Health care, education take center stage at HD meeting.

Health care took center stage at the recent Human Development (HD) Steering Committee meeting in Cathedral City, Calif.

Health care reform has become a central issue in this year's presidential election and a possible priority for a new Administration and Congress. As employers, cities spend billions of dollars each year for employer-provided health benefits and many cities are struggling with the rising costs of health care and the impact this has on their budgets and city services.

Led by Chair Paul Gresham, council member, Centerville, Ohio, committee members heard from experts in the field, including Herb Schultz, senior health care advisor for Calif. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, Lucien Wulsin, executive director of Insure the Uninsured Project, and fellow committee member Wayne Anthony, council member, Columbus, Ga.

Although each offered various views on health care--there was a unifying message from all--America's health care system is broken.

"Cities have begun to accept that health care costs are going to rise 6 percent or more a year and its time for cities, the nation, and the federal government to wake up and find a solution to this serious problem," said Council Member Gresham.

The committee discussed NLC's standing health care policy and will continue to study this issue throughout 2008.

Additionally, the committee continued its focus on education by examining ways to encourage parental and community involvement in their cities.

Anne T. Henderson, senior consultant, Community Involvement Program, Annenberg Institute for School Reform, stressed that local elected officials need to encourage and aid schools in becoming an inclusive presence in communities where all parents and children feel welcome.

Melissa Whipple and Bea Fernandez, parental and community involvement practitioners from the San Diego Unified School District, highlighted additional roles for municipal leaders including: using the bully pulpit to be vocal and present supporters; providing financial support for parental and community involvement programs; encouraging city staff and other local elected officials to volunteer; and remaining informed of new research and promising practices in the field.

Marjorie Cohen, senior research associate, NLC's Institute for Youth, Education, and Families, led a discussion with the committee on alternative high schools and the drop out crisis.

The committee also examined federal poverty line reform and decided to build policy that supports creating a new guideline that reflects modern cost of living expenses.

The meeting was hosted by Greg Pettis, council member, Cathedral City. The HD steering committee will meet again September 18-20 in Glendale, Ariz., to discuss these topics further and to examine policy amendments and resolutions.

Details: For information on the Human Development Policy and Advocacy Committee, please contact Katie Seeger at seeger@nlc.org or (202) 626-3131.