How do you spell policy? R-E-S-P-E-C-T

By: Susan Michels

When I was assigned to write about Policy Development and Support, I thought I’d drawn the short straw--the bottom of the barrel,“clearly-you-have-done-something-wrong-and-this-is-your-penance” topic. Why would you, brilliant reader, spend time reading a blog post on why policies and procedures are important? What is there to say on this topic that doesn’t initiate an eye roll, or send you clicking away to the next post?     

But after a bit of attitude adjustment, I realized something: policy is all about respect.  

Policies Can Be Population-Level Impact 

In the Public Health world, we focus on Population Health. We can impact a whole bunch of people, i.e. the population, by writing and enacting policies that support healthy behaviors. Smart public health research talks with and learns from community members to develop and enact policies in all areas that impact the general public. 

For example, if I teach a class of 25 students about the negative impacts of vaping, I influence the 25 students in the room. I am making an impact at the individual level. 

If I work with those students and help create and implement a policy that prohibits vaping in public areas, this has far greater reach and impacts many more people than that 25 people in the classroom I was talking to and working with. This new policy is making an impact at the population level, impacting a whole bunch of people. This helps us remove the barriers to health that exist for some people--think smoke-free school entrances, and ramps at the entry of public buildings. 

Beyond supporting the health of the whole, policies do a lot more than just telling people what they can and cannot do. 

Policies are Clear, Kind, Lasting Expectations 

Policies and procedures are respectful, when we have policies and procedures in place we let people know what the expectations are, where the guardrails are, what are the rules of the game:  

• This is a designated bike lane for you to safely ride your bike 

• Here are some healthy options in the vending machine for your afternoon snack attack 

• No smoking or vaping here, smoking or vaping area is over there 

It is helpful for all to know the rules of the game, and what the expectations are.  

When there are clear policies and procedures in place, we understand the core values and priorities for our community, the population. Policies and procedures give us a guide on how to behave and tell us a lot about the community they impact. 

Policies and procedures are also a courtesy we extend to and leave for those who come after us.  We provide guidance, directions and guidelines to help them continue and expand the work and keep our communities healthy. 

Policies. Give them a chance, they are not as dry as you would think. Policies help people, protect people, they give us some order and let us know what the expectations are. Brené Brown says, “clear is kind.” Well, if that is true, then for certain, policies are kind, generous and respectful. 

Learn more about the role of policy in healthy communities from ChangeLab Solutions.