Write a policy statement on a topic pertaining to mental health.

Topic: Phsychosocial Aspects of Mental Health

Overview 

The policy statement development process is the mechanism by which the American Public Health Association (APHA) addresses external public policy matters. It is intended solely to develop policy statements on significant public health issues for the guidance of APHA, other organizations and entities. These adopted policy statements help to inform APHA's position on legislative and regulatory issues related to public health.

Policy statements must be consistent with APHA's goals, aims, and objectives, be relevant to current or future public health issues, and avoid conflict of interest or the appearance of conflict of interest between the author's financial or other personal interests and the goals and policies of the Association.  

Each proposed policy statement should represent the statement of substantially new externally directed policy, or a major modification (revision or extension) of existing policy. If the new proposal updates or supersedes an existing APHA policy statement, the new proposal should explicitly call for the archiving of the older existing policy statement.

Policy statements should describe and endorse a defined course of action, ranging from legislation and regulations desired to needed new policies of non-governmental organizations and private enterprises. Support for legislation or regulations should not include language with specific bill numbers, names, year or presidential Administration so as to not date the policy.

Proposed Policy Statement Evaluation Criteria

All proposed policy statements submitted must meet the following criteria: 

I. Format - Is the proposal in the correct format (APA)? Are all the required sections included and labeled? 

II. Evidence of the Problem. Does the proposal:

a. State the scientific issue clearly? 

b. Document the issue as a public health problem? 

c. Describe the extent of the problem? 

d. Describe any disproportionate impact on underserved populations? 

e. Provide evidence that indicates that the issue is consistent with or advances the state of science?

f. Include up-to-date references that support the text --relevant peer reviewed or evidence based or official documents such as OSHA Standards, MMWR. 

g. Identify any relevant ethical, political or resource issues? 

III. Opposing Arguments/Evidence. Does the proposal:

a. Include opposing and/or alternative points of view to the proposal? 

b. Refute the opposing viewpoints? 

IV. Proposed Recommendations Statement.  Does the proposal:

a. Describe what strategy(-ies) is/are being proposed to address the public health problem? 

b. Include scientific evidence that the strategy is likely to have an impact on reducing the problem and how big of an impact is it likely to have? 

c. Provide at least one reference to scientific or other authoritative evidence for effectiveness of the strategy? 

V. Alternative Strategies (if included). Does the proposal:

a. Document what alternative strategies have been tried or proposed to address the public health problem? 

b. Explain who carries out the strategies and what do they do? 

c. Provide at least one reference to scientific or authoritative evidence that promotes or documents these strategies.

d. Indicate if there are no counter points to the Author's knowledge.  

VI. Action Steps. Are the Action steps:

a. Feasible? 

b. Externally-directed (i.e. directs an external entity, NOT APHA, to promote or implement a specific strategy)?

c. Supported by the evidence or rationale documented in the proposal?

d. Focused on policy/principle, and not on specific legislation/ regulation?

e. Culturally responsive to the under-represented and underserved populations being addressed?

VII. Evidence Base. Are the problem statement, recommendations and action steps consistent with current scientific literature and adequately supported by references in the proposal? 

VIII. References. Does the proposal:

a. Include references that are peer-reviewed, primary sources, and most recently available?

b. Use up to date references?

c. Provide the full citation for each reference cited in proposal? Follow the recommended APA format?

Attachment:- Assignment Files.rar