2009 Overview | Registration and Scholarship Info | Directions | Lodging | Schedule

Public Policy Institute Overview

Based on the curriculum developed by the National Issues Forums, the RFCLG Public Policy Institute will offer training in a range of skills essential for building an engaged and informed community of citizens.  The topical focus for the training will be health care  policy and will feature the National Issues Forums issue guide, “Coping with the Cost of Health Care,” and the award-winning documentary on health disparities, “Unnatural Causes.” 

On the first day of the two-day workshop participants will learn effective techniques for convening and moderating deliberative forums.  The day begins with discussion of practical and theoretical strategies for convening diverse and vibrant public forums.   Next, participants will participate in a live public forum on issues related to health care led by a skilled discussion leader, who will demonstrate effective moderating techniques in a real forum setting. After the forum discussion, PPI participants will break into small groups to practice what they've learned and to receive feedback from experienced instructors.  

In the evening, after a short break, the group will reconvene for a dinner and screening of the main episode of the award-winning documentary, “Unnatural Causes.” This documentary provides a provocative look at the role social factors play in shaping health disparities in the United States. 

On the second day of the two-day workshop, the PPI faculty will share the process for crafting approaches to an issue that promotes deliberation and emphasizes the importance of testing the validity of a framework before making the issue available for public discussion.  Participants will learn how to identify and group the underlying values that shape people’s perspectives on issues for constructive deliberation.   Participants will also learn strategies for gathering and incorporating research data to support their approaches to the issue they wish to frame.   Instructors will discuss developing effective surveys and will share free and accessible sources of background research information—key ingredients for creating strong and credible issue discussion guides.

Participants will learn to:

  • convene a group of diverse voices
  • moderate deliberative discussions that avoid stalemate and debate 
  • Develop/frame an issue for constructive deliberation
  • Identify “the problem behind the problem”
  • sustain a habit of community civic engagement

Who should attend?

  • Students building leadership skills
  • Members of civic or community organizations
  • Individuals interested in becoming more engaged in civic life
  • Policymakers

Contacts: Jill Severn, 706-542-5766 | Jan Levinson: 706-542-5788 | rfclg@uga.edu

University of Georgia LibrariesUniversity of GeorgiaRichard B. Russell Library for Political Research and Studies
University of Georgia Libraries
Athens, GA 30602-1641 | rfclg@uga.edu
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