Community Assessment And Writing A Health Policy Brief Essay

This week your assignment will be focusing on conducting a community assessment and writing a health policy brief. You will need to have a community health provider to interview. The interview does not have to be in person but needs to be with a community health provider that works in the community being assessed. You will use the Functional Health Patterns document provided in the Study Materials Folder to conduct a “windshield” survey of your community. Note: you will need to do some research to find supportive data for many components of the Functional Health Patterns that cannot be determined through a windshield survey. Ex. Child abuse rates, STI rates, Obesity %, etc. The Functional Health Patterns data is part of your PPTX. Speaker notes should be provided for content slides.Community Assessment And Writing A Health Policy Brief Essay

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The RN to BSN program at Grand Canyon University meets the requirements for clinical competencies as defined by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) and the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN), using nontraditional experiences for practicing nurses. These experiences come in the form of direct and indirect care experiences in which licensed nursing students to engage in learning within the context of their hospital organization, specific care discipline, and local communities.

This assignment consists of both an interview and a PowerPoint (PPT) presentation.

Assessment/Interview

Select a community of interest in your region. Perform a physical assessment of the community.

1. Perform a direct assessment of a community of interest using the “Functional Health Patterns Community Assessment Guide.”

2. Interview a community health and public health provider regarding that person’s role and experiences within the community.Community Assessment And Writing A Health Policy Brief Essay

Interview Guidelines

Interviews can take place in-person, by phone, or by Skype.

Develop interview questions to gather information about the role of the provider in the community and the health issues faced by the chosen community.

Complete the “Provider Interview Acknowledgement Form” prior to conducting the interview. Submit this document separately in its respective dropbox.

Compile key findings from the interview, including the interview questions used, and submit these with the presentation.

PowerPoint Presentation

Create a PowerPoint presentation of 15-20 slides (slide count does not include title and references slide) describing the chosen community interest.

Include the following in your presentation:

1. Description of community and community boundaries: the people and the geographic, geopolitical, financial, educational level; ethnic and phenomenological features of the community, as well as types of social interactions; common goals and interests; and barriers, and challenges, including any identified social determinates of health.Community Assessment And Writing A Health Policy Brief Essay

2. Summary of community assessment: (a) funding sources and (b) partnerships.

3. Summary of interview with community health/public health provider.

4. Identification of an issue that is lacking or an opportunity for health promotion.

5. A conclusion summarizing your key findings and a discussion of your impressions of the general health of the community.

While APA style is not required for the body of this assignment, solid academic writing is expected, and documentation of sources should be presented using APA formatting guidelines, which can be found in the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center.

This assignment uses a rubric. Please review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the expectations for successful completion.

