Public Agenda helps communities and the nation
solve tough problems through:
Research that illuminates people's views & values;
Engagement that gets people talking, learning from each other and working together on solutions; and
Communications that spreads the word and builds momentum for change.
By doing so, we seek to contribute to a democracy in which problem-solving triumphs over gridlock and inertia, and where public policy reflects the deliberations and values of the citizenry.
Public Agenda is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization. You can find out more about us in our What We Do and Frequently Asked Questions pages.
This post was written for the 20 community colleges participating in Completion by Design, a five-year Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation initiative that aims to significantly increase completion rates for low-income students under 26. As a “National Assistance partner” for Completion by Design, Public Agenda provides direct assistance to the colleges to help them build capacity for solutions-oriented dialogue among faculty, staff and administration. Here, Public Agenda's Alison Kadlec discusses best practices for authentic internal stakeholder engagement. While the post is geared toward Completion by Design planning teams, the principles are useful for any authentic engagement process.
***Far too often, throughout our work in the education field, we've seen even the most earnest and promising ideas from experts and reformers for improving schools and ramping up student learning met with confusion, anxiety or even anger from teachers, parents, students or community members.
A nonprofit, chapter-based association of active, reserve and veteran service members dedicated to full and equal rights and equitable treatment for all present and former members of the U.S. Armed Forces.
2011 Public Agenda
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I am an Masters in Social Work student commpleting my 2nd internship in a VA hospital in upstate New York. I have approached administration in the behaviorl health unit about LGBT competence, sensativity and creating a safe space for LGBT Vets. What experience have you had with VA hospitals, training staff, and creating inclusive policies for the LGBT Vet in VA centers?
Chad
I have been doing some research online about the any sort of policy that will harm a veteran for coming out. I mean when someone retires or is no longer active. Can someone help me? or the Don't Ask don't tell only apply to Active Duty military?
As an LGBT vet in Upstate NY, I can say the I was scared to death to access my VA medical benefits, because I am WAY out and work as a victim advocate in an LGBT organization. I have come out to my primary care doctor, as well as my therapist. The therapist said she has seen no problems in the locations she works in, with LGBT vets being out and still revieving the health care they need. The Dr. actually referred to my sweety as my "same sex partner"! I loved it! I have been treated with honor and respect, and I have been thanked many times for my service, even though it was in the 80's and it was non-combatant service, they still appreciated my service and my sacrifice. MANY thanks to the Rochester, NY VA Outpatient Clinic, I feel good about the care i get there, and I am thankful that I had the support everyone there has given me. From the Dr.s to the nurses, the physical therapy staff, my therapist, everyone has treated me like a human being. I was reminded that THE VA IS NOT THE US MILITARY!!! "We don't care about who you love, we just wasnt to give you the care you deserve and have earned." Good luck!
I have been in an out of VA mental Health Centers for severve cronic depression & suicidal indenation since 1974. Before that I was in civilian Mental Health Centers. I was not told that I had VA benefits for hospital care when I wqs Discharged from the Navy Hospital School in San Diego in 1966 @ 19yrs old. I have received good care in the hospitals as a gay man. Except for a homophobic female primary care physian.who refused to give me an AIDS test. The worest expirences I have had is in trying to get my service connection benifits from having been sexually abused while I was in Corsp School by a 1st class petty officer. I was even accepted and spent over 2 months in Bay Pines VA Hospitals Sexual Trama Program; My militqry records have vanished and though I have a DD214 & have been treated qt the VA since 1974 My records have disspeared from the records center in St Louis MO.When i frist filed i went to the DAV office in San Diego with copies of my recent hospital records and the USMC who was the superviser refused to take my documentation. Then when I was turned down he failed to appeal in my behalf. & did not tell me he failed to do it. We as Gay Vets need someone in our corner to file our claims and fight for us. To get into Bay Pines they have to review your case & acknowledge the sexual trama, but still it is a long hard battle through VA examiners and processors. We are not represented in the Administraions Office on a regional & National level. Where is the help we need. I am willing to go public about my expirences while on active duty during the Vetnam War. Dusty Brown
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