Can Government Employees Engage in Policy Work?
By: Stephany Medina
As public health professionals, we know that policies impact health. From seatbelt laws to minimum age requirements for alcohol, we’ve seen how laws and policies can positively impact health. We’ve also seen how laws and policies can negatively impact health – from segregation to voting restrictions and more. “Not all policies are health policies, but all policies have impact on public health” (Jessica T Chambliss, PhD – University of Alabama Birmingham). Law is a key determinant of health and an essential tool, when used with equity in mind, to advance health and reduce health disparities.
Our public health workforce works hard every day across the northeast to protect, promote health, and prevent illness. Unfortunately, we don’t always have the training required to tap into all the tools available to us. For instance, I have a master’s degree in public health (MPH). However, only 17% of MPH programs around the nation offer a course dedicated to public health law (ChangeLab Solutions, 2023) - and mine didn’t. Without proper training, how do we tap into policy as a tool for public health practice?
ChangeLab Solutions is a nonpartisan nonprofit that uses law and policy tools to advance health equity – including training and education tools for the public health workforce. They have training and readings available to help public health practitioners like you and me better understand how to influence, interpret, and use policy to improve health. While we can’t lobby as government employees, we can still understand how policies are created, how they impact our work, and how to appropriately influence potential policy – e.g., by working alongside coalitions.
Feeling overwhelmed about where to start? So did I. Here’s my list of ways I hope to improve my understanding of this foundational capability:
Review the headline responsibilities related to the FPHR Capability policy development and support.
Review the laws that created public health’s scope to begin with (spoiler: this is MN Statute 145A).
Develop a deeper understanding of how laws are created and enforced (visit this CDC page for a high-level overview of the ideal process).
Identify the policy makers across the jurisdictions I live and work in (city council, county commissioners, state representatives, and senators – what are their jurisdictions, what are they passionate about?).
Learn about key policy terms and practices: landscape analysis, stakeholder mapping, media advocacy, literature reviews related to public health policy, and more.
Learn about additional policies that may impact unique areas of public health (e.g., data retention laws, Medicaid laws, environmental health policies, etc.).
I hope this list gives you a starting point for enhancing your understanding of policy. If you engage with policy through your work, feel free to share!