Domain V: Public Policy and Environmental Change Flashcards
Environmental Strategies are based on an understanding of _____________________________ such as _____________________________________ that increase an individual’s risk for problematic behavior (such as substance use/misuse)
Environmental Factors
e.g. Social Norms, Cultural Values, Physical Settings, or Policies
Environmental Strategies have a great potential for creating _______________________ contributing to ___________________________________
Long-Term impact contributing to sustained community change
7 Strategies to affect Community Change
1) Provide information — Educational presentations, workshops or seminars and data or media presentations (e.g., public service announcements, brochures, billboard campaigns, community meetings, town halls, forums, Web-based communication).
2) Enhance skills — Workshops, seminars or activities designed to increase the skills of participants, members and staff (e.g., training, technical assistance, distance learning, strategic planning retreats, parenting classes, evidence-based programs in schools).
3) Provide support — Creating opportunities to support people to participate in activities that reduce risk or enhance protection (e.g., providing evidence-based alternative activities, mentoring, referrals for services, support groups, parenting groups).
4) Enhance access/reduce barriers** — Improving systems and processes to increase the ease, ability and opportunity to utilize systems and services (e.g., access to treatment and recovery support for individuals and families, childcare, transportation, housing, education, attention to special needs, cultural and language sensitivity).
5) Change consequences (incentives/disincentives) — Increasing or decreasing the probability of a specific behavior that reduces risk or enhances protection by altering the consequences for performing that behavior (e.g., increasing public recognition for desired, prosocial behavior, individual and business rewards, taxes, citations, fines, revocations/loss of privileges).
6) Change physical design — Changing the physical design or structure of the environment to reduce risk or enhance protection (e.g., parks, recreational space, landscapes, signage, lighting, outlet density).
7) Modify/change policies — Formal change in written procedures, by-laws, policies, proclamations, ordinances, rules or laws with written documentation and/or voting procedures (e.g., workplace initiatives, law enforcement procedures and practices, public policy actions, systems change within government, communities and organizations).
**This strategy can be utilized when it is turned around to ‘reducing access/enhancing barriers’, for example establishing barriers to youth nicotine consumption by enforcing youth access laws.
______________________________ are our best tools for environmental change
Policy initiatives
Policy Initiatives require understanding and using ____________________, ______________________, and _____________________.
community organizing, community mobilization, and advocacy
Community organizing is the process of ________________________.
empowering a community to take on an issue through the use of coalitions, political advocacy campaigns, and public demonstrations
Community Mobilization
any process in which communities collaborate their efforts to accomplish an agreed-upon goal
What is Advocacy?
Taking action to support an idea or a cause. Advocates educate community members, the media, and elected officials in order to raise awareness, increase understanding of key issues, and mobilize support with the goal of creating positive change.
Lobbying (def’n)
a direct attempt to influence public officials and decision-makers
Advocacy vs Lobbying
advocacy is a less direct approach that can influence policies that support or oppose an issue whereas lobbying is directly attempting to influence how government officials vote on upcoming initiatives
What is one of the best ways to communicate environmental approaches in prevention?
Media
What is Social Media?
Social media are forms of electronic communication technologies that allow users to create and share information and tailored content through online communities and networks.
- Environmental approaches in prevention should include not just newspapers and tv, but also social media, blogs, and internet radio *
Social media tools can be incorporated as part of a broader communications strategy to:
● Build support and awareness by increasing the timely dissemination of and access to credible information
● Tailor messaging to reach and engage a broader, more diverse audience when, where, and how it suits them, which can strengthen audience trust in the messaging
● Leverage social networks to build interactive, two-way communication channels that enable the audience to participate in the conversation, fostering engagement, participation, connection, and community, and in turn, helping to enhance information sharing, reinforce key messages, influence knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, and decision-making, and promote behavior change.
