What do we mean by developing a proposal for change?
___A proposal for change is a plan (or sometimes just a group of suggestions) for addressing a situation, an issue, or a condition of importance to the community.
A proposal for change might take the form of:
___An intervention or series of interventions.
___Legislative language or legislation.
___Funding or other resources to expand existing services.
___A long-range strategic plan.
Why develop a proposal for change?
___You're more credible and in a stronger position if you can offer solutions to a problem, rather than merely pointing out what's wrong.
___You almost undoubtedly know more about the issue, the field, and the community than policy makers do.
___You can draw on local people and resources that policy makers wouldn't think to consult or use.
___You establish your group as the authority on the issue.
___You have an investment in the community that policy makers don't have.
___If you develop the proposal yourself, you know it will include everything you believe is necessary to meet the needs of the community.
___Presenting your own proposal helps to educate the public to appropriate avenues for change, and can enlist them as advocates.
___If the proposal is generated locally, especially if it's developed through a participatory process, it gives the community ownership of it.
___Your proposal defines the issue and frames the debate about it.
Who should develop a proposal for change?
___All stakeholders.
___Community activists.
___Local officials.
___Community members and groups who'll be indirectly affected.
___Researchers and experts in the field.
___Policy makers.
When should you develop a proposal for change?
___At the beginning of an advocacy campaign.
___At the start of a legislative campaign.
___When there's an obvious problem, but no obvious solution.
___When policy makers or funders have indicated that they're about to address an issue or a particular area.
___When potentially bad solutions are being proposed.
___During, or leading up to, an election.
___When the public, or a segment of the public, wants a problem solved or an issue attended to.
How do you develop a proposal for change?
___Assemble a team to develop it
___Do your research
___Analyze the issue
___Develop your proposal
___Create a plan for maintaining change
___Present and advocate for the proposal