Question: From Problem to Policy Change
IDENTIFY the problem that most deeply affects you or your clients.
Identify the problems that concern you or that you are the most passionate about changing. This can be within your organization or institution, your geographic community, your state, or even the country.
LINK the problem to a broader social issue.
Using evidence-based research, look at what has already been done on behalf of your issue and what is still needed. Check for gaps in addressing the problem or issue. Work to understand the situation and identify a solution that will help reduce the problem from happening to more individuals, children, families, or groups. Consider both your clients and the members of the larger community - the solution could be part of a community initiative or a public policy change.
Determine your GOALS.
What are your desired solutions/policy interventions, both short-and long-term? Identify the ways in which you will know your efforts are working, such as increasing the number of people involved in your issue or gaining the attention and support of community leaders or elected officials. Be sure to set realistic, obtainable goals.
Find out who the DECISION-MAKERS are on the issue.
Find out who makes the decisions regarding your issue and what motivates them. This could be the board of a hospital, a community-based health clinic, a mental health or corrections institution, City Council members, or state/federal lawmakers. Help persuade ("elevator speech") the decision-makers to change the public policy or community norms through ongoing communications and establishing yourself as a credible resource on the issue. Be PERSISTENT. Keep the pressure on through repeated contact with decision-makers. This could include meeting with the decision-makers, writing them letters, and calling or emailing them.
Enlist ALLIES.
Why should the community support this initiative? Who can help you achieve your goals? Identify others, including your colleagues, other child/family advocates, community groups, family members, and friends to support your efforts. Be sure to thank and show appreciation to these people for their support and assistance.
Know your OPPONENTS.
Who opposes this issue and why? Is there any common ground you can work with? Sometimes, opposition stems from being uninformed or from misinterpretation of ideas and information. Knowing the thought process (regardless of its integrity or intent) behind your opposition can help you understand where they are coming from, what their core messages will be, and how you can respond professionally.
Get the MESSAGE out.
People can't support your effort if they don't know about it. Write letters to the editor or OpEd pieces for the local newspaper, attend town/city meetings, leverage social media, create a fact sheet about the issues, give presentations, set up information tables at public events, and utilize community communication tools like newsletters, message boards, and meetings.
ANALYZE and EVALUATE outcomes.
How will you know if you've achieved your goals? Ask yourself and others what is working, and what isn't. Monitor the very people (clients) who are affected by the outcomes and stand the most to gain or lose. Modify your activities in response to that feedback. Be willing to start the process all over if something is not working.