Tuesday, December 6

1:00 pm - 5:00 pm

Policy Seminars and Workshops

Wednesday, December 7

10:30 am - Noon

Join administrators from the USDA’s Food and Nutrition
Service to discuss the upcoming Farm Bill reauthorization
in 2007.  This past year, the USDA has held a series of
public forums to seek input on the development of their
recommendations for reauthorization.  This roundtable
session is devoted specifically to giving state lawmakers
an opportunity to share their concerns and suggestions
related to the nutrition title of the Farm Bill (primarily
the Food Stamp Program).

Financing Comprehensive Children’s Mental Health
Programs

Speaker:  Knute Rotto, CEO, Choices,  Inc.

1:30 - 4:00 p.m. Human Services and Welfare Committee Meets

Addressing Hunger and Nutrition in Your Community       

The challenges of hunger and nutrition are faced in every
community, and state lawmakers are in a unique position to
address these concerns.  This session will highlight current
issues related to hunger and implementation of the federal
nutrition programs.  Representatives from the USDA's Food
and Nutrition Service and from private and non-profit agencies
will join us to share examples of innovative programs to reduce
hunger and improve nutrition. 

Supporting Low-income Fathers: Fatherhood Programs,
Marriage, and Child Support

How can states craft policies that support intact families, encourage
healthy marriage and provide opportunities for fragile and fractured
families to co-parent?

Opening Plenary Session: The Economic Outlook in an
Uncertain Time

The destruction wreaked by Hurricane Katrina has left many
economists uncertain about its short- and long-term effects
on the nation’s economy—on energy prices, jobs, agricultural
commodities and many others. A member of the Chicago
Federal Reserve will offer his insights into the country’s
economic outlook.

Speaker:

William Strauss-Senior Economist and Economic Advisor,
Federal Reserve Bank, Chicago, Illinois

 Steering Committee

 6:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.

Thursday, December 8

8:00 a.m. - 9:30 a.m.

Plenary Breakfast: Emergency Preparedness - Lessons
Learned from Hurricane Katrina

Preparing for and responding to disasters is clearly a joint
responsibility of the federal, state and local governments.
That was one of the fundamental lessons learned from the
terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 and learned again
in the response to Hurricane Katrina.

   9:45 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Human Services Committee Meets

Federal Update and Business Meeting

Learn the latest from Washington about federal actions
that will affect your state programs—especially federal
budget reconciliation.   Following the update, the Committee
will consider and vote on policy resolutions.  Those resolutions
may include NCSL existing policies on Low Income Energy
Assistance, Nutrition Assistance Programs, and Nurturing
Responsible Families.

Speakers: Sheri Steisel, Federal Affairs Counsel,
Senior Director, Human Services, NCSL/D.C.

Lee Posey, Senior Policy Specialist, NSCL/D.C.

Lunch session: How Did Katrina Change the Debate About
Poverty in America?

Hurricane Katrina left us with powerful images of poverty and
despair that shocked the country.  Three months later, has that
translated into a policy discussion about how to address the
problem, or has the political storm subsided?

Participants will learn about Illinois' work to support grandparent
and relative caregivers and the children in their care.  This will
include a discussion of the state's Title IV-E subsidized guardianship
demonstration grant program which offered monthly subsidy
payments equal to state adoption assistance payments for
eligible caretakers and licensed foster parents for children in their
care.  

 3:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Reaching Out to Disconnected Youth: Positive
Youth Development

An estimated 2.8 million Americans between the ages of
16 and 24 are “disconnected,” –neither in school nor
employed. During these critical years, youth need to be
connected to communities and caring adults to develop
the necessary skills to become successful adults.  This
session will provide strategies for states to engage and
reconnect youth to work and school.  These investments
positively influence life outcomes for these teens and
young adults. 

 4:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.

 5:15 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.

 6:15 p.m. - 7:45 p.m.

Friday, December 9

 Special Briefings

Fall Forum Business Meeting: Debate and Voting an
Official Policy Statements and Resolutions

Plenary Lunch:  American Politics Chicago Style

Chicago politics is the stuff of mythology. For decades,
Americans have been fascinated by the rough and tumble
of our prototypical Midwestern city. A long-time observer
of the Chicago political scene will explore the history of
American politics Chicago style and bring us up-to-date
on the latest iterations.

1:30 am - 5:00 pm

Staff Sections
Task Forces
Ancillary Groups
Workshops