Your paper should include the following sections:
I. Introduction
In an introductory paragraph (s), introduce the public health problem or the issue you are trying to address. Discuss the controversy surrounding the public health issue and policy decision. You should content from your discussion posts from week 4-6.
II. Identification and description of policy options- before writing this section, you will research possible options relevant to the problem that you identified and described. Identify at least 3 policy solutions and answer questions about the public health impact, feasibility, and economic impacts. In this section, you will summarize the answers to the following questions for each of the three policy solutions.
Public Health Impact: Potential for the policy to impact risk factors, quality of life, disparities, morbidity, and mortality.
How does the policy address the problem or issue (e.g., increase access, protect from exposure)?
What is the magnitude, reach, and distribution of benefit and burden (including impact on the risk factor, quality of life, morbidity, and mortality)?
What population(s) will benefit? How much? When?
What population(s) will be negatively impacted? How much? When?
Will the policy impact health disparities/health equity? How?
Are there gaps in the data/evidence-base?
Feasibility*: Likelihood that the policy can be successfully adopted and implemented.
Political: What are the current political forces, including political history, environment, and policy debate?
Political: Who are the stakeholders, including supporters and opponents? What are their interests and values?
Political: What are the potential social, educational, and cultural perspectives associated with the policy option (e.g., lack of knowledge, fear of change, a force of habit)?
Political: What are the potential impacts of the policy on other sectors and high priority issues (e.g., sustainability, economic impact)?
Operational: What are the resource, capacity, and technical needs developing, enacting, and implementing the policy?
Operational: How much time is needed for the policy to be enacted, implemented, and enforced.
Operational: How scalable, flexible, and transferable is the policy?
Sample Solution