CASSIE LAUVER: Uh, I think this has been a very rich day and
a half. Not only with our presenters;
Donna Strobino, Donna Peterson yesterday, Jeff Koshell, but with you all, the
states who are experts in the field as well. And I think it really helps to
contribute and pull this together when we started working and planning this
workshop not only did we want to bring in people to talk about these assessment
process and performance measures but to allow interaction between the states
because we know how rich it is in the field and how much there is there to share.
I just want to--two things, one is to remind you of your evaluation because
this is an ongoing process. We did Atlanta last week, the Washington DC area,
here, we're going to be doing regions, let's see, regions five, six, and seven
in St. Louis and eight, nine, and 10 in Phoenix.
So your suggestions can really help us in feedback, help us as we continue to move on through the process. And then that leads us, I think, to the next step is that after we've done this, people have come up and talked with me and other suggestions have been shared here as well about other things that we might be able to do in the future. And so think about that as well. A couple of the things, for example, that's been suggested that there is a number of people in states that weren't able to participate in this. We have, between the four that we're doing; all states are represented so that's good but we know that there are many other people in the states. And so that's one reason that we are taping this to archive. One of the suggestions last week at Atlanta was the opportunity for those people who weren't able to come once they view this, if they have any comments and suggestions, how might they do that?
One thought would be, perhaps, in the future dedicating one of our MCHcom.com, putting a note out, asking people to look at the archives, sending in their questions and then coming back together with our experts or with whomever and being able to have some sort of feedback there. Another suggestion was perhaps a listserv. We try to keep our MCH and Children with Special Needs website listserv clean because we try to use that as a communication vehicle for critical communiqué with the state directors but is there another listserv, like, perhaps our technical assistance website where we can create a bridge for states as you've talked with each other here and you may want to talk with states in other regions that may not be participating in this but participating later to communicate around your performance measures or what you're doing in the needs assessment process.
And I think, finally, we eluded several times with HSR who will be going out and doing and are in the process of working with states and looking at their needs assessment to look at promising practice. I think it will be really valuable. I think states have improved in the first two needs assessment processes and I think this one will be a much better process and I think states have really improved and to look at this again after these are submitted and continue that might be helpful to the states as well. So before we leave I want to welcome, I know that we have, as Jeff asked earlier, new people here in the MCH family and again want to welcome them and hopefully you have now a first step in communicating and linking with other people in the field. And to also share that, I don't know how many of you know just how close you are to the Park Lawn building here where we broadcast.
Many people though, some of you may have though we brought you clear out to Rockville for no purpose, but actually, as you came, if you came on the Metro, as you came out of the Metro station, and went west to this building— if you go east you’ll see a massive building on the other side of the parking lot— that is the Park Lawn building, and that’s where our offices are, so if you have time and you want to visit, or if you have other project officers this afternoon, you’re welcome to visit. It’s definitely in walking distance from the Metro stop. So, thank you again and all have a safe trip home. (Applause).