2018 Policy Institute for Governors’ Human Services Advisors

August 13-15 | Washington, DC

The National Governors Association Center for Best Practices (NGA Center) Economic Opportunity Division hosted a multi-state Policy Institute as a venue for senior leadership in states and territories to discuss best practices to address challenges in human services program delivery and administration and improve outcomes for children and families.

Agenda 

Monday, August 13, 2018

Lunch and Welcoming Remarks

Speakers:

• Kirk Jonas, Director, NGA Center for Best Practices, National Governors Association

Human Services 2018: Where are We Now?

Introduction

• Kim Meinert, Senior Policy Analyst, Human Services Programs, NGA Center for Best Practices, National Governors Association

Federal Context

• Alexandra Cawthorne, Program Director, Human Services, Economic Opportunity Division, NGA Center for Best Practices, National Governors Association
• Clarence Carter, Director, Office of Family Assistance, Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Gubernatorial Context

• Phyllis Bell, Senior Advisor on Child Welfare, Office of Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson
• Shabnam Salih, Policy Advisor, Office of New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy
• Amira Adawe, Manager of the Minnesota Children’s Cabinet, Office of Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton
• Leslie Porter, Cabinet Director and Federal Affairs Director, Office of New Mexico Governor Susana Martinez

National policy discussion: the state-of-affairs and implications (and opportunities) for governors

• Robert Doar, Morgridge Fellow in Poverty Studies, American Enterprise Institute
• Chris Wimer, Director, Center on Poverty and Social Policy, Columbia University

Site Visit: District of Columbia Child and Family Services Agency

• Brenda Donald, Director, District of Columbia Child and family Services Agency

 

Tuesday, August 14, 2018

The Family First Prevention Services Act

• Alexandra Cawthorne, Program Director, Human Services Programs, Economic Opportunity Division, NGA Center for Best Practices, National Governors Association
• Steven Wagner, Acting Assistant Secretary, Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Servcies
• Joo Yeun Chang, Managing Director of Knowledge Management, Casey Family Programs

Plenary Workshop: Implementing Family First

• Rosalynd Erney-Mosser, Policy Analyst, Human Services Programs, Economic Opportunity Division, NGA Center for Best Practices, National Governors Association
• Ann Flagg, Director, Collaborative Centers for Policy and Practice, American Public Human Services Association
• Joo Yeun Chang, Managing Director of Knowledge Management, Casey Family Programs
• Don Winstead, Consultant, Casey Family Programs
• Kay Farley, Executive Director, Government Relations Office, National Center for State Courts
• Marlo Nash, Senior Vice President of Public Policy and Mobilization, The Alliance for Strong Families and Communities
• Heather Forkey; MD, FAAP, Member; Executive Committee; Council on Foster Care, Adoption, and Kinship Care; American Academy of Pediatrics

Concurrent Sessions: Best Practices in Direct Service

Concurrent: Child Welfare track: Building Capacity for Family-Based Placement

• Rosalynd Erney-Mosser, Policy Analyst, Human Services Programs, Economic Opportunity Division, NGA Center for Best Practices, National Governors Association
• Jaia Peterson Lent, Deputy Executive Director, Generations United
• Lynn Tiede, State Campaign Manager, the Children Need Amazing Parents (CHAMPS) Campaign

Concurrent: Income Supports track: Behavioral Economics in Human Services Programs

• Kim Meinert, Senior Policy Analyst, Human Services Programs, Economic Opportunity Division, NGA Center for Best Practices, National Governors Association
• Rekha Balu, Director, Center for Applied Behavioral Science, MDRC
• Melissa Wavelet, Director, Office of Performance and Strategic Outcomes, Colorado Department of Human Services
• Cindy Little, Behavioral Interventions for Child Support (BICS) Project Director, Division of Child Support Services, Georgia Department of Human Services

Addiction and Human Services Programs

• Rosalynd Erney-Mosser, Policy Analyst, Human Services Programs, Economic Opportunity Division, NGA Center for Best Practices, National Governors Association

National Context

• Michelle White, Principal Court Management Consultant, National Judicial Opioid Task Force
• Phil Breitenbucher, Program Director, Children and Family Futures
• Don Winstead, Consultant, Casey Family Programs

