Home » The 2026 OPEN MINDS Government Health & Human Services Executive Summit

The 2026 OPEN MINDS Government Health & Human Services Executive Summit


Driving Value In A Budget Sensitive Environment

Deanne Cornette, MHA, GPC
Summit Chair & Senior Associate,
OPEN MINDS

As federal health and human services policies continue to shift—and states recalibrate funding in response—counties are experiencing the impact in real time. With expanding responsibility for safety-net populations and increasing pressure to demonstrate outcomes, government leaders are being asked to deliver more value, more coordination, and more measurable impact—while safeguarding taxpayer dollars and stretching every available resource. This moment calls for bold strategy and practical solutions.

Join us for the inaugural Government Health & Human Services Executive Summit, sponsored by Bamboo Health. This exclusive gathering is designed for forward-thinking government leaders ready to move beyond incremental change and drive meaningful system transformation. Engage with peers from across the country, examine proven models and candid lessons learned, and explore innovative cross-agency partnerships that are redefining how counties serve high-need populations.

You will leave with actionable insights on what is delivering results, where common pitfalls persist, and how to seize emerging opportunities to strengthen health and human service systems across government. If you are navigating rising demand, constrained resources, and heightened accountability, this Summit will equip you with the strategies and connections to lead with confidence in a rapidly evolving landscape.

2026 Summit Agenda

9:45 am – 10:15 am CT

The National Market Trends Driving Changes In Government Health & Human Service Management

Government Health & Human Services Executive Summit

Join us as we kick off the day with Deanne Cornette, Senior Associate, OPEN MINDS, as she dives into the national policy, funding, and market forces reshaping county health and human services systems. Attendees will leave with a clear understanding of how federal shifts, state funding recalibration, value-based expectations, and rising demand are redefining county accountability and performance expectations. Hear why counties are not simply administrators of programs, but integrators of care and stewards of measurable outcomes in a resource-constrained environment.

Leadership & Management Certificate Program Course | Domain: Leadership Strategy & Governance | Credit Hours: 0.5

10:15 am – 11:15 am CT

Strengthening Cross-Agency Collaboration, Governance & Data Interoperability

Government Health & Human Services Executive Summit

This roundtable is designed to move from concept to execution. The goal is to facilitate peer exchange around practical governance models, shared accountability structures, and data-sharing frameworks that enable cross-agency coordination. Participants will identify specific barriers to interoperability within their counties and leave with at least one actionable strategy to strengthen collaboration across behavioral health, public health, social services, justice, and emergency response systems.

Leadership & Management Certificate Program Course | Domain: Leadership Strategy & Governance | Credit Hours: 1.0

11:30 am – 12:30 pm CT

Moving Government Health & Human Service Contracting To Performance-Based Models

Government Health & Human Services Executive Summit

During this session we’ll examine real-world examples of counties transitioning from volume-based or compliance-driven contracting to performance-based models tied to outcomes and value. Attendees will take away the financial, operational, and political implications of this shift, including procurement alignment, provider readiness, and performance metrics, and discover a roadmap for aligning contracts, data systems, and oversight processes to support measurable impact while safeguarding public funds.

Leadership & Management Certificate Program Course | Domain: Organizational Performance Optimization | Credit Hours: 1.0

12:30 pm – 1:45 pm CT

Lunch & Learn

Government Health & Human Services Executive Summit


2:00 pm – 3:00 pm CT

Scaling Coordinated Care Models For Safety Net Services For High-Needs Population

Government Health & Human Services Executive Summit

During this session, panelists will focus on what it truly takes to scale coordinated care beyond pilot programs. Attendees will explore leadership lessons, funding strategies, technology infrastructure, and cross-sector partnerships required to support high-need populations, particularly those interacting with multiple systems. Leave this session with clarity on the enabling conditions for sustainable scale, common pitfalls in multi-system coordination, and how counties can position themselves as accountable hubs for whole-person, safety-net care.

Leadership & Management Certificate Program Course | Domain: Organizational Performance Optimization | Credit Hours: 1.0