Policy

Shaping Policy for HealthTM: Influencing the Policy Change Process

Trainers

Ms. Amy B. Peeples, MPA
Deputy Director
National Center for Injury Prevention and Control
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention		     Ms. Nancy E. Berger, MPH
    Assistant Clinical Professor
    University of Connecticut

 

Background
Public health professionals are increasingly working on policy, systems, and environmental solutions to health problems. For example, local or state organizations may plan to reduce childhood obesity by changing school district policies related to physical activity and nutrition. To effectively work on policy change, however, these professionals need to know how to influence change using a range of skills.

Workshop Description
During this 2-day interactive workshop, participants begin developing advocacy skills. The workshop will draw from both theory and practitioner expertise to provide concepts, tools, and skill practice. Participants will learn how to frame and reframe messages, both on paper and in the context of a live conversation or interview. Participants will be introduced to advocacy strategies and tactics. The workshop will close with an activity using two formats (quick and comprehensive) for building an advocacy plan that combines advocacy and communications strategies.

The workshop will rely on multiple learning styles including experiential activities (e.g., role play, small group exercises, individual reflection), as well as PowerPoint slides and written materials. Emphasis will be on exploring the concepts and practicing techniques. Facilitators will guide the small group activities and ensure that participants learn from the collective skills and experience present at the training.

Relevance and Usefulness
Participants will gain a better understanding of how advocacy can influence policies and environments. After learning new concepts and practicing techniques, participants will have increased their advocacy skills - an important step in the public health Essential Service of developing health-supportive policy. The workshop introduces learners to six of the 21 specialized competencies promoted by the Directors of Health Promotion and Education(DHPE), and provides information relevant to the CHES competency on advocacy. 

Objectives
By the end of this course, participants will be able to: 
1) Identify components of a powerful message
2) Identify techniques to stay on message during interviews
3) Identify key advocacy and communications strategies
4) Outline an advocacy and communications plan

SPH was developed with funding from the CDC’s National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion—Divisions of Adult and Community Health, School Health, Heart Disease and Stroke, and Office on Smoking and Health (OSH) with additional funding from the Center for Injury Prevention and Control. Its purpose is to strengthen the work of CDC’s funded partners in the crucial area of health policy and systems change.