The engagement of local constituencies is essential to the process of development and change. Our staff helps build the capacity of community leaders, organizations, coalitions, and policymakers to craft effective policy approaches and to collaborate on strategies for policy change. Currently, we are:
partnering with the Urban Research Center (URC) in Detroit, Michigan, to enhance the capacity of communities in the east, southwest and northwest sides of the city of Detroit to impact systems and policies that affect the health of children and families. The URC is a collaborative partnership including the University of Michigan, School of Public Health, Nursing and Social Work, a wide range of community organizations, and the Detroit Department of Health and Wellness, working together to conduct Community Based Participatory Research aimed at eliminating health disparities and improving health and quality of life.
The Neighborhoods Working in Partnership project strengthens the capacity of community leaders to train residents in their communities to effectively engage in policy-related work and address policy issues impacting the health of their communities. Through trainings and continued technical assistance, the URC and PolicyLink aim to strengthen skills within local neighborhoods; extend community voices into the policy making arena; and, ultimately, advance policies that support healthy neighborhoods for children and families.
advising in the development and implementation of neighborhood-focused change agendas with six community coalitions engaged in The California Endowment’s Healthy Eating, Active Communities (HEAC) initiative, established to reduce childhood obesity by improving community food and physical activity environments; (all links go to partner sites)
providing policy, advocacy, communications training, and assistance to CAFA (Community Action to Fight Asthma), a consortium of four regional and 12 local coalitions in California that work to reduce environmental triggers of asthma among school-aged children. Trainings for CAFA have addressed topics such as: navigating the policy process, understanding lobbying restrictions for nonprofits, and communications strategies for outreach and policy change. The coalitions and regional centers are working together to determine state-level policy priorities, develop advocacy strategies, and put these strategies into action. PolicyLink also facilitates opportunities for peer learning and provides one-on-one technical assistance.
guiding the Health Policy Outreach Center at the Pat Brown Institute of Public Affairs through a three-part initiative that involves strategic planning and organizational development, training and capacity building, and a health policy convening;
providing technical assistance to Place Matters—an initiative comprised of health leaders across the United States to improve neighborhood conditions that contribute to health disparities, affiliated with the Health Policy Institute at the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies.