This invitational meeting, sponsored by the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) in partnership with the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), brings together chairs of the Health and Human Services Committees around the country to learn and strategize about improving health and human services through policy innovations and opportunities. The meeting will focus on timely health and human services topics including health, housing and human services; Medicaid; the Family First Prevention Services Act; the health and human services workforce; and behavioral health.
Participants will work across domains to achieve the following:
- Build knowledge of health and human services issues.
- Exchange policy options, best practices and successes in health and human services.
- Foster connections among legislators and issue experts.
- Consider how to apply new information in states and develop individual action plans.
Tuesday, June 25
Time |
Sessions |
4:30-5 p.m.
Fireside
|
Registration
|
5-6 p.m.
Fireside
|
Networking and Reception
|
6-8 p.m.
Fireside
|
Welcome Dinner
Moderators: Kate Blackman, NCSL
Wade Fickler, NCSL
Speaker: Josh Davies, Center for Work Ethic Development
|
Wednesday, June 26
8-8:30 a.m.
Bluebell Ballroom
|
Breakfast Buffet and Networking
|
8:30-9 a.m.
Bluebell Ballroom
|
Welcome and Overview
Speakers: Kate Blackman, NCSL
Wade Fickler, NCSL
|
9-9:15 a.m.
Bluebell Ballroom
|
NCSL in D.C. | Powerpoint | PDF file-8 pages
NCSL’s D.C. staff will provide an overview of their roles and the issues they are following in the nation’s capital.
Speakers: Haley Nicholson, NCSL
Margaret Wile, NCSL
|
9:15-10:30 a.m.
Bluebell Ballroom
|
Good Morning, Medicaid! | Powerpoint | PDF file-33 pages
This session provides an overview of emerging opportunities within the Medicaid program to design services and supports for the whole person across all sectors, such as housing, transportation or nutritious food.
Speakers: Emily Blanford, NCSL
Roxane A. Townsend, Health Management Associates
|
10:30-10:45 a.m. |
Break
|
10:45-Noon
Bluebell Ballroom
|
Innovating Your Child Welfare System with Family First | Powerpoint | PDF file-13 pages
This session focuses on the federal Family First Prevention Services Act, the opportunities it presents for states, and ways legislators can reshape the child welfare system within their states.
Moderator: Nina Williams-Mbengue, NCSL
Speaker: Christine Calpin, Casey Family Programs
|
Noon-1:15 p.m.
Fireside
|
Lunch and Networking
|
1:30-3:30 p.m.
Bluebell Ballroom
|
Building Qualified and Sustainable Workforces in Health and Human Services | Powerpoint | PDF file-36 pages
This session explores challenges and opportunities in different workforces, including early childhood education, child welfare, primary health care and behavioral health care.
Moderators: Sydne Enlund, NCSL
Julie Poppe, NCSL
Speakers: Suzanne Hultin, NCSL
Hannah Maxey, Bowen Center for Health Workforce, Indiana University
Jennifer Stedron, Early Milestones Colorado
Nina Williams-Mbengue, NCSL
|
3:30-3:45 p.m. |
Break
|
3:45-4:15 p.m.
Bluebell Ballroom
|
Developing Action Plans |
4:15-4:45 p.m. |
Mini-Session: Getting to Zero: Ending HIV Transmission | Powerpoint | PDF file-15 pages
This session examines HIV prevalence and transmission rates in the United States. Participants will explore federal efforts to lower transmission rates, including what support is available to states and what state and local governments are doing to reduce transmission.
Speakers: Charlie Severance-Medaris, NCSL
Margaret Wile, NCSL
Haley Nicholson, NCSL
|
4:45-5 p.m. |
Wrap-up |
Thursday, June 27
8-8:30 a.m.
Bluebell Ballroom
|
Breakfast Buffet and Networking |
8:30-9 a.m.
Bluebell Ballroom
|
Mini-Session: Opportunity Youth: Prevention & Reengagement Strategies | Powerpoint | PDF file-13 pages
This session explores policies that prevent disconnectedness among “opportunity youth” (16- to 24-year-olds who are not working nor in school) or spur their reengagement with education or the workforce.
Speaker: Richard Williams, NCSL
|
9-10:15 a.m.
Bluebell Ballroom
|
Addressing Behavioral Health Across the Lifespan | Powerpoint | PDF file-19 pages
This session examines state policy options to address behavioral health across the lifespan. From preventing early Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) to intervening in adolescence and adulthood, participants will discuss how behavioral health disproportionately impacts certain populations and explore policy levers available to address this complicated issue.
Moderator: Karmen Hanson, NCSL
Speakers: Lynda Zeller, Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities Administration, Michigan
Margaret Wile, NCSL
Haley Nicholson, NCSL
|
10:15-10:30 a.m. |
Break |
10:30-11 a.m.
Bluebell Ballroom
|
Action Planning and Networking
|
11-12:15 p.m.
Bluebell Ballroom
|
Housing is the Best Medicine | Powerpoint | PDF file-12 pages
Research demonstrates a strong link between housing and health. This session will provide legislators the opportunity to share housing issues in their state and ideas for addressing these issues from health and human services perspectives.
Moderator: Meghan McCann, NCSL
Speaker: Marcella Maguire, Corporation for Supportive Housing
|
12:15-12:45 p.m.
Bluebell Ballroom
|
Lunch and Closing |
12:45 p.m. |
Adjourn
|
Additional Resources