This assignment is a culmination of everything you have learned this semester. You should be able to apply a policy framework to a particular issue of concern in your practice. This may be the same you identified in in your legislative letter, but it does not have to be.
Objective: To inform legislators to consider policy solutions that will inform or guide specific decisions.
Tips and Tools: https://writingcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/policy-briefs/
Audience: Government officials at the local, state, regional or national level. Remember to write in a way that is easily understandable to government officials who may have little understanding of nursing, healthcare, or scientific evidence/research. Simply put it has to be easy to read and easy to understand. Brevity, clarity, and a good visual presentation are critical.
Length: Maximum length excluding Title Page, Table of Contents, Executive Summary, and Bibliography is 2000 words.
Required Elements in the Policy Brief:
Title
The title is the first part of a paper readers see and it begins the process of communicating the message contained in the policy paper. An effective title of a paper should give readers a quick overview of the subject and problem addressed in the policy paper. A reader may use the title in deciding whether to read the paper or not. As a general rule, avoid titles of more than 10 words.
Table of Contents
The table of contents is a skeleton or overview of the structure of the policy paper. It shows the overall organization, the main sections and their sub-sections and page numbers to locate sections in the paper.
Executive Summary
The executive summary aims to interest readers in reading the whole paper. However, the main function of the executive summary is to satisfy the needs of those readers (especially decision-makers) who will not read the entire paper and readers whose main interest is in the key proposed policy recommendations. The executive summary represents the whole paper by providing a synopsis of all main parts and findings.
Introduction
The introduction sets the scene by presenting the context for the threat or challenge and linking this to the specific focus of the policy paper. Describe the setting and the nature of the communities that are the objective of the strategy make sure the reader understand who, what, and where your strategy targets. The introduction demonstrates that an urgent threat exists and that your paper is worth reading because it will offer possible solutions. The introduction will include a statement about the purpose of the policy paper.
Problem Description
The problem description identifies, defines and elaborates the nature of the threat or challenge under discussion. This may include the background information about the history of the threat, its causes, who is affected, descriptions of previous policies aimed at addressing the threat, and the outcomes of implementing those policies (positive and negative).
Policy Options
This section outlines, evaluates and compares the possible policy alternatives. Remember, you are focusing on overall strategic policy-making, not developing a plan of action. You should present a minimum of 2-3 approaches or strategies that you think are potentially useful for addressing the threat e.g., do NOT limit this to a discussion of the option you prefer. Presenting the full range of options helps you build a comprehensive and convincing case e.g., it strengthens your final position because it shows that you have carefully considered several key alternatives. The focus is on evaluating how each option compares with regard to reducing the threat the likelihood of success. On the basis of this evidence, an argument is made for the preferred policy alternative.
Conclusions & Recommendations
This section presents the case for your preferred alternative strategy to decision makers. This section provides a concise synthesis of major findings. You should explain how your strategy will lead to and inform policy recommendations relevant to the threat. Finally, provide a list of three to five key policy recommendations. For this assignment, this does not have to be highly detailed. Focus on the three to five key policies that are critical to the success of the strategy. Bullet points for recommendations is acceptable.
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