Building Policy Leadership for Systems Change: A Regional Model for Health, Human Services, and Education

Authors

  • David A. Byerman
  • Tine Hanen-Turton

Keywords:

Systems Change, Policy Leadership, Cross-Sector Collaboration, Regional Governance, Civic Infrastructure, Experiential Learning, Health and Human Services

Abstract

Building Policy Leadership for Systems Change argues that durable reform in health, human services, and education requires intentional investment in policy leadership capacity at the regional level. As communities confront escalating complexity—from workforce shortages and housing instability to fragmented funding and eroding public trust—the article contends that effective systems change depends on leaders who can bridge service delivery, policy formulation, and cross-sector collaboration. Drawing on national research and practice, the authors emphasize that experiential, practice-based learning is essential to preparing leaders for real-world policy challenges.

Using the Greater Delaware Valley Policy Fellowship in Health, Human Services, and Education as a case study, the article presents a regional model for building a pipeline of policy-informed leaders across government and nonprofit sectors. The Fellowship integrates applied policy analysis, ethical governance, advocacy skills, and regional collaboration to strengthen nonprofits and local governments as active policy actors. Positioned within broader national movements toward civic infrastructure and evidence-based policymaking, the Fellowship demonstrates how regions can cultivate leadership capacity as a lever for systems change—advancing more resilient, equitable, and accountable public systems.

Author Biographies

David A. Byerman

David Byerman is a nationally respected public executive and authority on governmental administration, with a career spanning senior leadership roles in government, nonprofit, and the private sector. He currently serves as Chief Executive Officer of Chester County, Pennsylvania, leading an organization of more than 2,600 employees and managing a $730 million annual budget for a county of over 550,000 residents. Previously, he served as Director of Kentucky’s Legislative Research Commission and Secretary of the Nevada Senate, where he led large, bipartisan legislative staffs and contributed nationally as a member of the 2020 Mason’s Manual Commission, helping modernize parliamentary practice across the country.

Recognized for his leadership in citizen engagement and participatory democracy, Byerman has received national and state honors from the National Conference of State Legislatures and other civic institutions. His earlier experience includes senior roles with MGM Resorts International, the Nevada Governor’s Office, the Nevada Department of Transportation, and the U.S. Census Bureau, where he led Nevada’s statewide census efforts in 2000 and 2010. He holds a B.A. from the University of Redlands and a Master of Governmental Administration from the University of Pennsylvania. Byerman lives in West Chester, Pennsylvania, with his wife, Caroline, and is the proud father of two adult children.

Tine Hanen-Turton

Tine Hansen-Turton, MGA, JD, FCPP, FAAN is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Woods System of Care, a comprehensive population health management organization serving individuals with intellectual disabilities, autism, behavioral health needs, and complex medical conditions through a coordinated network of providers and partners in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. With more than 30 years of executive leadership experience across nonprofit, private, and government sectors, she has founded and led nationally recognized health and human services organizations, secured multi-billion-dollar business growth, and advanced innovative models of integrated care and life-cycle service delivery.

Hansen-Turton’s career also includes leadership roles such as CEO of the National Nurse-Led Care Consortium and founding Executive Director of the Convenient Care Association, where she helped expand access to basic health services and elevate nurse practitioners as primary care providers. She is a published author, social entrepreneur, and educator, teaching public and social innovation, health policy, and nonprofit leadership at the University of Pennsylvania. Hansen-Turton holds a J.D. from Temple University Beasley School of Law, an M.G.A. from the University of Pennsylvania Fels Institute of Government, and a B.A. from Slippery Rock University.

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Published

2026-02-18

How to Cite

Byerman, D. A., & Hanen-Turton, T. (2026). Building Policy Leadership for Systems Change: A Regional Model for Health, Human Services, and Education. Social Innovations Journal, 35(1). Retrieved from https://socialinnovationsjournal.com/index.php/sij/article/view/11711

Issue

Vol. 35 (2026): Strategy and Tools to Drive Financial Capital Into Communities and Their Changemakers

Section

Collective Impact and System Transformation

Categories

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Copyright (c) 2026 David A. Byerman, Tine Hanen-Turton (Author)

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