In today’s practice of medicine, clinicians,
researchers and health professionals are frequently interested in health policy and seek
opportunities to weigh in on issues where they
may be both well-informed and well-positioned
to take action. However, traditional training of
health professionals does not prepare us to consider or discuss our work for the purpose of
impacting policy. Understanding some basic
guidance for translating unique clinical experience or scientific knowledge into policy terms,
is the first step toward developing a policy lens.
A well-written policy brief has a clear and specific purpose and assumes the author’s understanding of what it is, and what it is not, as well
as clearly targeting the audience for whom it is
intended. Writing a brief, while conceptually
straightforward, may be challenging to initiate
or compose. We offer an approach to preparing
a policy brief, aiming to provide a point of
departure for individuals in the health professions who seek a starting place.Community Assessment And Writing A Health Policy Brief Essay
If policy may broadly be considered movement
in a direction for a reason, a policy brief would in
turn be a focused discussion of an action to
achieve intentional and purposeful movement.
This discussion should include the best available
data or evidence to support a devised policy or
range of policy options, and a narrative analysis
that considers the impact of a proposed policy. As
important as it is to know what constitutes a policy
brief, it is important to recognize what a policy
brief is not. A policy brief is not equivalent to an
advocacy statement and while it may inform or
motivate action, it should refrain from advocating
a singular call to action. Nor is it an opinion
piece that could suggest implications beyond
parameters defined by the supportive evidence.
A policy brief is analytic in nature and allows
the author to remain objective even if the evidence appears persuasive. Furthermore, a brief
is by definition, brief, which often presents the
greatest challenge to an author who must share
the specific purpose while limiting the compreThis article was published Online First December 1,
2016.Community Assessment And Writing A Health Policy Brief Essay
Shale L. Wong, MD, MSPH, Department of Pediatric,
Eugene S. Farley, Jr. Health Policy Center, University of
Colorado School of Medicine; Larry A. Green, MD, Department of Family Medicine, Eugene S. Farley, Jr. Health
Policy Center, University of Colorado School of Medicine;
Andrew W. Bazemore, MD, MPH, Robert Graham Policy
Center, Washington, DC; Benjamin F. Miller, PsyD, Department of Family Medicine, Eugene S. Farley, Jr. Health
Policy Center, University of Colorado School of Medicine.
Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to Benjamin F. Miller, PsyD, Department of Family
Medicine, Eugene S. Farley, Jr. Health Policy Center, University of Colorado School of Medicine, 12631 East 17th
Avenue, Aurora, CO 80045. E-mail: benjamin.miller@
ucdenver.edu
Families, Systems, & Health © 2016 American Psychological Association
2017, Vol. 35, No. 1, 21–24 1091-7527/17/$12.00 http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/fsh0000238
21
hensive context, rationale and potential variability in implementation, regulation or application
of a proposed policy.
The first step is to call it what it is, a policy
brief. Include those words in the title to frame
the issue that follows. A variety of other kinds
of documents may make mention of policy but
clearly have a different focus. Issue and research briefs may present data and evidence to
articulate a problem without necessarily suggesting policy as a solution. In contrast, a policy
brief puts front and center the problem to be
addressed by policy, then presents relevant evidence to support or analyze a proposed policy.
Consider, for example, the introduction of this
policy brief by Richardson, recently published
in Health Affairs. It begins with a heading of
Health Policy Brief followed by the title, OffLabel Drug Promotion. In the first paragraph we
read,Community Assessment And Writing A Health Policy Brief Essay
. . . the FDA generally does not restrict physician
prescribing practices, and many drugs are prescribed
‘off label’–that is, for indications that have not been
approved by the agency. In recent years there has been
renewed debate over whether and how the FDA should
regulate the pharmaceutical industry’s communication
to physicians around off-label uses. (Richardson, 2016)
This early statement very clearly frames the
discussion to follow, regarding potential policy
regulation that would have direct impact on
clinical practice.
There is no ideal length for a policy statement. The framework that we propose is intended for a focused policy brief, 1– 4 pages. A
“one-pager” may present talking points with a
single figure to illustrate key data. Use of images and infographics, or inclusion of a story
may extend the length but also prove influential
to illustrate the data. A more complete exploration of an issue that describes a variety of policy
options could best be represented in a white
paper of 8, 20, or 50 pages. Different styles and
lengths depend on the purpose, the complexity
of the issue, and perhaps most importantly, the
audience of interest. When we seek the attention
of policymakers, the most relevant data and
framing will take into consideration direct impact on their constituency. A policy action that
impacts a specific interest group will be narrow
in scope, focusing to reduce extraneous noise.
For both narrow and broad audiences understanding the political context and environment
is essential. This allows opportunity to bring
forward opposing views and potential barriers
in the form of counter arguments to proposed
policy actions. Table 1 provides examples to
illustrate differences in style and length for policy, research and issue briefs.Community Assessment And Writing A Health Policy Brief Essay
For this report, we recognize that our audience of interest is largely heath care providers,
clinicians, clinical researchers, or those health
professionals who are seeking a way to frame
policy-relevant data in a brief that persuades
deeper review or understanding of a health or
health care issue. This should be considered a
form of health communication that will in turn,
target another audience that has power or interest to influence policy-making. Thus, we offer a
simple framework to guide your development
of a policy brief: 4 steps and 4 tips to get you
started.
Four Steps
Step 1: Define the Problem
What is the issue or the problem? Why is it
important? Why now? Who is impacted and
who cares? When defining your problem, be
specific to your audience and clearly frame the
issue. Who has the influence to make a change
that will address this problem? If the audience is
expected to be policymakers (and their staff),
community leaders (grassroots or grasstops), industry or nongovernmental organization executives, the problem should be defined in terms
relevant to their policy intervention, respectively.
Step 2: State the Policy
Identify 1–3 specific policy actions that will
address the problem. In a focused policy brief,
the goal is to limit the menu of potential actions
to target a policy approach of interest. A more
extensive policy review or proposal may be a
comprehensive white paper that elucidates
many related policy options. Consider a focused
brief to describe one policy in depth as opposed
to exploring a problem and all of the potential
policy solutions  Community Assessment And Writing A Health Policy Brief Essay

