Agenda and Speakers

Building on Alabama Assets and Opportunities—June 26, 2009

8:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

The Embassy Suites Montgomery Hotel and Conference Center
300 Tallapoosa Street
Montgomery, Alabama 36104
Tel: 1-334-269-5055

View facility

Program

Alabama and the Gulf States region have tremendous opportunities to improve the lives of their people and participate in the global economy of the future. Economic development is one means to get there, but it requires a healthy, educated workforce. How can the region finally solve its systemic challenges in health and education, preserve the best of the past, and invest in the future? The RAND Gulf States Policy Institute aims to create demand for the objective analysis and policy research that can support the region's leaders and build a new tradition of evidence-based decisionmaking.

Please join us in this policy forum. It is an invitation-only event, gathering key stakeholders and decisionmakers from the Gulf States with RAND researchers to discuss key issues, regional priorities, and the role of research and data in problem solving. Lunch and discussion will follow the morning session.

Schedule

8:30 a.m.	Registration and Continental Breakfast
9:00 a.m.	Opening Session Welcome and Introductions Melissa S. Flournoy, Director, RAND Gulf States Policy Institute Introduction to the RAND Corporation Michael Rich, RAND Executive Vice President Keynote Alabama Assets and Opportunities
10:00 a.m.	Panels 1 & 2 Panel 1: Early Interventions Moderator: Gail Piggott, Executive Director, Alabama Partnership for Children/Alabama Smart Start RAND presentation: Key Issues in Early Childhood Programs Rebecca Kilburn, Director, Promising Practices Network Respondents: Marquita Davis, Commissioner, Alabama Department of Children's Affairs Linda Tilly, Executive Director, VOICES for Alabama's Children Panel 2: Health and Social Services Moderator: Kelley Parris-Barnes, Director, Department of Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention, The Children's Trust Fund of Alabama RAND presentation: Key Issues in Health and Social Services Anita Chandra, RAND Health behavioral and social scientist Respondents: Terrie Reid, Deputy Commissioner for Family Resources, Dept. of Human Resources Carol Steckel, Alabama Medicaid Commissioner
11:00 a.m.	Break
11:15 a.m.	Panels 3 & 4 Panel 3: Education Innovations Moderator: Kathleen Sauer, Executive Director, Governor's Task Force to Strengthen Alabama Families RAND presentation: National Perspectives on Educational Innovation, Sue Bodilly, Director RAND Education Respondents: Caroline Novak, President, A+ Education Partnership Thomas Bice, Alabama Deputy State Superintendent Panel 4: Workforce Options Moderator: Irene Collins, Executive Director, Alabama Department of Senior Services RAND presentation: Key Issues for the 21st Century Workforce, Lynn Karoly, RAND senior economist Respondents: Matthew Hughes, Director, Alabama Governor's Office of Workforce Development Debby Wood, Assistant Director of Family Resources, Dept. of Human Resources
12:30 p.m.	Luncheon Panel and Discussion The Role of Data in Policy and Decisionmaking Summary discussion of key opportunities
2:00 p.m.	Adjournment

For information, please contact Marilyn Keenan at 601-979-2449.

About the RAND Gulf States Policy Institute

The RAND Gulf States Policy Institute helps develop informed public policy by providing decisionmakers in government, nonprofit organizations, and the private sector with high-quality analysis. RAND Gulf States is addressing the most pressing policy issues and chronic needs that have plagued the region for years—improving quality education, health care access and delivery and creating equitable economic development. Our goal is a better and more prosperous future for our region and all its citizens.

About RAND

RAND—an independent, nonprofit institution that helps improve policy and decisionmaking through research and analysis—has been expanding the boundaries of human knowledge for 60 years. With a research staff consisting of some of the world's preeminent minds, RAND keeps policymakers ahead of the curve on the issues that matter most, such as health care, education, national security, civil justice, the environment, and more. No other institution tackles tough policy problems across so broad a spectrum. Visit us online at www.rand.org.