Released September 23, 2009

STILLWATER, Okla. – Healthcare is a topic being discussed not only on the national front but also at kitchen tables and community forums throughout the nation.

According to the Kettering Foundation, 47 million Americans have no health insurance and eight million of these are children.

Renee Daugherty, Oklahoma State University Cooperative Extension leadership development and educational methods specialist, said with the topic of healthcare, there are advantages and drawbacks that are weighed against what individuals hold most valuable.

Over the course of 2008 National Issues Forums took place in 40 states, including Oklahoma, where thousands of Americans came together to deliberate about coping with the rising cost of healthcare.

“Forum participants discussed what is wrong with America’s health care system and pointed out what the public would support in terms of changes and support,” Daugherty said. “Forum results show how conflicted public thinking can be and suggest how much needs to be done before America sees what a new health care system would look like.”

Public voices spoke out in forums that took place across the country to discuss the healthcare issues. To view these dialogues online visit http://nifi-healthcare.dialoguecircles.com/.

“The topic of healthcare is something every American should be thinking and talking about,” said Kimberly Williams, OSU assistant Extension specialist, citizen engagement and public deliberation. “When it comes to the public what will be done and what will the public be prepared to do? These are questions that need to be discussed and public forums are an excellent way for communities to come together and discuss their options and opinions.”

To organize a forum in your area visit http://nifi.org/.

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http://www.dasnr.okstate.edu/Members/katie.reim-40okstate.edu/forums-discuss-topic-of-healthcare

Writer: Katie Reim, 405-744-6792, katie.reim@okstate.edu