Community Choices Public Policy Education Program Exploring the

Community Choices: Public Policy Education Program Exploring the Human Resources/Economic Development Connection Program Overview 8 March 2000 The Southern Rural Development Center 0. 0

The Current Situation l l Rural America leads the nation in: w Families living in poverty. w Rate of unemployment/underemployment. w Functionally illiterate adults. Only a small segment of rural workforce has a college education or more. l These human capital shortfalls can impede economic and social progress in rural areas. Community Choices: Program Overview l Situation is most acute in the South. 0. 1

The Current Situation (cont. ) l Many college-educated rural residents move to urban communities. l Brain drain remains significant in rural areas. l Essential for the community to explore how its economic future is shaped by its human resource conditions. Community Choices: Program Overview 0. 2

Purposes and Objectives l l To offer local citizens an opportunity to study and resolve problems in their community using the framework. Four objectives: w Introduce the public policy education framework. w Strengthen citizens’ understanding of human resource and economic development issues. w Mobilize citizens to explore links between human attributes and economic development opportunities. w Community Choices: Program Overview Enhance citizens’ involvement in working on solutions to identified problems. 0. 3

Format and Resources l Community Choices: Program Overview Most modules contain: w Instructor’s Guide w Module Overview w Small Group Activities w Transparency Masters w Background Readings and References 0. 4

Table 1. Topics Covered Community Choices: Program Overview 0. 5

Prepared by Lionel J. Beaulieu Southern Rural Development Center Kenneth Bolton Jr. Southeastern Louisiana University March 2000 Community Choices: Program Overview 0. 6