Julie Williamson, MPH¹, Katie Vu-Ng, MPH¹, Christine Arnesen, MPH², Edith Cabuslay, MPH³, Mary Ann Morgan, MPH⁴, Nettie DeAugustine, BA⁵, and Patrick Moriarty⁶. (1) Partnership for the Public's Health, Public Health Institute, 505 14th St. #810, Oakland, CA 94612, 510-302-3330, jwilliamson@partnershipph.org, (2) Consultant, 832 Indian Rock Ave., Berkeley, CA 94707, (3) San Mateo County Public Health Services, 225 37th Ave., San Mateo, CA 94403, (4) Contra Costa County Public Health Department, 597 Center Ave., Ste. 115, Martinez, CA 94553, (5) The City of Long Beach Department of Health and Human Services, 2525 Grand Avenue, Long Beach, CA 90815, (6) Shasta County Public Health Department, 2650 Breslauer Wy., Redding, CA 96001

Public health departments are uniquely positioned to partner with local community groups to influence public policy, yet their potential in this arena often goes untapped. In California, 14 local health departments each partnered with 2-3 community groups for four years to address community conditions that most influence community health. Interviews with mid- and upper-level managers in each health department revealed a broad range of interpretations of the health departments’ role in policy development, and how communities could be involved in this process. A subsequent convening of 42 staff from these 14 health departments generated a number of recommendations and strategies for how health departments can effectively partner with communities to do policy work, ranging from behind the scenes data support to more visible organizing people to testify on policy issues. This presentation focuses on issues identified by 14 local health departments as being important to engaging communities in policy development. It will cover perceptions of the role health departments should play in the policy arena, as well as specific strategies to engage communities in effecting policy change. The Partnership for the Public’s Health (PPH) is a six-year, California-based initiative designed to address the broad determinants of health by fostering partnerships between local health departments and community groups. Currently, 37 local partnerships have completed four years of collaborative program planning, implementation, and policy development. PPH offers a unique opportunity to explore the diversity of strategies and roles that local health departments have adopted to engage communities in policy development and advocacy.

Learning Objectives: By the end of this session, participants will be able to

• Identify at least three strategies employed by local health departments to engage communities in policy development
• Name at least three barriers, both internal and external to local health departments, that prevent health department staff from partnering effectively with communities for policy change
• Identify at least two strategies to overcome barriers to community engaged policy development.

Keywords: Policy/Policy Development, Community Involvement

Related Web page: www.Partnershipph.org

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I have a significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.
Relationship: Employee of Public Health Institute, working under grant from The California Endowment