Entrants's Name: Linda Mather

Country: United States

Field: Public Policy

Innovation - idea: Forums Institute developed Informed Contemplative Dialogue, a process for civil discourse that helps break down governmental "silos" and increases communication among policymakers and stakeholders, particularly in the healthcare community, and leads to more informed health policy. This process is key to the success of New Jersey Policy Forums on Health and Medical Care. www.forumsinstitute.org

Innovation - why it is pioneering: Informed Contemplative Dialogue reduces confrontational discussion and leads to innovative solutions. The process was developed working with state legislators and stakeholders, and has been used successfully in public- and private-sector meetings. While there are many grassroots and national programs, targeting a state level audience fills an area not usually focused on.

Strategy - how it achieves impact: The Informed Contemplative Dialogue (ICD) process prevents or resolves conflict through open dialogue and discussion. Participants who are used to a combative, us vs. them political arena have learned that civility is more likely to achieve desired outcomes. Policy Forums meet 3 core principles: They are convened by a policy neutral organization--the honest broker; they are held in a neutral setting with off-the record discussion--the safe harbor; they present all major perspectives on a given topic--the provider of balanced, non-partisan information.

Strategy - growth plans: Forums Institute is seeking funding and exploring ways to replicate the model in the areas of higher education, transportation and the environment. Forums Insitute has already taken the ICD model to the local level facilitating "shared services" meetings for New Jersey counties and municipalities. The ICD model is particularly effective where conflict exists and consensus is a goal.

Impact to date: The New Jersey Policy Forums on Health and Medical Care and the ICD model have been replicated in 7 other states as part of the State Forums Partnership Program. Please see the supporting document for more information on the results of the State Forums Partnership Program.

Future impact: The Policy Forums model has proven that people can come together in civil discourse. Those who have attended over the years have learned to follow the ground rules, what's expected of them in listening and participating and the value of civil discourse.

Sustainability - resource base: The New Jersey Policy Forums on Health and Medical Care is funded through 2007 by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Forums Institute offers its services on a fee basis and continues to seek private, corporate and foundation support for the organization to continue its work beyond 2007.

Major challenge for the field: As essential as the "soft" skill of civil discourse is and as innovative and proactive as we've been in developing methods of evaluation, private, corporate and foundation funders have difficulty understanding the importance of balance in communication, the importance of civil discourse and allocating money to support it.

Contact Information:

Name: Dr. Linda Mather - President
Country: United States
Website: www.forumsinstitute.org

Bio: Linda Mather is founding chief executive officer of Forums Institute. She also directs its Leadership for the 21st Century program and facilitates its New Jersey Policy Forums, of which she is a co-founder. She has served as interim dean of the School of Arts and Communication at William Paterson College and as associate director at the New Jersey Department of Higher Education. She has also consulted for the Kellogg Foundation, the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania, the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs at Princeton University and the Board Member Institute. She holds a doctorate in education from the University of Pennsylvania. Linda Mather is one of 350 professional facilitators certified by the International Association of Facilitators, as well as one of 34 assessors for IAF. She is in her second term as IAF board treasurer.