INNOVATIONS IN AMERICAN GOVERNMENT
An Awards Program of the Ford Foundation and Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government in partnership with the Council for Excellence in Government
$1 MILLION IN GRANTS BY FORD FOUNDATION FOR INNOVATIVE GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS
Chicago Trains Youth in Arts -- Arkansas Succeeds with Medicaid -- Boston Stops Teen Deaths by Handguns -- FDA Speeds Drug Approvals -- Among Ten Outstanding Programs Recognized in American Government Competition
The Ford Foundation announced
today that
it is granting $100,000 each to ten government programs chosen as the most
innovative in government for 1997. The programs stand out as the "best in
government" after a rigorous selection process that culminated yesterday in
a competition among 25 finalists held in Washington, D.C. by Harvard
University's Kennedy School of Government. The $1 million in grants will
enable these innovative programs to share lessons learned with other
government agencies -- at all levels -- in such areas as criminal justice,
education, health care, the environment, and transportation.
"The Ford Foundation gives $1 million each year to the ten government
programs that set a standard for excellence in government," said Susan
Berresford, president of the Ford Foundation. "The American people need to
know that their government agencies are developing an incredible track
record for tackling some of our toughest problems."
The ten winners of the 1997 Innovations in American Government Awards --
including eight state and local programs, and two federal programs -- were
distinguished by their collaboration with public- and private-sector
partners, their use of new technologies, and an innovative approach to
problem-solving. The winners are Arkansas' "ConnectCare"; Boston's
"Operation Cease Fire"; Chicago's "Gallery 37"; Georgia's "Pathways to
Teaching" and "Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten"; Kentucky's "Recruiting Public
Education for Results"; North Carolina's "Structured Sentencing";
Pennsylvania's "Land Recycling"; the U.S. Food & Drug Administration's
"Reform of the U.S. Drug Approval Process"; and the U.S. Internal Revenue
Service's "TeleFile" program. A list with brief descriptions follows.
The winning programs were chosen by the national selection committee of
the Ford Foundation's Innovations in American Government Awards program.
This selection committee of public policy experts and former public
officials is chaired by David Gergen, editor-at-large of U.S. News & World
Report, and includes former Congressman Tom Downey, former League of Women
Voters president Dorothy Ridings, former Gary, Indiana mayor Richard
Hatcher, and Jack Rosenthal, editor of The New York Times Magazine.
The competition among the 25 finalists was the final step in a
highly competitive process. More than 1,540 initial applications were
evaluated according to originality of approach, value of services,
effectiveness, and potential for replication in other jurisdictions. After
the 25 finalists were chosen, experts in each program's field conducted site
visits to analyze effectiveness.
"These programs demonstrate that government can and does work," said
Gergen. "The same forces that have improved productivity and profitability
in the private sector are being used effectively to improve government. It
is important that we recognize when government succeeds."
The Innovations in American Government program searches each year for
the top innovative government programs. Since its inception in 1986, more
than 85 percent of the winning programs have been replicated by other
government agencies.
"This year's selection process was extremely competitive," said Alan
Altshuler, director of the Innovations program at the Kennedy School. "It
has been thrilling to learn of so many remarkable public initiatives, though
this has made the task of selecting just ten difficult indeed."
The Ford Foundation's Innovations in American Government Awards is
administered by Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government in
partnership with the Council for Excellence in Government. Harvard
University's Kennedy School of Government is a graduate school of public
policy dedicated to preparing leaders for service in government and other
institutions of democratic societies and contributing to the solution of
important public problems.
The Council for Excellence in Government is a national, non-profit and
nonpartisan organization whose 750 members have served as senior
public-sector officials. Its mission is to improve the performance of
government by strengthening results-oriented management and creative
leadership in the public sector and to build understanding in government by
focusing public discussion on its role and responsibilities.
The Ford Foundation, established in 1936, is a private, nonprofit
institution that serves as a resource for innovative people and institutions
worldwide. Its goals are to strengthen democratic values, reduce poverty
and injustice, promote international cooperation, and advance human
achievement. A national and international philanthropy with assets of $9.2
billion, the Foundation has granted more than $9 billion to some 9,000
institutions and 100,000 individuals worldwide.
For more information, please call 202-467-6600 or visit our Web site at www.ksg.harvard.edu/innovations/.
The 1997 Innovations in American Government Awards Winners
Kentucky's "Recreating Public Education for Results" enhances children's
learning by restructuring curriculum, finance, and governance systems.
U.S. Food & Drug Administration's "Reform of the U.S. Drug Approval Process"
speeds drug approvals while maintaining rigorous safety standards.
Arkansas' "Connectcare" recruits physicians, cuts costs, and improves
regular medical care for Medicaid recipients.
Boston's "Operation Cease Fire" has virtually eliminated teenage deaths by
handguns in the city for two years.
U.S. Internal Revenue Service's "TeleFile" allows citizens to file simple
returns by telephone.
North Carolina's "Structured Sentencing" ensures consistent sentencing and
distinguishes prison terms for violent and non-violent offenders.
Georgia's "Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten" provides free preschool to all
four-year olds.
Pennsylvania's "Land Recycling" works with businesses to prepare
contaminated sites for commercial use.
Chicago's "Gallery 37" prepares youth for future workplace success through
training in the arts.
Georgia's "Pathways to Teaching" recruits and trains minority school
employees to become teachers.
The Ford Foundation is an independent, nonprofit grant-making organization. For more than half a century it has been a resource for innovative people and institutions worldwide, guided by its goals of strengthening democratic values, reducing poverty and injustice, promoting international cooperation and advancing human achievement. With headquarters in New York, the foundation has offices in Africa, the Middle East, Asia, Latin America, and Russia.