Parents and Children Thriving Together: Two-Generation State Policy Network Kickoff Meeting

March 20-22, 2017 | Denver, Colorado

The National Governors Association for Best Practices (NGA Center) and the Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP) held a kickoff meeting for Parents and Children Thriving Together: Two-Generation State Policy Network (PACTT Network) states on March 20-22, 2017 in Denver, Colorado. During the kickoff meeting, participating states: built a common understanding of the project goals of achieving “high impact” two-generational policy and systems change; deepened their understanding of two-generational system and policy change; assessed challenges and opportunities related to two-generation state policy and systems work, and began to identify solutions and pathways forward; developed relationships across the PACTT Network states and supporting organizations; and refined their two-generation action plans and articulate next steps for when they return home.

Agenda

Presentations

March 20, 2017

Welcome and Introductions
Speakers:

• Alexandra Cawthorne, program director, Economic Opportunity Division, NGA Center
• Hannah Matthews, director, Child Care and Early Education, CLASP
• Paula Sammons, program officer, W.K. Kellogg Foundation

Introduction to the PACTT Network and State Teams 
Speakers:

• Alexandra Cawthorne, program director, Economic Opportunity Division, NGA Center
• Hannah Matthews, director, Child Care and Early Education, CLASP

Plenary 1: Creating Effective and Efficient Systems for Families 
Moderator:

• Anne Mosle, vice president, the Aspen Institute; executive director, Ascend at the Aspen Institute

Speakers:

• Rynn Bell, teacher’s associate, Jefferson County Head Start
• Ed Walker, participant member, JeffCo Prosperity Project
• Aaron Roybal, participant member, JeffCo Prosperity Project

Plenary 2:  The Federal Landscape and Implications for Two-Generation State Policy
Speakers:

• Olivia Golden, executive director, CLASP
• Martin Simon, associate director, Economic Opportunity Division, NGA Center
• Anne Mosle, vice president, the Aspen Institute; executive director, Ascend at the Aspen Institute

Concurrent Workshops

Workshop A: Reforming Policy, Funding and Program Operations: Supporting Families in a More Integrated and Easily Accessible Way
Moderator:

• Olivia Golden, executive director, CLASP

Speaker:

• Greg Kunz, deputy administrator, Division of Welfare and Self-Reliance Programs, Idaho Department of Health and Welfare

Workshop B: Data for Diagnosis: Using Data to Advance Two-Generation Strategies
Moderator:

• Nia West-Bey, senior policy analyst, CLASP

Speaker:

• Whitney LeBoeuf, senior research associate, Actionable Intelligence for Social Policy, Penn Child Research Center, Graduate School of Education, University of Pennsylvania

Remarks from the Colorado Governor’s Office

• Donna Lynne, lieutenant governor, Colorado

March 21, 2017

Introduction to the Day

• R. Kirk Jonas, director, NGA Center
• Hannah Matthews, director, Child Care and Early Education, CLASP

Plenary 3:  Leading for Change and What It Takes
Moderator:

• Alexandra Cawthorne, program director, Economic Opportunity Division, NGA Center

Speakers:

• Reggie Bicha, executive director, Colorado Department of Human Services
• Patricia Moran, assistant commissioner, New Jersey Department of Labor & Workforce Development
• Olivia Golden, executive director, CLASP

Concurrent Workshops

Workshop C:  Learning by Design: Using Data and Evaluation to Scale Innovation
Moderator:

• Stephen Harrington, policy analyst, Economic Opportunity Division, NGA Center

Speakers:

• Marjorie Sims, managing director, Ascend, The Aspen Institute
• Mary Bogle, senior research associate, Metropolitan Housing and Communities Policy Center, Urban Institute
• Maria Duryea, lead analyst, Office of Business Intelligence, Oregon Department of Human Services
• Michelle Derr, senior researcher, Mathematica Policy Research

Workshop D: State Policy Reform Efforts: Rural, Urban and Suburban Strategies
Moderator:

• Kimberley Meinert, senior policy analyst, Economic Opportunity Division, NGA Center

Speakers:

• Melvin Carter, executive director, Minnesota Children’s Cabinet
• Amy New, assistant commissioner for rural development, Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development

Plenary 4: Applying a Racial Equity Lens to Two-Generation Strategy Design
Moderator:

• Rosa Maria Castaneda, senior associate, Annie E. Casey Foundation

Speakers:

• Simran Noor, vice president for Policy & Programs, Center for Social Inclusion
• Bill Jaeger, vice president of early childhood initiatives, Colorado Children’s Campaign

March 22, 2017

Plenary 5:  Aligning Early Childhood, Workforce Development and Post-Secondary Education 
Moderator:

• Hannah Matthews, director, Child Care and Early Education, CLASP

Speakers:

• Kristin Bernhard, deputy commissioner for system reform, Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning
• Martin Simon, associate director, Economic Opportunity Division, NGA Center
• Amy Ellen Duke-Benfield, senior policy analyst, CLASP

Plenary 6:  Strategic Communication for Two-Generation Policy and Systems Change
Moderator:

• Alexandra Cawthorne, program director, Economic Opportunity Division, NGA Center

Speakers:

• Julie Sweetland, vice president for strategy and innovation, Frameworks Institute
• Nate McDonald, director of communications, Utah Department of Workforce Services