HSC Forum
Convened by the Human Services Coalition, the Forum facilitates community dialogues on topics impacting our local area. Topics and speakers that have been especially beneficial to the community have included the annual Tompkins County budget presentation, local funders panel, and discussions on the impacts of state and local funding decisions, including the recently updated Medicaid 1115 Waiver.
The HSC Forum is free and open to the public; all who are interested in human services and their efficient delivery are invited to attend.
Upcoming HSC Forums
Wednesday, September 9, 2026, 10am – 11:30am in the Borg Warner Room of the Tompkins County Public Library:
Centering the Voices of Tompkins County’s Unhoused Youth
Youth participatory action research centers the voices of young people with lived experiences in the research process. It is an essential component of the Independent Living Survey which focuses on understanding and addressing unhoused youth and vulnerable populations’ needs across Tompkins County. The Independent Living Survey has been conducted every four to five years since 2003. The 2024 iteration was expanded to explore precursors to homelessness, COVID-19 impacts, and mental health among youth experiencing housing insecurity.
Members of ACT for Youth (including undergraduate research assistants); community stakeholders, from organizations like The Learning Web; and young people who have experienced homelessness collaborated on survey design, data collection, data interpretation, and presentations of findings. The combined effort creates a better understanding and shared information regarding issues such as housing, food security, employment, education, involvement in public systems, safety, strengths, and goals for the future.
During this talk, members of the collaborative research team will share about the survey process, outcomes, and implications for the community.
Panelists:
Amanda Purington Drake ’04, M.P.S. ’09, Ph.D. ’22; ACT for Youth
Vicki Baum; ACT for Youth
Brian Maley: ACT for Youth
Youth Researchers; The Learning Web
This HSC Forum is co-sponsored by the Tompkins County Homeless & Housing Task Force.
HSC Forums are free and open to the public. Pre-registration is requested.
This event is in-person only.
Masks are optional at in-person events
Past Topics
May 20, 2026 from 3:30 pm – 5pm – 2027 Tompkins County Budget Presentation via Zoom
County Administrator, Korsah Akumfi presented on the 2027 Tompkins County budget process. He went over the fiscal and economic factors driving next year’s budget as well as the process that will take place over the next five months.
Watch the Recording
October 1, 2025 – The Age Friendly: Go Local Road Show!
This HSC Forum is co-sponsored by the Health Foundation of Western & Central New York, Tompkins County Office for the Aging, Tompkins County Health Planning Council and Seven Valleys Health Coalition
This Forum is designed for nonprofit professionals from Tompkins, Cortland and surrounding counties who are interested in securing funding for community-based projects. Age-Friendly: Go Local is a program for grassroots and community-based organizations who are working to build age-friendly neighborhoods that promote health equity.
September 17, 2025 – Ithaca Guaranteed Income Project Outcomes
Elizabeth DeYoung, PhD from the University of Pennsylvania will present research outcomes from the Ithaca Guaranteed Income (IGI) project as published by the UPenn Center for Guaranteed Income Research (CGIR). Following the presentation will be a panel discussion with Ithaca Mayor Cantelmo, Anisa Mendizabal from the Ithaca Urban Renewal Agency (IURA), and Jessie Garmhausen, a participant in the IGI project.
Contact
For questions email ktaylor@hsctc.org