The Fund supports networks of state health policy decision makers to help identify, inspire, and inform policy leaders.
The Milbank Memorial Fund supports two state leadership programs for legislative and executive branch state government officials committed to improving population health.
The Fund identifies and shares policy ideas and analysis to advance state health leadership, strong primary care, healthy aging, and sustainable health care costs.
Keep up with news and updates from the Milbank Memorial Fund. And read the latest blogs from our thought leaders, including Fund President Christopher F. Koller.
The Fund publishes The Milbank Quarterly, as well as reports, issues briefs, and case studies on topics important to health policy leaders.
The Milbank Memorial Fund is is a foundation that works to improve population health and health equity.
Background The Milbank Memorial Fund (“Fund”) works to improve population health by connecting leaders and decisionmakers with the best available evidence and experience. Identifying, informing, inspiring, and engaging state health policy leaders is a key strategic priority of the Fund because committed, competent government leaders influence state health policy in many important and positive ways. Through its State Health Leadership programs, the Fund seeks to nurture and reinforce its organizational values – objectivity and non-partisanship, collaboration and collegiality, stewardship and accountability, and leadership and excellence – in public sector leaders across the country. As a small organization, the Fund accomplishes its work through deep personal relationships and has a long history of working with state leaders to develop relevant and impactful programs and resources.
In 2020, the Fund updated its State Health Leadership program model to better target its resources to leadership development and population health improvement. Beginning in 2021, the Fund’s work in this area will include three strategic components: continued support for emerging policy leaders, support for a new cadre of “fellows” committed to population health improvement, and sustained networking between these groups and among other state leaders.
Given the changes to the Fund’s State Health Leadership program model, a new Advisory Commission will be created to advise Fund staff about this work and support the operations of leadership programs. The Advisory Commission will be “leaders by example”, helping the Fund achieve its goal of supporting a cadre of state leaders who are consistently creating and implementing evidence-based policies and programs that can improve population health.
State Health Leadership Strategic Components 1. Emerging Leaders Program (“ELP”) The ELP is a leadership development program for early to mid-career health policy leaders in the executive and legislative branches of state government. The program develops practical, hands-on leadership skills to enhance health policy and management abilities and knowledge. Taught by expert trainers and policymakers, the program helps participants identify and address challenges and opportunities in today’s increasingly complex health policy environment. It also provides a unique opportunity for participants to build a network of colleagues, including through a 1-1 match with an experienced mentor, from across the country who share the goal of improving population health.
2. Milbank Fellows Program (“MFP”) The Fund is currently developing a new leadership program for senior state (and large county) officials from the executive and legislative branches who have recently assumed significant leadership responsibilities and are committed to improving population health in their communities. The program is expected to be structured as a year-long cohort of approximately 10-15 officials from different areas of government, including public health, Medicaid, housing, aging and disability, and more. With an emphasis on experience sharing and peer network creation, participants in the program will learn how to advance population health reforms by:
3. Milbank State Leadership Network (“MSLN”) This network is the successor to the Reforming States Group (RSG) and includes current state leaders who have participated in any of the Fund’s leadership programs, including the RSG, ELP, and MFP, at any time in the past three years. The Fund hopes to inform and inspire network members to keep advancing state health policy reforms by connecting them with resources and facilitating relationships with peers from other states. Network members will improve the quality of the Fund’s formal leadership programs, the ELP and MFP, and communications and will keep us grounded and informed about what is happening in their jurisdictions. Network members receive different resources and support from the Fund while also contributing to the Fund’s mission and work.
Milbank State Leadership Network Members receive:
Milbank State Leadership Network Members contribute:
Milbank State Leadership Advisory Commission Charter The new Milbank State Leadership Advisory Commission (“Commission”) will provide guidance, operational support, and new ideas for all of the Fund’s State Health Leadership programs and activities. As a group of trusted advisors with relevant state experience and subject matter expertise, the Commission will help keep the Fund connected to state leaders and ensure that the Fund’s programs and activities have the greatest impact and address state leaders’ most pressing needs.
Commission Member Roles and Responsibilities The Commission will provide guidance to Fund staff to inform its State Health Leadership programs and activities by:
The Commission will also provide operational support for the Fund’s State Health Leadership programs and activities by:
Finally, the Commission will generate new ideas for current and future State Health Leadership programs and activities by:
Benefits to Commission Members
Commitment Commission members will interact with each other and Fund staff on an ongoing basis throughout the year. At a minimum, we ask that members:
Commission Structure and Membership
Executive Committee
The Advisory Commission will elect 4-6 members to serve as an Executive Committee that will meet periodically to plan agendas and advance the Commission’s work between meetings.
Please contact Milbank Memorial Fund President Christopher F. Koller at ckoller@milbank.org for more information.