NCSL Fall Forum
December 8-10, 2010
Phoenix, Arizona

Summary of Network sessions and other sessions of interest. Presentations and recordings will be posted as they are available.

Visit the Fall Forum multimedia page for additional information.

Wednesday, December 8 - Thursday, December 9, 2010

Preconference: Policy Options to Improve the Health of Women of All Ages

This seminar featured presentations from national and state experts about improving women’s health.

Visit the multimedia page for audio recordings of each session.

NCSL gratefully acknowledges the support of Novartis for sponsoring this seminar.

Women and Healthy Aging

This session highlighted key points for policymakers to consider to ensure healthy aging for older women. Topics included chronic disease management, Medicare, mental health, dementia and Alzheimer’s and health disparities within this population of women. 

Faculty:

• Alixe McNeill, Vice President for Program Development, National Council On Aging. PowerPoint Presentation. ( 33-page PDF file) 
• Ramona Rusinak, RN, PhD, Health Aging Liaison, Arizona Department of Health Services. PowerPoint presentation. ( 20-page PDF file)
• Senator Betty Boyd, Colorado. PowerPoint presentation. ( 8-page PDF file)

Investing in the Next Generation of Women

This session addressed policy options, federal programs and opportunities to invest in the health of young women.

Faculty:

• Yvonne Green, RN, CNM, MSN, Director, Office of Women's Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. PowerPoint presentation. ( 16-page PDF file)
• Shannon Lynberg, National Director, Younger Women’s Task Force, National Council of Women’s Organizations. PowerPoint presentation. ( 13-page PDF file) Shannon Lynberg was not able to attend due to a last-minute conflict; NCSL staff presented her PowerPoint slides.

Dinner and Plenary: Women and Health Reform

Tracey Hyams discussed the opportunities within health reform to improve women’s health, what this means for states, and the role of state legislators in this context. 

Keynote Speaker:

• Tracey Hyams, Director, Women's Health Policy and Advocacy, Connors Center for Women's Health and Gender Biology, Brigham and Women's Hospital. PowerPoint presentation. (39-page PDF file)

Breakfast and Women's Health Policy Options Discussion

Participants discussed efforts and opportunities in their states to improve the health of women. Participants reviewed a list of NCSL Women’s Health Policy Options that will be distributed to legislators across the nation.

Teen Pregnancy Prevention Luncheon

Each year 400,000 babies are born to girls 19 or younger. Teen moms and their children are more likely to struggle with poverty, health and educational attainment as a result of being thrust into adult lives too soon. State governments’ increased costs associated with early childbearing reach into the billions each year. A national leader in prevention, Sarah Brown, presented strategies policymakers can use to reduce teen pregnancy rates. Read an NCSL Brief on teen pregnancy prevention.

Speaker:

• Sarah Brown, National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy, Washington, D.C.

Dodd Frank: Who Won—-Banks or Consumers?
NCSL Communications, Financial Services and Interstate Commerce Committee

Moving from Campaigning to Legislating
NCSL Legislative Effectiveness Committee

Legislators often have a tough time putting a contentious campaign behind them after the session starts. Staff can be deeply affected as well. This session examined ways to move forward and work across the aisle.

Moderator:

• Anne Sappenfield, Legislative Council Staff, Wisconsin

Panelists:

• Jeffrey Finch, House Clerk's Office, Virginia
• Senator Terrie W. Huntington, Kansas
• Senator Richard T. Moore, Massachusetts

Opening General Session

Christopher Thornberg, a leading economic forecaster, was one of the first economists to predict the housing market crisis and the recession that followed.

Video recording.

Women's Legislative Network Meet and Greet

Network board members, advisory council members and friends discussed plans for 2011.

Friday, December 10, 2010

Heart Health: What's Salt Got to Do With It? 
NCSL Health Committee

Heart disease is the No. 1 killer of Americans. Come learn how reducing salt in our food can prevent high blood pressure, heart attact and stroke. Hear about state procurement efforts, collaboration with businesses, and other policy options to improve cardiovascular health and reduce costs.

Facilitator: Senator Betty Boyd, Colorado

Audio recording of session.

Speakers:

• Janelle Peralez-Gunn, Division for Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Georgia. PowerPoint presentation. (16-page PDF file)
• Christine Johnson, New York City Department of Health - Cardiovascular Disease Prevention and Control Program, New York. PowerPoint presentation. (13-page PDF file)
• Lauren Smith, Massachusetts Department of Public Health. PowerPoint presentation. (10-page PDF file)
• Joy Dubost, National Restaurant Association, Washington, D.C. PowerPoint presentation. (15-page PDF file)

Not for Sale: End the Sex Trafficking of Children
NCSL Human Services & Welfare and Law & Criminal Justice Committees, NCSL Task Force on Immigration and the States

A recent national study said some 100,000-200,000 U.S. children are exploited in sex trade each year and sometimes are treated as juvenile delinquents or adult prostitutes. This session explored related state and federal actions to combat minor sex trafficking and hear about investigations of specific cases and social services offered to victims.

Moderators:

• Assemblymember William C. Horne, Nevada
• Senator Renee Unterman, Georgia

Panelists:

• Senator Jeanne Kohl-Welles, Washington
• Glenn Mucci, Phoenix Police Department - Vice Enforcement Unit, Arizona
• Erin Otis, Maricopa County Attorney's Office - Child Sexual Exploitation Bureau, Arizona
• Linda Smith, Shared Hope International, Washington

General Session Luncheon

Lou Cannon, respected journalist and critically acclaimed author of President Reagan: The Role of a Lifetime, is an astute observer of politics and elections. This former Washington Post writer gave his insights into the November election, what it means for Congress and the impact on the states.

Issue Forum: Civility in Government

Cassandra Dahnke and Tomas Spath of the Institute for Civility in Government discussed what civility is and why it is important, and led participants in listening and communication exercises.

• Presiding: Senator Richard T. Moore, Massachusetts

Issue Forum: Jobs Jobs Jobs: State Actions to Boost Employment

While the longest recession since the Great Depression has ended, the unemployment rate is still over nine percent. The economy is showing green shoots but state revenues remain down and the prospects of a jobless recovery seem very real. This session examined state and national unemployment trends, explored strains on the state-federal partnership in providing unemployment benefits, and offered about concrete examples of what states are doing or can do to boost employment.

Audio recording.

Moderator:

•  Representative Lana Gordon, Kansas

Speakers:

• Andy Baldwin, Arizona Department of Economic Security - Unemployment Insurance Administration. PowerPoint presentation. (23-page PDF file)
• Elizabeth Echols, U.S. Small Business Administration, Washington, D.C. PowerPoint presentation. (26-page PDF file)

Issue Forum: Funding Higher Education in Tight Fiscal Times

The recent recession produced such deep cuts to higher education that lawmakers are beginning to rethink fundamental funding and policy issues. This session discussed recent trends in state higher education budgets and some of the strategies policymakers are considering to revamp funding and improve productivity.

• Moderator: Lana Oleen, Lana Oleen Consulting Services, Kansas
• Panelists: Dennis Jones, National Center for Higher Education Management Systems, Colorado
• David Longanecker, Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education, Colorado
• Jane Wellman, Delta Cost Project, Washington, D.C.

Issue Forum: State Waivers and the Affordable Care Act

The new health law will expand Medicaid, require Americans to be insured, encourage employers to provide coverage and establish health insurance exchanges. States will have some flexibility to develop alternative plans through waivers.

• Speakers: Edmund Haislmaier, The Heritage Foundation, Washington, D.C.
• Robin Lunge, Legislative Counsel, Vermont

Fall Forum Reception