Improving Urban Service Systems for Children and Families

Join us at the upcoming Thursday's Child public policy forum in Chicago on America's children and youth, their families and communities. This event is free.

We are also offering a live audio webcast of the event. Register online for the live webcast.

The nation’s urban service systems for children and families often struggle with conflicting goals, inadequate resources, and intense but temporary public attention during turmoil and tragedies.

This forum will examine the many challenges of systems reform -- through the lenses of education, health care and child welfare --  and the steps, partnerships, and strategies required to help foster the successful development of vulnerable children and families.

Join us as we investigate such issues as:

• What does it take to reform urban systems?
• What are the lessons for suburban and rural services?
• What can one service system learn from another?
• How can research on practices and policies contribute to reform?

Panelists:

• Juanona Brewster, director of Early Childhood Development Projects at the Illinois chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics
• Olivia Golden, Institute fellow at the Urban Institute and former assistant secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
• John Simmons, president of Strategic Learning Initiatives
• Cheryl Smithgall, research fellow, Chapin Hall at the University of Chicago
• Moderator: Matthew Stagner, executive director, Chapin Hall at the University of Chicago