This collection of policy briefs provides potential
We Choose Health applicants with an overview of
the different initiatives for which funding is
available through the Request for Applications. All
applicants must select from strategic directions
found in the menu of options, and propose projects
covering at least one option from Healthy Eating
and Active Living; and at least one option from
Smoke-free Living.
The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH),
working with technical assistance agencies and in
consultation with the Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention, has compiled this menu of preapproved initiatives in order to provide applicants
with foundational projects from which plans can be
tailored to the specific location in which they will
be implemented.
Included Information
The policy briefs include detailed descriptions of
the different We Choose Health options, including:
• A description of the initiative
• How the strategy works
• What applicants can request funding to do
• What benefits successful initiatives can yield
• Who should be involved
• Available resources
In some cases, interventions may be related to one
another. In such cases, the entry includes a “See
Also…” section listing other relevant entries.
Evidence-Based Interventions
The initiatives featured in this document are rooted
in evidence-based research and practice. In addition to samples of the academic literature, policy
briefs also provide links to models, templates,
toolkits, and best practice guides for each of the
initiatives.
Funding Restrictions
Note funding from the We Choose Health program
cannot be used for any of the following activities,
even if the work in support of a selected
strategy:Community Assessment And Writing A Health Policy Brief Essay

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• Research
• Construction (e.g., sidewalks, roads)
• Delivery of direct services to clients, or for clinical care (e.g., case management services; provision of medical or health services)
• Lobbying (any activity designed to influence
action in regard to a particular piece of pending
legislation)
• General management or administration costs
that do not directly contribute to the initiative
• Direct fundraising, such as special events, direct
mail campaigns or solicitation of donors
• Activities for inherently religious purposes
• Reimbursement for pre-award costs
• Litigation or legal costs related to the consequences of participating in CTG
• Food
• Furniture
Disclaimer
The contents of this appendix are provided to
potential We Choose Health applicants for informational purposes only. The links to external
resources are not comprehensive, and some individual sites may change after this document is
released. Please visit the We Choose Health website
for the latest information:
wechoosehealth.illinois.gov.
About This Guide
Appendix C: We Choose Health Policy Briefs, Rev. 2012-05-03 Page 3 of 21
Menu of Options
All We Choose Health strategies are evidenced-based. Each menu option applies to one or more categories:
Healthy Eating and Active Living; Smoke-free Living; Healthy and Safe Built Environments; and Social and
Emotional Wellness. Applicants must choose at least one strategy addressing Healthy Eating and Active Living and at least one strategy addressing Smoke-free Living.
Strategic Direction: Healthy Eating and Active Living
Strategy Description
1. Coordinated School
Health (District-wide)
Commit to implementing the Coordinated School Health (CSH) model on the district level. CSH
offers an integrated model for school wellness, bringing together programs like health education,Community Assessment And Writing A Health Policy Brief Essay
physical education, nutrition, and counseling services under a unified approach. Note that CSH
also incorporates Social and Emotional Wellness strategic direction.
2. Baby Friendly
Hospitals
Commit to pursuing implementation of the ten-step Baby Friendly Hospital program as defined
by the World Health Organization.
3. Worksite Wellness Commit to implementing a menu of worksite wellness policies including those that encourage healthy eating and greater physical activity. (Note that worksite wellness may incorporate
breastfeeding-supportive environments, healthy vending, and smoke-free policies.)
Strategic Direction: Smoke-free Living
Strategy Description
4. Smoke-Free Multi-Unit
Housing
Commit to pursuing policies and programs to encourage public and private multi-unit housing
facilities to go smoke-free.
5. Smoke-Free Public
Places
Commit to pursuing policies and programs that support public places to go smoke-free.
Strategic Direction: Healthy and Safe Built Environments
Strategy Description
6. Safe Routes to School Commit to implementing Safe Routes to School, a program establishing designated pedestrianand bike-friendly routes for children and others to use when traveling to and from community
schools.
7. Complete Streets Commit to pursuing and implementing Complete Street policies. Complete Streets is a planning
model that ensures new and reconstructed streets are designed to accommodate bicycle and
pedestrian traffic in addition to automobiles and public transportation.
8. Joint Use Agreements Commit to pursuing joint use agreements to maximize use of existing facilities for physical activity among greater numbers of people.
Appendix C: We Choose Health Policy Briefs, Rev. 2012-05-03 Page 4 of 21
What is it?Community Assessment And Writing A Health Policy Brief Essay
According to the Centers for Disease Control,
Coordinated School Health (CSH) “brings together
school administrators, teachers, other staff, students, families, and community members to assess
health needs; set priorities; and plan, implement,
and evaluate school health activities.”
At its core, CSH connects health with education
and attempts to integrate the disparate efforts
at improving health, many of which already exist
within their own programs within schools. These
