Public health

You will write 2, 2 page, single spaced policy memos. In your memo, you will define a problem, describe a policy solution that clearly identifies the intervention and the target population; critically examine the intervention including its strengths and weaknesses; and make a recommendation for a future course of action. You may either support or oppose the policy. Note: these should all be feasible interventions. For each memo you may write about the following topics:

1. Environmental Health (climate crisis, pollution)

2. Gun violence (intentional, unintentional; homicides and/or suicides)

3. Tobacco (including e-cigarettes)

4. Opioids / prescription drug abuse

5. Housing (homelessness or housing insecurity)

6. Infant mortality

7. Mandatory vaccinations (not including COVID-19 vaccines)

8. Teenage pregnancy

9. HIV/AIDS

10. Food insecurity

The goal of this assignment is to produce a policy memo, in the traditional narrative style, that: concisely but effectively describes the problem, clearly identifies the 1 or 2 interventions and the target population; critically examines the intervention(s), its strengths and weaknesses; and makes recommendations for a future course of action. If describing 1 policy intervention, you may either support or oppose the policy. You may, but you do not have to, propose 2 potential policy alternatives in your memo that you then compare and choose between.

Note: these should be  feasible interventions. For example, when choosing an intervention to address gun violence, consider whether your intervention would be constitutional 9e.g., banning all firearms is probably not going to hold up in court).

Formatting and style requirements

Your memo should follow the following guidelines:

1. 2 pages in length, single spaced

2. 12-point font, Times New Roman

3. 1-inch margins

4. Use page numbers

5. Cite all sources consistently and include a reference list at the end (use numeric super-script citations in the text). The reference list is not included in the 2-page limit

6. Consider the format and lay out of your memo- it should have a memo heading and should use descriptive headings to guide your reader and increase readability

Your memo should be written to a real-life decision maker who would be in a position to take action to address your problem. Thus, all policy alternatives suggested should be realistic and actionable  by that decision maker. You can assign yourself a role of your choosing. For example, you could be the director of policy for a particular organization or you could represent a particular interest or stakeholder group. But, whomever you choose to be, or whomever you choose to address your memo to, the positions you take, the tone you write in and the policies you propose should make sense. Your memo should include:

1. A memo heading

2. An executive summary

3. The problem definition. Including evidence as to the nature and extent of the problem. This should help us understand the particular features of this problem and should cite evidence.

4. One or two policy alternatives to address the problem. These policy alternatives could have been implemented in other places or could be new suggestions. For each policy you should briefly describe it and critically examines its strengths and weaknesses. Consider the stakeholders involved in this problem. What is the political feasibility (including economic considerations/budgets), potential effectiveness of the policies, and ethical or equity considerations.

5. Make a recommendation for what your decision maker should do (support/oppose the policy, or, if you compared two policy options, which one they should choose). Justify that choice.

6. A concluding statement

MEMO SHOULD HAVE:

Memo Examples

A Policy Memo presents evidence-based recommendations to decision makers. Policy Memos are succinct, well researched summaries with specific actionable recommendations. 

Memos should have:

· Memo Heading: The memo should have a standard heading with the following elements: who it is to, who it is from, the organization of both who it is to and from, the date, a subject line. Make sure you have chosen an appropriate decision maker to write to, and that you have chosen an appropriate role for yourself as the author of the memo. The subject line should state the recommendation for what your decision-maker should do.

· Executive Summary: Contains a short 3-4 sentence executive summary that: states the problem, describes the policy alternatives being considered, and makes a recommendation for what policy should be chosen and what next step should be taken.

· Description of the Problem: Convincingly describes the public health importance of the problem fully but succinctly. Makes a strong and well-articulated argument for why we should care about this problem and why we should take action to solve it. Presents evidence as to the nature, size and scope of the problem. Uses HIGH QUALITY evidence to support all statements of fact. Uses multiple sources, does not rely too heavily on a small number of sources. Provides a list of citations at the end of the document all formatted in a consistent, accepted citation style (MLA, APA etc).

· Description of Policy Alternatives: Succinctly describes one or two policy alternatives to address the problem. These policy alternatives could have been implemented in other places or could be new suggestions. Makes clear what the policy would do and how it would address the problem.

· Analysis of policy alternative/ alternatives: For each policy (again, it is ok to have one or two) you should critically examine its strengths and weaknesses. Consider the stakeholders involved in this problem. What is the political feasibility, economic feasibility and potential effectiveness of the policies. If you suggest two alternatives, compare them in relation to each other.

· Policy recommendation justification: Make a recommendation for what your decision maker should do (support/oppose the policy, or, if you compared two policy options, which one they should choose). Justify that choice.

· Concluding statement: End your memo with a concluding statement (1-3 sentences) re-stating your recommendation for how your decision maker should address your problem.