BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//Social Current - ECPv6.16.3//NONSGML v1.0//EN CALSCALE:GREGORIAN METHOD:PUBLISH X-ORIGINAL-URL:https://www.social-current.org X-WR-CALDESC:Events for Social Current REFRESH-INTERVAL;VALUE=DURATION:PT1H X-Robots-Tag:noindex X-PUBLISHED-TTL:PT1H BEGIN:VTIMEZONE TZID:America/New_York BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0400 TZNAME:EDT DTSTART:20250309T070000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0400 TZOFFSETTO:-0500 TZNAME:EST DTSTART:20251102T060000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0400 TZNAME:EDT DTSTART:20260308T070000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0400 TZOFFSETTO:-0500 TZNAME:EST DTSTART:20261101T060000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0400 TZNAME:EDT DTSTART:20270314T070000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0400 TZOFFSETTO:-0500 TZNAME:EST DTSTART:20271107T060000 END:STANDARD END:VTIMEZONE BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260611T130000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260611T140000 DTSTAMP:20260611T102017 CREATED:20260323T145639Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260323T145641Z UID:10000598-1781182800-1781186400@www.social-current.org SUMMARY:Influencing Policy Decision Makers  DESCRIPTION:Register \n \n Policy decisions are shaped long before votes are cast or guidance is issued. The most effective advocacy efforts begin when issues are being defined\, priorities are being determined\, and policy options are still forming. For human services organizations\, engaging early in the policy process is essential to ensuring lived experience\, program data\, and community needs inform outcomes from the start.  \nOur June Grassroots Advocacy Network convening will offer a practical framework for engaging and influencing policy decision makers across both legislative and administrative contexts. Participants will explore how policy ideas move from concept to action and identify strategic entry points for advocacy at each stage of the policy development process. The session will focus on how to frame issues proactively\, build relationships with policymakers\, and align advocacy strategies with organizational capacity and long-term goals.  \nThrough strategies and peer discussion\, participants will strengthen their ability to expand their influence\, shape policy at its earliest stages\, and position their organizations as trusted partners in policy development.  \nTakeaways\n\nKey stages of the policy development process and tailor engagement strategies accordingly\nHow to proactively frame issues to influence how problems\, priorities\, and solutions are defined by decisionmakers\nTips for building and sustaining relationships with policymakers\nHow to select advocacy entry points that align with organizational capacity\, timing\, and long-term strategy\nStrategies for moving beyond reactive advocacy by proactively engaging as part of ongoing policy and program work\n\nWho Should Attend\n\nMembers of the Social Current Grassroots Advocacy Network: Join online\nExecutive Directors and Senior Management: Leaders responsible for setting organizational strategy and engaging with policymakers and stakeholders\nAdvocacy and Policy Directors: Individuals who develop and implement advocacy strategies and engage in policy analysis and outreach\nCommunications and Public Relations Managers: Professionals focused on crafting and disseminating the organization’s message to the public and media\nProgram Managers and Coordinators: Staff who oversee program implementation and need to align program goals with advocacy efforts\n\n \n\n \n\n \n \n \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n Blair Abelle-Kiser\, PhD\n \n Senior Director of Government Affairs\nSocial Current \n \n Biography\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Blair Abelle-Kiser\, PhD\n Senior Director of Government Affairs\nSocial Current \n \n Blair Kiser\, Ph.D.\, joined Social Current in 2022 after working in health policy on Capitol Hill\, the non-profit sector\, and as a biomedical researcher. Most recently\, Blair served as Director of Government Relations & Advocacy for NephCure Kidney International. \nDuring their time in public service\, they served as a Professional Staff Member of the Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis. They led a corporate investigation regarding insider trading and financial improprieties\, conflicts of interest associated with Operation Warp Speed’s leadership\, and scientific information politicization. Prior to joining the Select Subcommittee\, they worked for Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH)\, where they served as a Health Policy Fellow. In Senator Brown’s office\, they led a range of legislative and oversight efforts involving public health and healthcare. During the COVID-19 pandemic\, they worked with several community hospice advocacy organizations and a Republican office to help craft the bipartisan COVID-19 Hospice Respite Care Relief Act of 2020. \nPrior to public service\, Blair spent several years as a medical research scientist on several industry and NIH-funded projects. Their work focused on developing research projects and clinical trials to improve the lives of African Americans with Sickle Cell Disease. They earned a doctorate in Biomedical Science from Morehouse School of Medicine in 2017 and a Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of Kentucky in 2011. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n Abigail Levine\n \n Field Mobilization and Policy Manager\nSocial Current URL:https://www.social-current.org/event/influencing-policy-decision-makers/ LOCATION:MD CATEGORIES:Policy ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://www.social-current.