Dr. Deborah Sullivan Mikaela Bush Julianna Hritz

Our Goals And Objectives Today Share a process to develop advocacy skills to influence public policy at local, state and national levels. Participants will be able to… 1. examine their current level of political participation. 2. evaluate Public Policy issues in preparation to advocate on behalf of children and families. 3. design and implement a program to develop advocacy skills in others.

The Process Select a Public Policy topic related to family well- being. Prepare a Public Policy Analysis Brief using AAFCS’s “Five I’s Policy Analysis Organizing Tool.” Following analysis, choose a course of action explaining how the choice improves the quality of life for individuals/families/communities. Contact the appropriate legislator expressing the course of action desired, based on the analysis completed.

How a Bill Becomes a Law

Issue-to-Policy Evolution In order for a policy to “become” it must move from a concern to a new policy

Stages of Policy Evolution 1. Concern 2. Involvement 3. Issue 4. Alternatives 5. Consequences 6. Choice 7. Implementation 8. Evaluation

Stage 1: Concern Citizens begin by expressing concern Example: Citizens realize that their community has no means of transportation of elderly persons Our Example: Recent events Sandy Hook Class agreed on the controversy Recent legislation introduced

Stage 2: Involvement Example: Citizens may become involved in this issue as individuals or as members of a group working together to address the transportation problem. Our example: the class felt this was a current concern that needed addressed with new legislation that was being debated in congress.

Stage 3: Issue Citizens then clarify the issue by defining the scope of the problem. Example: They may talk with community leaders and the elderly to further define and clarify the transportation issue. Our example: we began researching the topic with the assistance of a reference librarian.

Stage 4: Alternatives Important step in public policy is to identify alternatives Example: Citizens can consider alternatives such as applying for government grants, inviting private businesses to bid on developing a transportation system, or organizing volunteers to donate transportation Recognize that doing nothing is an alternative

Alternatives Our example: We looked for different points of view, who agreed/disagreed and why We investigated groups for and against gun control Half of the class researched the pros of gun control and half of the class researched the cons

Stage 5: Consequences Explore the consequences Example: A government grant may help with a feasibility study or purchase of a van, but then additional funding sources will be needed. Or, volunteers may be willing to help in the beginning of the project, but tire as the project matures Our example: We considered who was impacted by this issue and what the implications were

Stage 6: Choice When all alternatives and their consequences have been considered, a choice must be made While the citizen may influence the choice, she/he does not typically make the choice at this step Instead, the citizen indirectly influences policy makers who make those decisions Our example: For purposes of the paper, consensus was drawn by the class on the issue

Stage 7: Implementation The citizen’s role in implementing the choice is to learn how to provide input to the policy maker as implementation procedures are developed Our example: Students decided which side of the issue they supported and wrote an individual letter to their legislator with their research based opinion Visit from Congressman Bob Gibbs

Stage 8: Evaluation Example: If citizens are happy with the resolution to the elderly transportation issue, they move on to other activities If they are unhappy, they begin the process again, possibly campaigning to elect new policymakers as a result of the experience

Conclusion of Our Project In the end, S. 150 Assault Weapons Ban of 2013 was not passed in the Senate Since the Sandy Hook Elementary shootings, Congress has not passed any gun control legislation Learning this process provided us with the confidence and tools to contact our legislators regarding our concerns on current issues

Our Goals And Objectives Today Share a process to develop advocacy skills to influence public policy at local, state and national levels. Participants will be able to… 1. examine their current level of political participation. 2. evaluate Public Policy issues in preparation to advocate on behalf of children and families. 3. design and implement a program to develop advocacy skills in others.