Public Policy Associates, Inc. (PPA) President Paul Elam will emphasize the need for researchers to engage community members and leaders in their work in a presentation at a national conference on June 14.
Dr. Elam will be a plenary speaker at the Summer Institute on Implementation Science at the University of North Carolina (UNC) in Chapel Hill. The two-day gathering is cohosted by the Jordan Institute for Families in UNC’s School of Social Work, the Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute at UNC, and the National Implementation Research Network. The event is supported by the Annie E. Casey Foundation.
Implementation science is an emerging field designed to make the best use of evidence-based research to improve outcomes for children and families. The forum will provide social workers and graduate students with knowledge of implementation science, including practical strategies to support sustainable practice and system improvements.
“Community members provide unique perspectives, and their voices must be heard and valued to optimize outcomes,” Dr. Elam said.
PPA engages the community in a wide range of research, including child welfare, juvenile justice, and education. For instance, PPA convened a series of focus groups for students of color to support the Michigan Department of Education’s efforts to eliminate the achievement gap between white and minority students.
Dr. Elam’s plenary address will be on how implementation science can be used to promote equity and social justice. The other plenary speaker is Allison Blake, senior fellow with the Annie E. Casey Foundation.
You can see the list of other speakers and breakout sessions here.
For more information contact Dr. Elam at pelam@publicpolicy.com or 517-485-4477.