Policy, Systems & Environmental Change 101 - Champion Provider Fellowship

Policy, Systems &Environmental Change 101Sabrina Adler, JDSenior Staff Attorney & Program DirectorChangeLab Solutions

Healthy communitiesfor all through betterlaws & policies

DisclaimerThe information provided in this discussion is for informationalpurposes only, and does not constitute legal advice. ChangeLabSolutions does not enter into attorney-client relationships.ChangeLab Solutions is a non-partisan, nonprofit organization thateducates and informs the public through objective, non-partisananalysis, study, and/or research. The primary purpose of thisdiscussion is to address legal and/or policy options to improvepublic health. There is no intent to reflect a view on specificlegislation. 2017 ChangeLab Solutions

AGENDAWho’s in the room?PSE basicsPreview of PSE playbookAdvocacy and lobbyingbasics What can you do? Wrap up and Q&A

Who’s in theroom?

I need another cup of coffee.Strongly disagreeStrongly agree

I know most of the people inthis room.Strongly disagreeStrongly agree

I am a Champion Providerfellow.Strongly disagreeStrongly agree

I’m interested in working onphysical activity projects.Strongly disagreeStrongly agree

I’m interested in workingon school wellnessprojects.Strongly disagreeStrongly agree

I’ve worked on PSE change.Strongly disagreeStrongly agree

I have a good understandingof what constitutes lobbying.Strongly disagreeStrongly agree

PSE basics

WHAT IS PSE?SNAP-Ed Guidance definitionPolicyChangeCreating or changing a written statement of anorganizational position, decision, or course ofaction. Made in public, non-profit, and businesssectors.SystemChangeUnwritten, ongoing, organizational decisions orchanges that result in new activities reachinglarge proportions of people. Alter how theorganization conducts business.EnvironmentalChangeChanges to the built/physical, economic, social,normative, or message environments that arevisual/observable.

Let’s say you want toremove sugary drinks fromthe office

How couldyou get rid ofthose peskydrinks?

Talk to your coworkers!Ask them not to bring sugary drinksto the office anymore.

How couldyou get rid ofthose peskydrinks usingPSE?

Environmental change:escorting the sugary drinks tothe recycling bin

System change:asking the distributor to only stockhealthy beverages

Policy change:re-writing your vending machinecontract to require only healthybeverages

WHAT IS A “POLICY”?SNAP-Ed Guidance definitionA written statement of an organizationalposition, decision, or course of action.Ideally policies describe actions, resources,implementation, evaluation, and enforcement.Policies are made in the public, non-profit, andbusiness sectors. Policies will help to guide behavioralchanges for audiences served through SNAP-Edprogramming.

Policy ismore thanjustlegislation

Local ordinancesZoning languageResolutionsSchool/agencypolicy languageContracts/agreementsState/federal lawsUniversity policyOrganization policyHospital policy

CommonalitiesA statement inwritingBinding or someaccountabilitySets out ageneralapproach tobe appliedwidely

Policy offersaccountability&enforcement

Policy reaches more people

Policyinstitutionalizesgood ideas

Activity:Is this policy,systems, orenvironmentalchange?

Connecting thelocal conveniencestore with a freshproduce distributorso it can stock fruitsand vegetables.

Implementing a localhealthy food retailerlicense that requiresfood retailers to sell aminimum amount ofhealthy food.

Providing storeowners witheducational materialsabout stockinghealthier items.

Working with storeowners to postmarketing materialsto highlight theirhealthier products.

Routinely askingpatients aboutfood insecurityduring clinic visits.

Working with thehospital to changethe electronicmedical record soevaluating foodinsecurity is astandard screeningquestion.

Opening schoolgrounds onweekends socommunitymembers can usethe athletic fields.

Activity:What kind of PSEchanges are youworking on?

LearnabouthealthyretailstrategiesPilot anidea in oneor twovenuesOperate afull-scaleprogram inthecommunityLearnaboutpolicyoptions forhealthyretailAdopt ahealthyretailresolutionAdopt ahealthyretailordinanceProgram to policy policies

methingshouldprobably bedone, butwhat? Maybesomeone elsewill work onthis.”PREPLANNING:“This isimportant.What can wedo?”PREPARATION:“I will meetwith ourfundertomorrow.”INITIATION:““This is ourresponsibility;we are nowbeginning todo somethingto address thisissue.”STABILIZATION: “We “How well areour current[initiatives]working andhow can wemake thembetter?”Community readiness spectrumHIGH LEVEL OFCOMMUNITYOWNERSHIP:“These effortsare animportant partof the fabric ofourcommunity.”

LearnabouthealthyretailstrategiesPilot anidea in oneor twovenuesOperate afull-scaleprogram inthecommunityLearnaboutpolicyoptions forhealthyretailAdopt ahealthyretailresolutionAdopt tehealthyretailpoliciesGetting to :“Somethingshouldprobably bedone, butwhat? Maybesomeone elsewill work onthis.”PREPLANNING:“This isimportant.What can wedo?”PREPARATION:“I will meetwith ourfundertomorrow.”INITIATION:““This is ourresponsibility;we are nowbeginning todo somethingto address thisissue.”STABILIZATION: “We “How well areour current[initiatives]working andhow can wemake thembetter?”HIGH LEVEL OFCOMMUNITYOWNERSHIP:“These effortsare animportant partof the fabric ofourcommunity.”

Start with a robust visionBalancinghealth &politicsAssess readiness for an ideaWork with communitypartners and expertsRecognize that your ideamay get weaker orsmaller in scope

PSE playbook

WHAT IS PSE CHANGE?PolicyChangeCreating or changing a written statement of anorganizational position, decision, or course ofaction. Made in public, non-profit, and businesssectors.SystemChangeUnwritten, ongoing, organizational decisions orchanges that result in new activities reachinglarge proportions of people. Alter how theorganization conducts business.EnvironmentalChangeChanges to the built/physical, economic, social,normative, or message environments that arevisual/observable.

PROVIDER ROLESRoleLevel mTeam ExpertMediumLeaderHigh

Healthy Food &Beverage Standards

Food Security

School Wellness

Safe Routes to School

Structured PhysicalActivity

Advocacy andlobbying basics

WHAT IS ADVOCACY?Dictionary:1. the act of pleading for, supporting,or recommending;2. the act or process of advocating orsupporting a cause or proposal;3. the act of assisting, defending,pleading, or prosecuting foranother.

WHAT IS LOBBYING?Every law defines it a little differently, including: Federal tax law (nonprofits) Federal appropriations riders Federal Anti-lobbying Act Byrd Amendment OMB circulars (A-87, A-122) Federal Agency Rules (USDA SNAP-Ed Guidance) Federal lobbying registration and disclosure laws State and local lobbying registration and disclosurelaws

WHAT IS LOBBYING?SNAP-Ed Guidance definitionLobbying is any activity or material to influence federal,state, or local officials to pass or sign legislation or toinfluence the outcomes of an election, referendum, orinitiative.In general, there are two basic types:1. Direct lobbying2. Grassroots lobbying

Direct lobbyinga communication directly with agovernment official that is designed toinfluence specific or proposed legislationPhoto courtesy of Tim Wagner for HEAC

Email Phone call LetterCommunication In-person meeting Tweets And more

Anyone working for: A legislative bodyGovernmentofficial A legislator, or Othergovernmentagency/department thattakes part informinglegislation

InfluencinglegislationReflecting aparticular viewabout the legislationor making a directappeal

Grassrootslobbyinga communicationencouraging thepublic to takeaction to influencespecific legislation

Activity:Is this lobbying?

ActivityIs this lobbying? A Champion Provider fellowsends a letter to the localCongresswoman in support ofHR 123 to restore PICH funding. The health department sendsan email to the members of aHealthy Equity Coalition urgingthem to write a letter toCongress in support HR 123. The health officer tells theCongresswoman about thegreat work being done withPICH funding.

What can you do?

Engage: Get people excited about their vision forchange Assess: What’s the problem? What solutions arethere? Propose: Draft a strong policy that expresses thevision Advocate: Identify and meet with decision makers Implement: Stay focused even after a policy getsadopted

EngageWhat is allowed?

Generaleducation

Community engagement andeducational campaignsPhoto courtesy of Tim Wagner for HEAC

Coalition building among governments,nonprofits, private sector, and communityto discuss problems and share ideas

AssessWhat is allowed?

Collecting&analyzingdataDistrict of Columbia Office of PlanningMeasuring access to healthy food

White papers & reportsNonpartisan analysis, study, or research1. Independent, balanced andobjective;2. Fair to both sides of an issue (containsa full and fair exposition of thepertinent facts);3. Allows a reader to draw his/her ownindependent opinion or conclusion,but author may include his/her ownconclusion;4. Conclusion is based on evidence andfacts, but not unsupported opinion;5. Broadly distributed to the public, andnot directed to only one side of anissue.

Examples: Healthy eating andactive living reports

ProposeWhat is allowed?

Developing evidence-based policyapproaches and broadly sharingFor example, model legislation

Proposingapproachesthat aren’tspecificlegislationVoluntarybusiness policies

BUT Developing specific proposedlegislation may be lobbying

AdvocateWhat is allowed?

Certaincommunicationswith decision-makersSharing best practices, success stories and reportswith the public or government officialsCreative Commons Flickr: Michigan Municipal League

At the written request of a government orlegislative body, a technical or factualpresentation of information to decision-makersregarding a specific legislative proposalCreative Common Flickr: Michigan Municipal League

Government officials may communicatewith anyone within the samegovernment about policy or legislation

BUT Discussions with decision-makers aboutlegislation (pending or proposed), outsideof the examples above, probablyconstitute lobbying

ImplementWhat is allowed?

Ensuring andassisting withimplementationof a policyaren’t lobbying

Questions: What activities canChampion Providerfellows do to engage,propose, assess, advocatefor, and implement apolicy? How can ChampionProvider fellows andSNAP-Ed funded healthdepartments collaborateon these steps?

KNOW YOUR ROLECan you discuss pending citylegislation regarding new bike lanesat a coalition meeting?

KNOW YOUR ROLECan you discuss pending citylegislationANDconvince other coalition members tocontact city council members tosupport or defeat the legislation?

KNOW YOUR ROLECan you discuss revisions to aschool district’s procurement policy?

KNOW YOUR ROLECan you attend a city councilmeeting to discuss a resolution tochange the city’s procurementpolicy?

Wrap up

Wrap up - PSESNAP-Ed Guidance definitionPolicyChangeCreating or changing a written statement of anorganizational position, decision, or course ofaction. Made in public, non-profit, and businesssectors.SystemChangeUnwritten, ongoing, organizational decisions orchanges that result in new activities reachinglarge proportions of people. Alter how theorganization conducts business.EnvironmentalChangeChanges to the built/physical, economic, social,normative, or message environments that arevisual/observable.

Wrap upLobbyingmust haveall 4 elements1. Communication with a2. Government official oremployee whoparticipates in forminglegislation that3. Reflects a point of view on(i.e., attempts to influence)4. Specific legislation