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Section 1. Developing a Plan for Getting Community Health and Development Issues on the Local Agenda

What do we mean by getting community health and development issues on the local agenda?

You understand that getting the issue on the local agenda involves:

___Educating people about the existence of issue.

___Making sure people understand the issue and its importance.

___Demonstrating the relevance of the issue to themselves and the community.

___Actually getting the issue on the official local agenda (laws and regulations) by addressing:

  • Public opinion
  • Unofficial official policy
  • Individual responsibility

When is the best time to try to get community health and development issues on the local agenda?

___You work to get an issue on the local agenda when an important issue surfaces that needs to be dealt with immediately.

___You work to get an issue on the local agenda when an already-troublesome issue reaches critical proportions.

___You work to get an issue on the local agenda when an external source calls attention to your issue.

___You work to get an issue on the local agenda when new information reveals or underlines a serious issue.

___You work to get an issue on the local agenda when political conditions make it easy or appropriate.

Who should plan for getting community health and development issues on the local agenda?

___You involve in your planning stakeholders, including those directly affected or involved in the issue, and those who have to deal with the issue.

___You involve in your planning those indirectly affected.

___You involve in your planning policymakers, including those who make formal policy, those who make informal policy, and funders.

___You involve in your planning influential people and other interested citizens.

How do you develop a plan for getting community health and development issues on the local agenda?

___You identify and recruit a planning group.

___You pick and define your issue carefully.

___You plan for a communication campaign, not just for a one-time barrage of information or persuasion.

  • You're aware of the level of commitment you can expect from the planning group.
  • You've found out how much the community already knows and cares about the issue.
  • You plan a campaign that focuses on where the community is now, but plan for the next steps as well.
  • You find "hooks" to pull people into your issue.

___You address public opinion.

  • You contact the public directly.
  • You use the media.
  • You go through trusted intermediaries.

___You address unofficial policy.

___You address individual responsibility.

  • You let people know there are things they can do.
  • You create policy sticks and carrots.
  • You use the media.
  • You show people there's something in it for them.
  • You appeal to deeply held values.

___You address public policy.

  • You find a champion among legislators, public officials, or policymakers.
  • You advocate with those who control official policy.
  • You run a media and publicity campaign to get public opinion behind you.
  • You mobilize those affected by or involved in the issue.

___You follow up.