State Context

• Michael Becketts, Assistant Secretary for Human Services, North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services
• Carl Leukefeld, Professor, University of Kentucky, Kentucky Targeted Assessment Program
• Barbara Ramlow, Director, Kentucky Targeted Assessment Program

Concurrent Sessions: Closed Door Discussions

Innovations in Addressing Economic Mobility and Intergenerational Poverty

• Kim Meinert, Senior Policy Analyst, Human Services Programs, Economic Opportunity Division, NGA Center for Best Practices, National Governors Association (introduction)
• Matt Stagner, Vice President, Mathematica Policy Research
• Jody Becker, Deputy Secretary; Washington Department of Children, Youth, and Families
• Danielle Barnes, Commissioner, Tennessee Department of Human Services
• Eloise Anderson, Secretary, Wisconsin Department of Children and Families

 

Wednesday, August 15, 2018

Human Services 2035: Where are We Going?

• Kim Meinert, Senior Policy Analyst, Human Services Programs, Economic Opportunity Division, NGA Center for Best Practices, National Governors Association
• Clement Bezold, Chairman and Senior Futurist, Institute for Alternative Futures
• Kathleen Brennan, Deputy Commissioner, Connecticut Department of Human Services
• Shannon Lott, Director of Leadership and Employee Development, Mississippi Department of Human Services

Concurrent Sessions: Engaging Constituent Voices

Concurrent: Child Welfare track: Authentic Youth Engagement Incorporating Youth Voices

• Rosalynd Erney-Mosser, Policy Analyst, Human Services Programs, Economic Opportunity Division, NGA Center for Best Practices, National Governors Association
• Joe Goldsmith, Regional Network Manager, Northeast Region, Youth Villages
• AnneMarie Millie Rainwater, youth leader, Tennessee
• DeMarco Davis, youth leader, North Carolina
• Lanitta Aprel Berry, youth leader, Oklahoma
• Stanley Profete, youth leader, Massachussetts

Concurrent: Income Supports Track: Innovations in Customer Service and Case Planning for Families

• Kim Meinert, Senior Policy Analyst, Human Services Programs, Economic Opportunity Division, NGA Center for Best Practices, National Governors Association
• David Stillman, Assistant Secretary, Economic Services Administration, Washington Department of Social and Human Services
• Dan Haun, Deputy Director of Self Sufficiency Programs, Oregon Department of Human Services
• Sheena McConnell, Senior Vice President and Managing Director of Human Services, Mathematica Policy Research

Maintaining High-Quality Human Service Program Delivery through Gubernatorial Transition

• Kim Meinert, Senior Policy Analyst, Human Services Programs, Economic Opportunity Division, NGA Center for Best Practices, National Governors Association
• Nikki Guilford, Director, Office of Management Consulting and Training, National Governors Association
• Karen Aldridge-Eason, Foundation Liaison, Office of Michigan Governor Rick Snyder
• Marketa Walters, Secretary, Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services

Closing Remarks

• Alexandra Cawthorne, Program Director, Human Services Programs, Economic Opportunity Division, NGA Center for Best Practices, National Governors Association

Resources and Handouts

• Report: Anne E. Casey Foundation 2018 Kids Count Data Book
• Report: MDRC on Behavioral Strategies to Increase Engagement in Child Support
• Brief: DC Child and Family Services report on Safe and Stable Families Redesign
• Handout: Colorado Redesigned Child Support Wallet Card reminder
• Handout: Colorado original Child Support Wallet Card
• Handout: Colorado Behavioral Decision-Tree
• Infographic: Colorado Child Support
• Brief: Georgia Behavioral Economics Research Summary
• Handout: Grandfamilies.org legal resources for grandfamilies within and outside the child welfare agency
• Infographic: State of Grandfamilies
• Handout: DC CFSA Parent Engagement, Education, and Resource (PEER) Support Unit explainer
• Report: Substance Use, the Opioid Epidemic and the Child Welfare System Study, US Department of Health and Human Services
• Handout: University of Kentucky Targeted Assessment Program

 

The Economic Opportunity Division at the National Governors Association Center for Best Practices would like to thank the Annie E. Casey Foundation and Casey Family Programs for their generous support of this cross-state convening.