March 16 Children's Cabinet Call Materials

On March 16, the Children's Cabinet Network will have a conference call to discuss the unique things they are doing in two important areas: state to local coordination & sustainability during turnover and political uncertainty.

Participants will ascertain lessons learned based on the following set of questions:

1) State/local coordination
How can Children's Cabinets generate and maintain local buy-in for (comprehensive) statewide initiatives for children and youth?
How do you share the best practices of effective local models for child and youth policy across a state?
What structures (informal and/or formal) has your state put in place to maintain coordination between the state and local levels?

2) Sustainability
What strategies have been used to get new governors bought into existing Children's Cabinets?
How has the work of your Children's Cabinet been documented for incoming gubernatorial administrations?
What actions has your Children's Cabinet take to preserve its on-going work during times of political uncertainty?

Maine's Children's Cabinet held a retreat in Fall 2009 to make preparations for articulating the value of the Children's Cabinet to the incoming governor in 2010. Check out this great video that was produced as a result of the event! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BEyBq0lizp8

In addition, the following documents provide context for the March 16 conversation: