Gulf States Advisory Board Meets, Connects Researchers with Decisionmakers
July 2012 — The April 2012 meeting of the RAND Gulf States Advisory Board opened with welcome remarks by the board's chair, Leland Speed, followed by an update from RAND president Michael Rich and an overview of RAND Gulf States research and operations by the institute's director, Sally Sleeper. Rich and Sleeper met with Louisiana governor Bobby Jindal the previous day, with board members Speed and Boysie Bollinger.
Board members heard briefings on a range of recent work addressing issues of immediate concern to the Gulf States region.
- Malcolm Williams shared findings from a study of health care services available to California parolees.
- Beau Kilmer described a RAND study of South Dakota's 24/7 Sobriety Project, which aims to reduce alcohol use among the criminal justice population.
- Nidhi Kalra discussed a recent RAND project to support infrastructure investment decisions by the Port of Los Angeles in the face of uncertainty about a future rise in sea levels.
- Debra Knopman, RAND vice president and director of RAND Infrastructure, Safety, and Environment, described RAND's work in support of Louisiana's 2012 Comprehensive Master Plan for a Sustainable Coast.
Advisory board members are working to connect RAND presenters with regional decisionmakers on the issues of crime, prisoner reentry, and infrastructure investment. RAND Gulf States plans to continue work with regional stakeholders in the areas of education, health, safety and justice, coastal restoration and preparedness, energy policy, and economic and workforce development.