What do we mean by policies?
___Policies are the written or unwritten guidelines that governments, organizations and institutions, communities, or individuals use when responding to issues and situations.
You address:
___Official government policies.
___Policies made by government bureaucracies, and by public services such as police and fire departments.
___The policies of foundations and other private funders.
___Policies of businesses.
___Policies of the media.
___Policies adopted by the community as a whole.
Why try to change policies?
You change policies because:
___Addressing policies can start a community conversation about the issues in question.
___Changing policy is easier in the long run than fighting the same battles over and over again.
___Changed policies can change people's minds and attitudes.
___Changed policies have effects on the next generation.
___Policy change is the path to permanent social change.
Who should try to change policies?
To change polices, you turn to:
___A broad-based coalition.
___An organization that works with those affected by the policies in question.
___A grass roots community initiative.
___A concerned professional association.
___A determined individual.
When should you try to change policies?
You make an effort to change policies when:
___It's an election year.
___The issue first arises.
___A crisis is reached, and it's clear the current policy isn't working.
___Public opinion has reached critical mass.
___There's a specific debate about the issue.
___New information changes perceptions about the issue.
___A publication or other source brings an issue to the public attention.
How do you go about changing policies?
___You try to change policies by using the 8 P's:
- Planning
- Preparation
- Personal contact
- Pulse of the community
- Positivism
- Participation
- Publicity