The new initiative of the Maryland Family Policy Impact Seminar is to provide public forums in which citizens can deliberate about matters of public policy, finding common ground and shared direction through dialogue. The Maryland Family Policy Impact Seminar seeks the participation and opinions of Maryland citizens in the Kettering Foundation's National Issues Forum.
The Kettering Foundation's National Issues Forum encourages citizens to discuss the drawbacks and tradeoffs of several approaches to addressing quality, access, and affordability of health care. Forum participants voice their perspectives on the issues surrounding health care. Outcomes of each forum are provided to policymakers.
This new initiative of the Maryland Family Policy Impact Seminar illustrates how the Seminar encourages active citizen involvement in current public policy matters. For more information visit the Kettering National Issues Forums.
Recent Health Care Forums in Maryland
University of Maryland Community Forum
Community members, including graduate and Gemstone undergraduate students, participated in the first health care forum of the Maryland Family Policy Impact Seminar (MFPIS). Michelle Scott, from Montgomery College's Public Policy Institute, moderated. Many of the participants reported that the forum addressed aspects of health care they had not considered before. Comments such as the following reinforce the value of the forums to the participants:
I've been forced to try to figure out ways to make all approaches work--instructive and thought-provoking.
It's even a more difficult issue than I thought.
My stance on issues hasn't changed, but thinking about other people's priorities, I am more aware of how others are thinking about it.
Maryland Association of Family and Consumer Sciences Forum
A MFPIS team conducted another forum at a meeting of the Maryland Association of Family and Consumer Sciences. Forum participants were appreciative of the opportunity to share their views and hear other's views on the issues surrounding health care. Some participants plan to hold National Issues Forum deliberations in their own communities.
Howard County-Horizon Foundation Forum
In partnership with the Horizon Foundation, Howard County Extension Educator Madeleine Greene hosted a forum with older adults in the community. This forum engaged citizens in discussing the special health care concerns of their community.
Caroline County Cooperative Extension-Denton Public Library Forum
Inviting health care professionals, social service workers, and political representatives, Donna V. Brinsfield and a library moderator hosted a forum targeting health stakeholders in the community.
