Tailored policy technical assistance
We offer one-on-one policy consultation to local governments, agencies, and communities.
Policy + System Change Network
The Policy + System Change Network at the Center for Public Health practice helps to elevate local expertise and leverage the power of community networks to create sustainable systemic change. The PSCN team has extensive experience tailoring technical assistance to local governments, agencies, and communities.
The Policy + System Change Network approach
- Prioritize authentic community engagement to achieve equitable outcomes
- Use proven strategies to advance policy campaigns grounded in experience
- Develop and support evidence-based, legally sound, and tailored policy interventions
- Support passage of policy, implementation, and ongoing evaluation
The PSCN Local Policy Continuum
The PSCN approach to local policy recognizes that policymaking and systemic change are cyclical and non-linear processes. This is represented by our Continuum for Local Policy Campaigns, which is a circular diagram composed of 6 stages, with each stage building on previous stages and their accompanying strategies and activities. The stages include:
- Researching the problem and engaging strategic partners to build capacity
- Investigating and analyzing a policy solution
- Advocating and mobilizing community member support
- Assessing decision maker support and proposing the policy
- Preparing for implementation and enforcement
- Implementing the policy and monitoring enforcement/compliance
These stages are dynamic and often intersect. A policy campaign may begin at any stage of the continuum depending on readiness to address a problem through policy, awareness of the problem, direction from decision makers, need for evaluation, and other factors. It is important to be flexible and responsive to community needs within the policy process. Effective policy campaigns incorporate community engagement at each stage of the continuum to ensure that policy solutions are relevant to the local context and reflect the needs of community members.
What we offer
Legal technical assistance
Policy language matters. The PSCN team assists with drafting ordinances and policies that have an equity lens.Peer learning opportunities and support
The PSCN team hosts regularly scheduled group check-ins to facilitate learning, group connection, and peer-to-peer capacity building.
Partner identification and relations
Connections with public health professionals, community members, and decision makers are critical to successful change efforts. Our team assists in the identification of partners in order to elevate community-driven health policy efforts.
Customized training events and materials
We develop customized fact sheets and conduct in-depth trainings to support and train partners involved in the policy process.