Search form

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