William D Ruckelshaus Centerfoundation

Programs: Civil public discourse:recognizing that civil public discourse is a fundamental element of collaborative public policy, the center is exploring the current status of civil discourse in the state, region and nation. The center seeks to understand how the current state of public discourse compares to other periods in history, what effects this is having on the policy process, and what the center and other organizations can do about it. In september, amanda murphy and chris page provided communications, conflict resolution and consensus-seeking training to incoming students participating in the evergreen state colleges 2013 civic engagement institute.

road map to washingtons future:washington states framework for managing growth and change consists of a patchwork of more than a dozen laws adopted incrementally over the past century, including the growth management act (gma) of 1990. To date, no assessment has gauged how well the gma has met its goalsnor have the purposes, processes, and requirements of older laws ever been reconciled with those of the gma. Washingtons communities increasingly recognize the linkages between housing costs, transportation, economic opportunity, environmental, and human health. Navigating this complex system and effectively meeting challenges and opportunities facing the state will require a collaborative road map to the future. In response to queries from the legislature and others, the center conducted a pre-assessment in 2016-2017, and will from 2017-19 assess the states planning framework of laws, institutions and polices. The center will convene workshops across the state to articulate a statewide vision and engage dozens of communities of interest in mapping a path to that future. The effort will identify areas for needed course corrections to the planning framework, and suggest ways to effectively manage future implementation.

health care policy assessment:the ruckelshaus center is currently assessing opportunities to expand its services in the health care sector. Health care reform has complicated policy debates and challenges that affect a wide variety of stakeholders across washington state and the pacific northwest. Combining wsu and uw expertise and perspective into an effective, university-based neutral third party may help to resolve many policy issues that impact government and industry stakeholders, labor, community partners and advocates.