MSW 513 Module 5 Evaluating Social Policies

Introduction to Policy Analysis in Public Health

Lesson 2 Summary Page 1

LESSON 2: OVERVIEW OF POLICY AND ITS ROLE IN PUBLIC HEALTH

The focus of this lesson was to discuss various factors related to policy analysis’ role in support of public health. Hopefully you have gained a clearer understanding of a process by which policy is conceptualized and developed, public health’s role in policy development, and the impact of both current and future public health issues on policy development. The objectives for this lesson included:

• Describe CDC’s definition of policy. • Describe how policy impacts health

and health behaviors. • Identify the elements of the policy process.

• Define policy analysis.

KEY POINTS

• At CDC, “policy” is defined as a law, regulation, procedure, administrative action, incentive, or voluntary practice of governments and other institutions.

• Policy has been a useful tool in several of the Ten Great Public Health Achievements in the U.S. from 2001 to 2010.

• Resource decisions may influence policy options. When resources are scarce they must be prioritized and allocated judiciously.

• Prioritizing policy options is important because it assists decision-makers in identifying the ones on which they should focus their limited resources.

• CDC developed a practical framework for policy analysis that public health practitioners can use to identify and prioritize policy solutions.

• Policy analysis is the second step in the process. It is such a critical component of policy development that CDC also developed a policy analysis competency which articulates the “key behaviors” it comprises.

• Policy development is rarely a linear process. However, in the ideal scenario, a problem is defined, potential policy solutions are identified, analyzed and prioritized, and the best solution is adopted and evaluated.

• Public health’s role is to deliver evidence-based science to inform policy decision-making.