Public Health and Hazard Resiliency were featured at the 2014 Community Capitals Framework Institute, Nov. 7-9, at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL). A session on drought and water management planning was also featured and presenters from UNL, the National Drought Mitigation Center (NDMC), and the National Integrated Drought Information System (NIDIS) showcased research related to recent and extreme droughts in rural and urban areas and how some local hazard plans may or may not include drought. International case studies related to drought and food security was also presented, with Dr. A.J. Jordann present from the University of the Free State, South Africa, discussing the appropriate triggers for their national drought declarations and how investments in political capital are crucial. Other presentations were from Extension specialists and sociologists from land-grant universities such as Kansas State University, Michigan State University, and North Dakota State University. They discussed the applications of the CCF model to community vitality and youth engagement in programs such as 4-H.
The institute was sponsored by the NDMC, The Heartland Center for Leadership Development, South Dakota State University, NIDIS, and the Robert B. Daugherty Water for Food Institute at the University of Nebraska. The workshop was kicked off with presentations by Cornelia and Jan Flora, originators of the CCF model. They gave insight on how the Community Capitals Framework came together, how it is applied, and how it might be used in the future, including towards global climate change adaptation.