First Tuesdays Archive

[First Tuesdays Transcript] Between 2 and 3 million young people age 16-24 are "disconnected" from society, removed from school and work for a year or longer. While young women have made progress in recent years, young men haven't. The problem is especially pressing for minority men, and most pressing for young black men. Panelists address what types of programs would help these groups, how financial incentives might help get young men into school or jobs, and what barriers face noncustodial fathers and former prisoners.

[First Tuesdays Transcript] Today, two out of ten Americans are 55 or older, and that number is expected to increase to three out of ten by 2030. But retirement isn't just gardening and travel. More older Americans are staying active longer, either in the workforce or through unpaid work. Panelists addressed how and why seniors are keeping active, focusing on policy options to increase their productivity and satisfaction.

[First Tuesdays Transcript] The Washington, D.C., region fares well compared to other metropolitan areas, with a strong housing market, better-than-average health insurance coverage, and a wide variety of nonprofit social service providers. However, many families and individuals are contending with a short supply of affordable housing options, the high cost of health coverage, and increased competition for social services. Panelists discussed mechanisms for cooperation and obstacles that must be overcome to implement regional solutions.

Religious groups have long received federal funds to deliver human services, but welfare overhaul in 1996 and the priorities of President George Bush attempted to increase their participation in federal contracting with Charitable Choice provisions and new discretionary programs, including the Compassion Capital Fund. Panelists at this forum discussed how federal funding of faith-based human service providers fits into the context of broader concerns about the delivery of social services, the ability to reach the needy with services, and the lines demarcating church and state.

[First Tuesdays Transcript] As U.S. schools face the challenge of preparing students to participate in an increasingly global economy, many students' poor performance on mathematics and science tests compared with their counterparts abroad is getting attention. A promising development in district-level school reforms has been the use of research to inform solutions to educational problems. Panelists at this forum looked at how research applies to school districts.

[First Tuesdays Transcript] As the massive recovery effort gains speed in New Orleans, tens of thousands of displaced families are trying to pick up the pieces of their shattered lives in new host cities across the country. Congress has already approved $62 billion in aid, with more expected soon, and funds from the Federal Emergency Management Agency are beginning to reach those in need. But the long-term consequences of Hurricane Katrina are still unknown. Panelists at this forum discussed the issues families displaced by Hurricane Katrina will have to deal with in the months and years ahead as cities struggle to meet their education, social services, housing, and employment needs.

[First Tuesdays Transcript] Family structure changed rapidly in the second half of the 20th century. Two-parent families increasingly replaced by other family forms, divorce became common, births out of wedlock increased, and cohabiting couples became widespread. Marriage declined most in poor communities. Under the 1996 welfare legislation, states were urged to promote marriage, reduce out-of-wedlock childbearing, and support two-parent families. Panelists at this forum explored how states and communities might implement these programs in various settings, how service systems for low-income families can also promote marriage and relationships, and what challenges in responding to the circumstances of low-income people to expect.

[First Tuesdays Transcript] After years of scant attention, high school reform is a hot issue. During the past year, educational policy circles have turned to the daunting task of improving the nation's high schools. The rising profile of high schools especially reflects new research showing a serious and long-unrecognized crisis in graduation rates. Panelists at this forum put graduation rates in the context of broader national reform and looked at the economic and social benefits of graduation, the consequences of dropping out, challenges faced by minority and other at-risk groups; and programs and strategies for aiding at-risk youth.

[First Tuesdays Transcript] For the past 15 years, as incarceration and arrest rates have climbed, specialized problem-solving courts have been created to deal with certain offenders. Drug courts, the most common problem-solving court, figure prominently in the White House's drug-control strategy and have been embraced by practitioners. Yet, some judges and legislators fear that these courts will be perceived as "soft on crime" and may release dangerous offenders prematurely. Panelists at this forum address the short-term benefits of drug courts and their impact on the evolving judicial system.

[First Tuesdays Transcript] As President Bush champions new policies geared toward the formation of an "ownership society," sweeping proposals have emerged prompting a variety of viewpoints. Panelists at this First Tuesday forum discussed issues surrounding choices in health care, homeownership, retirement and savings, and the implications of an ownership and opportunity agenda.