Within the overarching conference theme of Children, Youth & Families: The Centerpiece of Change, the 2010 Annual Conference will feature plenary sessions, offsite sessions, skill building institutes, roundtable sessions and concurrent sessions that focus on priority populations for children, youth, and family (CYF) funders, while making broader thematic intersections.

Sessions selected for the Annual Conference will address at least two intersecting themes:

Population Themes:                  
Early Childhood, Youth Development, Family and Community, Cross-Sector

 

Intersecting Themes:

Emerging Leader, Policy and Advocacy, Research, Practice/Program, Strategy, Communications, Emerging Issues, Craft of Grantmaking

 

Track Themes: 
Current Priorities & Possibilities
Creating Sustainable Transformative Change for the Long-Term
Building Alliances across Issues, Constituencies & Movements

Read the track theme descriptions below.

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Track Theme 1: Current Priorities & Possibilities

 

The 2010 and 2011 political landscape provides many opportunities to advance short-term priorities for the CYF sector, but there will be challenges, as well. This track offers in-depth learning sessions on state and federal policy priorities; explores how pending federal reauthorizations affect state and local policymakers and constituents; examines how state and local policies might have national impact; and considers the implications of the 2010 elections for CYF policies and programs. Sessions will highlight case studies and provide participants with technical assistance and training, to support them in planning their foundations’ responses to current priorities and possibilities. Issue priorities include (but are not limited to):

• Health care reform/implementation
• Immigration reform
• TANF reauthorization
• Child Nutrition reauthorization
• Education (Early Learning Challenge Grants, Race to the Top, No Child Left Behind)
• Poverty measure overhaul
• Workforce Investment Act reauthorization
• Jobs initiative
• Paid family leave
• Expiring tax cuts
• State budget shortfalls
• Expiring American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) provisions
• Juvenile justice reauthorization

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Track Theme 2: Creating Sustainable Transformative Change for the Long-Term

 

Developing a long-term strategy and framework is key to keeping children, youth, and families at the forefront of change. This track focuses on the elements inherent to creating long-term transformative and systemic change for and by children, youth, and families. Sessions will include local, state and national strategies that inspire public movements and cultural shifts, including those that lead to more responsive fiscal and social policies. Topics may include (but are not limited to):

• Using public education and messaging campaigns, including social media, to effectively make the case that the healthy development of children and families should be at the forefront of all sectors--housing, transportation, economic growth, etc. Showcasing examples of where this has been successful.
  
  
• Defining and framing systemic change: developing a common vision; motivating key constituents; and creating intentional pathways for youth and family leadership.
  
  
• Identifying the core elements of strategic alliances that can effect widespread change, including the role of coalitions, community leaders, program developers and local constituents.
  
  
• Examining the components of and challenges to building local to state to national comprehensive child-centered policies. For example, highlighting how state and local funding affect federal funding and vice-versa, as well as the impact of regulatory mandates.
  
  
• Engaging diverse populations (across many concepts of diversity) in systemic change efforts.
  
  
• Highlighting examples of major policy change that illustrate the cycle of good programs leading to good policies and good policies reflecting an understanding of programmatic implications.

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Track Theme 3: Building Alliances across Issues, Constituencies & Movements

 

Virtually every concern that affects our future--from economic and health security to human rights and social justice--will be directly affected by the way our children are prioritized in our society and by policymakers. This track will examine how to build alliances across movements, such as immigration (family integration/dislocation), paid sick days/family leave, equitable development/affordable housing, and social security. Sessions will explore the interdependence of issues and constituencies, and how to strengthen and integrate various fields so that the outcomes for children, youth, families and their communities are central to current and developing movements. Strategies may include (but are not limited to):

• How grantmakers help to build coalitions across sectors--especially those sectors not currently supported by your foundation’s portfolio.
  
  
• How grantmakers leverage the strength and collective power of existing organizations and coalitions to strengthen CYF-focused issues and agendas.
  
  
• The mechanisms and metrics used to evaluate and learn from the effectiveness of multi-issue/multi-sector efforts.