Policy Approval Process
You will submit an outline depicting your local policy approval process from start to finish. Visit your state legislative process websites and research the bill/policy submission process.
You will create an outline of the local policy approval process from start to finish. Visit your state legislative process websites and research the bill/policy submission process. Some states have slight differences in the process, so you will need to visit your home state’s websites. You will find instructions such as the following: Once a policy is written, it needs to be publicized (usually in the paper and on the internet) for at least 30 days to obtain feedback from the public. Make sure you include the departments or divisions with the state’s Department of Health and Human Services that must approve it. For example, here is the Clinical Services Policy on the NC Department of Health and Human Services website that shows what the legislative and policy process might look like.
Specifically, the following critical elements must be addressed:
- Why is advocacy important at the state or community levels, in relation to human or social services legislation? How can the public be made aware of proposed legislation that may affect services available to them? Document the specific tasks needed to fulfill the public awareness requirements in the outline.
- Where does social change advocacy begin and where does it end, related to legislative policy? Be sure that this process is included in the outline.
- Does the legislation use both public and private funding streams? If so, are there differences between public and private sector coalition-building legislative processes? Ensure this is indicated in the outline.
- What other aspects of building support in local communities are related to advocating for social change? Include these as part of the process in the outline.
Guidelines for Submission: Your outline must be submitted as a one- to two-page Microsoft Word document with double spacing, 12-point Times New Roman font, one-inch margins, and at least three sources cited in APA format.
| Critical Elements | Exemplary (100%) | Proficient (85%) | Needs Improvement (55%) | Not Evident (0%) | Value |
| Outline: Strategy | Meets “Proficient” criteria and supports explanation with clear and relevant examples using scholarly research when appropriate | Examines state- or community- level advocacy processes and incorporates a strategy for communicating proposed legislation in the outline | Examines state- or community- level advocacy processes and incorporates a strategy for communicating proposed legislation in the outline, but omits major aspects of the process | Does not examine processes for communicating legislation | 22 |
| Advocacy | Meets “Proficient” criteria and supports with clear and relevant examples using scholarly research when appropriate | Examines the entire process of human services advocacy from start to finish and includes in the outline | Examines the process of human services advocacy from start to finish and includes in the outline, but omits major aspects of the process | Does not examine the process of human services advocacy | 22 |
| Coalition Building | Meets “Proficient” criteria and supports with clear and relevant examples using scholarly research when appropriate | Accurately depicts the differences between public and private sector coalition building in the outline | Depicts the differences between public and private sector coalition building and indicates differences in the outline, but omits key differences | Does not depict the differences between public and private sector coalition building | 22 |
| Building Support | Meets “Proficient” criteria and supports with clear and relevant examples using scholarly research when appropriate | Identifies additional aspects of building support in communities related to advocating for social change and includes in the outline | Identifies additional aspects of building support in communities related to advocating for social change and includes in the outline, but leaves out several of the key aspects | Does not identify additional aspects of building support | 22 |
| Articulation of Response | Submission is free of errors related to citations, grammar, spelling, syntax, and organization and is presented in a professional and easy-to-read format | Submission has no major errors related to citations, grammar, spelling, syntax, or organization | Submission has major errors related to citations, grammar, spelling, syntax, or organization that negatively impact readability and articulation of main ideas | Submission has critical errors related to citations, grammar, spelling, syntax, or organization that prevent understanding of ideas | 12 |
| Earned Total | 100 |
