VIRGINIA FAMILY IMPACT SEMINARS (VAFIS) will hold its 2nd annual seminar on September 23rd . The focus for the 2009 seminar will be substance abuse prevention policy strategies for Virginia's youth. Fall 09 Family Impact Seminar Flyer.pdf
The national Policy Institute for Family Impact Seminars (housed at the University of Wisconsin-Madison http://familyimpactseminars.org/) in 2007 chose Virginia to join a select number of states to implement the Family Impact Seminar model. Drs. Ann Nichols-Casebolt and Mary Secret in the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Social Work, and Janet Hutchinson in the Department of Women's Studies are co-directors of the Virginia Family Impact Seminars (VAFIS).
Family Impact Seminars (FIS) are a non-partisan, non-ideological objective seminar series designed to bring a family focus to state policy making. Based on growing evidence that the best way to help children and adults is to help families, the seminars' aim to analyze the implications that public issues, policies or programs have for families. Most policymakers would not think of passing a bill without asking, "What's the economic or environmental impact;" however, the same is not always true for considering the impact of policies or programs for families. The FIS model includes developing a partnership with key state legislators to join with university faculty in identifying family related state-level problems, possible policy solutions, and political feasibility. This partnership culminates in a topic specific annual seminar, with briefing reports and discussion sessions, and serves as a resource for state policymakers by providing them with access to nonpartisan, solution-oriented research on a current policy issue.
VAFIS held its first seminar in Fall 2008 with a focus on truancy and dropout prevention policies. There were over 110 in attendance, including 13 state legislators and numerous state and local leaders. For more information about VAFIS, please visit their website, Policy Institute for Family Impact Seminars.
Dr. Ann Nichols-Casebolt welcomes attendees at 1st annual VAFIS
