Recorded presentation

Ken Feske, MDiv, Safe Schools/Healthy Students, 1130 San Vincente Ave., Salinas, CA 93901, (831)422-9872, kfeske@1stbaptist.net and David V. Summers, PhD, First United Methodist Church, 215 E. University Ave., Tempe, AZ 85281.

Following the initial implementation phase in a comprehensive violence prevention initiative, the focus shifted to develop an innovative local policy agenda to engage policy makers. Data is presented from the Salinas, California, Safe Schools/Healthy Student Initiative, a research-focused violence prevention initiative. Findings are presented on creating a policy component for an integrative framework linking prevention and intervention agencies, addressing research and data issues, sustaining outcomes and building capacity for community-level change. Presentation will examine the nature and scope of local, community level prevention policy in comprehensive, community-based interventions.

This initiative launched a policy-makers body representing city, county, school boards and business sector functioning across political domains. Research describes the timeline, efforts and challenges in the shift from implementation and prevention practice to effectively engaging local policy-makers. We review a set of tools for engaging policy makers including a series of prevention principles that aid in policy formulation and policy “prescriptions” defining action in various domains of community mental health, violence, and early childhood development. The initiative identified the role of local policy in program funding and development, organizational practices, and community prevention efforts. Lessons include a set of political skills that are beneficial in working with elected officials to advance a prevention agenda: education on value and function of prevention and intervention efforts; creating arenas for discussion around political action; bringing appropriate data for understanding and action; maintaining a commitment to prevention in competitive environments; fostering the larger picture of policy and program interaction across political jurisdictions.

Learning Objectives: Participants will be able to

• Identify and understand skills for local policy activity;
• Define the steps and strategies for engaging local policy makers and creating a policy agenda;
• Assess the pitfalls and barriers for developing effective local prevention policy;
• Analyze and apply a set of prevention principles that relate to multiple political and health jurisdictions;

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.

Recorded presentation