include:
• Health education
• Physical education
• Health services
• Nutrition services
• Counseling, social, and psychological services
• Healthy and safe school environments
• Staff wellness
• Family/community involvement
How Does it Work?
District administrators, including superintendents
at the district level and principals at the school
level, can implement CSH by integrating health into
the vision and mission statements of the school system and supporting those changes by appointing
someone to oversee school health. Within individual schools, establishing a school health council or
team, and identifying a school health coordinator
can help in the development of a health promotion
plan and achieving health-related goals.
Much of coordinated school health focuses on students and initiatives to prioritize health-enhancing
behaviors and reduce health-risk behaviors at
school and at home. However, CSH can also include
wellness initiatives for school and district staff.
Staff and their students also benefit from professional development opportunities to help teachers,
administrators, and other employees enhance the
impact of the CSH model.
Who Should Be Involved? Community Assessment And Writing A Health Policy Brief Essay
Engagement and collaboration with the many
involved stakeholders will aid in the implementation of the CSH model. These stakeholder groups
can include:
• School and district administrators
• Sports coaches of other physical education
teachers
• Other teachers and teacher organizations
• Parents
• Parent Teacher Organizations
• School cooks and cafeteria purchasers
• School nurses
• Students
What are the benefits?
• Potentially increase students’ health status,
which can improve their classroom
performance
• Potentially reduce student and staff
absenteeism
• Increase adoption of healthy behaviors and
reduce adoption of unhealthy behaviors, both of
which are often established during childhood
What Can I Request Funding To Do?
Funds can be used for the salary of a school health
coordinator, who would be responsible for implementing the CSH model, as well as administrative
costs related to a school health council and development of a plan for implementation. Grant funding
can also fund professional development for staff
related to development of leadership, communication, and collaboration skills for implementation of the CSH model. Applicants can also include
expenses for staff wellness programming.
#1: Coordinated School Health
Appendix C: We Choose Health Policy Briefs, Rev. 2012-05-03 Page 5 of 21
Coordinated School Health Program
Components:
Health education provides students with
specific knowledge, skills, and attitudes that
help them to make healthy decisions. Comprehensive school health education includes
curricula for students from pre-Kindergarten
through grade 12 (K-12) focused on a variety
of topics, which may include alcohol and other
drug use and abuse, mental and emotional
health, personal health and wellness, physical
activity, nutrition, sexual health, and violence
prevention. Schools can choose an appropriate
mix of curricula tailored to the needs of their
students and communities.
Physical Education (PE) is an instructional
opportunity based in schools that helps students to gain skills and knowledge necessary
for lifelong physical activity. PE features a
planned, sequential K-12 curriculum focused
on both cognitive content and learning experiences in a variety of activity areas. Community Assessment And Writing A Health Policy Brief Essay
Health Services are designed to ensure access
or referral of students to primary health care
services, foster appropriate use of primary
health care services, and prevent and control
communicable disease and other health problems. Activities also include providing emergency care for illness and injury, providing
optimum sanitary conditions for a safe school
environment, and provide educational and
counseling opportunities for students.
Nutrition Services should help schools provide a variety of nutritious and appealing
meals that accommodate the health and nutrition needs of all students. Supporting healthy
diets includes providing healthy options in
school breakfast and lunch programs as well
as any vending or other competitive foods programs. School nutrition programs must reflect
the U.S. Dietary Guidelines for Americans.
Counseling, Psychological, and Social
Services are provided to improve students’
mental, emotional, and social health and can
include individual and group assessments,
interventions, and referrals. These efforts can
not only help with the health of individual
students, but also with the overall health of the
school environment.
Healthy and Safe School Environments
include the physical and aesthetic surroundings and the psychosocial climate and culture of the school. The physical environment
includes the building and area around it,
biological or chemical agents that may be
detrimental to health, and physical conditions,
including temperature, noise, and lighting. The
physical, emotional, and social conditions that
impact the well-being of students and staff are
all parts of the psychosocial environment.
Health Promotion for Staff includes providing opportunities for staff members to pursue Community Assessment And Writing A Health Policy Brief Essay
a healthy lifestyle, which can contribute to
their overall health status, improve morale,
and allow greater personal commitment to
the school’s coordinated school health program. Activities can involve health assessment,
health education, and physical fitness activties.
Family/Community Involvement is a facet
of coordinated school health that attempts to
have an integrated school, parent, and community approach in order to enhance the health
and well-being of students. School health
advisory councils, coalitions, and broadlybased constituencies can help build support
for school health program efforts. Community Assessment And Writing A Health Policy Brief Essay