Welcome to the Policy Pillar! We’ve enhanced the user experience by providing an interactive video and workbook that takes you through this pillar so that you can feel equipped and confident to take action in building healthy places in your community. Remember – This is a ‘choose your own’ adventure so you can choose which tools to use in this journey.
Policy, guidelines, regulations, and strategies are important tools and guides for action that organizations and communities can use to help shape the settings in which we live, work and grow, as well as sustain promising community practices over time.
- Interactive Video
- PDF Workbook
- Read on the Web
What is Healthy Public Policy?
Why is it Important?
Is your Community Ready for Policy?
How to Develop Healthy Public Policy
- Obtain a detailed understanding of the specific problem. This will be a foundation for developing clear goals, assessing options, and building support for the policy among decision makers.
- Determine whether to proceed. This decision should be based on whether your community is ready for a specific policy and your organization is ready to lead or support the process.
- Define clear goals and objectives for the policy change and generate a list of policy options that you want decision makers to consider. Putting forward more than one option shows stakeholders that you are flexible and willing to negotiate. Assessing several options prepares you to explain why there are certain ones that you will not support.
- Decide which decision makers will be the focus of your support building efforts. Choosing the wrong people can waste resources and may even jeopardize future strategies if you approach people at the wrong level, or wrong time.
- Choose channels and vehicles through which to try to persuade decision makers to proceed with policy development. Develop the messages that are put forth using these methods. This step can win or lose battles.
- Define the specific logistical and legal details about a policy. The precise wording of a policy often dictates whether it is passed.
- Ensure that all prerequisites are in place for policy implementation and then implement the policy. Many policies have been retracted upon realizing that implementation is impractical, too costly, too controversial or that progress toward the ultimate goal cannot be demonstrated.
- Early identification of problems and timely policy amendments may help avoid a policy being overturned when implementation presents challenges. A thorough evaluation will also help to demonstrate accountability to stakeholders and reduce implementation costs.
*This document was adapted with the permission of Public Health Ontario. Public Health Ontario assumes no responsibility for the content of any publication resulting from translation/changes/adaptation of PHO documents by third parties(6).
Creating Inclusive and Culturally Appropriate Policy
A special effort needs to be put into including historically marginalized groups or those who may not have many avenues for participation.
Enter into conversations with curiosity; let the community guide the conversations. Consider how you can approach conversations from a “Doing With” vs. “Doing For” model.
While not everyone will want or have the capacity to participate in the policy process, it’s important to provide multiple opportunities, and different engagement methods to increase participation. Consider the best ways to reach different groups; how you approach seniors for feedback may be different than newcomers
- Check out SPARC BC’s Community Engagement Toolkit, to learn some community engagement tips(5)
- Visit ARPA’s Oral Knowledge HUB to learn from our Indigenous partners and continue your reconciliation journey
Key Considerations
Remember: Building equity into policy requires a diversity of voices, perspectives, and opinions. Make sure to consider the people you are bringing to the table.
