported, and equipped to solve problems, while community organizations maintain their missions and autonomy. This standard should guide the next 14 months of infrastructure building, ensuring people can navigate work requirements without losing the healthcare coverage they depend on.
Check out Syam Adusumilli’s full article for a comprehensive look at why human infrastructure, not just technology, is the key to making work requirements effective and sustainable.