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Policy-Advocacy_1.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260617T110000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260617T123000 DTSTAMP:20260611T102017 CREATED:20260427T161527Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260515T142956Z UID:10000616-1781694000-1781699400@www.social-current.org SUMMARY:Outcomes and Outputs: Foundations for Performance and Quality Improvement -- SOLD-OUT DESCRIPTION:This session is sold-out. Please check back for future sessions. \nThis virtual training will focus on how to develop meaningful outcomes and outputs and utilize them to demonstrate program effectiveness and drive performance and quality Improvement (PQI). Participants will learn how to identify appropriate outcomes and outputs that align with administrative and program goals\, services\, and COA Accreditation expectations. \nThe session also will include a brief introduction to logic models as a practical tool to help organizations connect activities\, outputs\, and outcomes. Participants will explore how clearly defined outcomes and outputs can support program evaluation\, guide decision making\, and demonstrate progress toward improved services and results. \nThis training is designed especially for organizations that are building or strengthening their PQI systems. Participants are also encouraged to attend the virtual training\, Aggregating Data for PQI: Analyzing Results to Improve Programs\, June 17 from 1:30-3 p.m. ET\, to learn how to collect\, analyze\, and interpret aggregate data to support quality improvement. These two trainings build on the introductory PQI training that is offered quarterly. \nTakeaways\n\nStaff at organizations pursuing COA Accreditation for the first time and new primary contacts\nPQI directors\, coordinators\, and staff with PQI responsibilities\nStaff seeking guidance on developing\, tracking\, and using outcomes and outputs\n\nWho Should Participate\n\nThe difference between outcomes and outputs and the role each plays in PQI\nHow to identify meaningful outcomes and outputs that align with program goals and services\nHow logic models connect program activities\, outputs\, and outcomes\nMethods for using outcomes and outputs to support program evaluation\, quality improvement\, and alignment with COA Accreditation standards\n\n \n\n \n\n \n \n \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n Phyllis Richards\n \n Director of Practice Excellence\nSocial Current URL:https://www.social-current.org/event/outcomes-and-outputs-foundations-for-performance-and-quality-improvement-2/ LOCATION:MD CATEGORIES:COA Accreditation Trainings ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://www.social-current.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/COA-Accredited-Webinar-Catalog-Image.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260617T133000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260617T150000 DTSTAMP:20260611T102017 CREATED:20260427T161354Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260515T142725Z UID:10000617-1781703000-1781708400@www.social-current.org SUMMARY:Aggregating Data for PQI: Analyzing Results to Improve Programs -- SOLD-OUT DESCRIPTION:This session is sold-out. Please check back for future sessions. \nThis training will focus on how to collect\, organize\, and use aggregate data to better understand program performance and support performance and quality improvement (PQI). Participants will learn practical approaches for combining data across administration\, programs\, and services to identify trends\, measure progress toward outcomes\, and inform decision making. \nThis training is designed for organizations that are building or strengthening their PQI systems. Staff who are new to developing outcomes and outputs should first attend the virtual training\, Outcomes and Outputs: Building Meaningful Measures for PQI\, June 17 from 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. ET\, to gain foundational knowledge on effective data collection and analysis. These two trainings build on the introductory PQI training that is offered quarterly. \nTakeaways\n\nBenefits of aggregating data\nUnderstand the process and practice through group exercises\nWhat aggregate data is and why it is important for PQI\nIdentify common methods for collecting and organizing data across programs\, services\, or reporting periods\nHow to analyze aggregate data to identify trends\, patterns\, and areas for improvement\nUse aggregated outcomes and outputs to demonstrate program effectiveness and support accreditation requirements\n\nWho Should Participate\n\nStaff at organizations pursuing first-time accreditation and new primary contacts\nPQI directors\, coordinators\, and staff responsible for collecting and analyzing program data\nStaff responsible for aggregating data across programs\, services\, or locations\nThose needing guidance on organizing\, summarizing\, and interpreting aggregated data for PQI and reporting purposes\n\n \n\n \n\n \n \n \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n Phyllis Richards\n \n Director of Practice Excellence\nSocial Current URL:https://www.social-current.org/event/aggregating-data-for-pqi-analyzing-results-to-improve-programs/ LOCATION:MD CATEGORIES:Training,COA Accreditation Trainings ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://www.social-current.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/COA-Accredited-Webinar-Catalog-Image.png END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR