To be an effective advocate and to develop a successful health advocacy campaign, you must have a clear idea of the goals of your campaign program and be able to communicate those goals

to others. In addition, it is the nature of nurses to want to help, but it is important to make sure that the vision you develop is manageable in size and scope. By researching what others have

done, you will better appreciate what can realistically be accomplished. It is also wise to determine if others have similar goals and to work with these people to form strategic partnerships. If

you begin your planning with a strong idea of your resources, assets, and capabilities, you will be much more likely to succeed and truly make a difference with those you hope to help

.
Over the next 3 weeks, you will develop a 9- to 12-page paper that outlines a health advocacy campaign designed to promote policies to improve the health of a population of your choice.

This

week, you will establish the framework for your campaign by identifying a population health concern of interest to you. You will then provide an overview of how you would approach

advocating for this issue. In Week 9, you will consider legal and regulatory factors that have an impact on the issue and finally, in Week 10, you will identify ethical concerns that you could face

as an advocate.

Specific details for each aspect of this paper are provided each week. The Final Paper will be due in Week 10. This paper will serve as the Portfolio Application for the course.
Before you begin, review the complete Assignment.
This week, begin developing your health advocacy campaign by focusing on the following:

Identifying a Problem

To prepare:
Select a population health issue of interest to you and identify the population affected by the issue.
Locate two scholarly articles, each of which provides a description of an effective health advocacy program that addresses your issue.
Analyze the attributes of the programs to determine what made them effective.

Reflect on a policy you could propose or a change to a current policy to further improve the health of the population you selected with regard to the issue.
Consider how you could develop an advocacy program, applying the attributes identified in similar, effective programs.
To complete:
For this section of your paper (approximately 3?4 pages in length) address the following:

Describe your selected population health issue and the population affected by this issue.
Summarize the advocacy programs you researched in this area.
Explain the attributes that made those programs effective.
Develop a plan for a health advocacy campaign that seeks to create a new policy or change an existing policy with regard to the issue and population you selected.

Be sure to include in your

plan:
A description of the public health issue and proposed policy solution
Specific objectives for the policy you want to be implemented
The means by which you will convey information to various stakeholders on the need for this policy change

Be sure your proposed need is substantiated by data and evidence.
Methods of establishing support for the policy, including how to influence policymakers
Explain how the attributes of the effective advocacy programs you researched could be applied to your proposed advocacy campaign.

You do not need to submit anything this week. This Assignment is due by Day 7 of Week 10.

Last week, you began developing a health advocacy campaign for improving the health of a population through a change in policy. This week, you will continue by considering how laws and

regulations can shape the way you advocate for and attempt to implement your proposed policy.
Before you begin, review the complete Assignment.
Legal Considerations
To prepare:
Review Chapter 3 of Health Policy and Politics:

A Nurse?s Guide (3rd ed.) to determine methods of influencing the political process.
Reflect on whether the policy you would like to promote could best be achieved through the development of new legislation, or a change in an existing law or regulation.
Contemplate in what ways existing laws or regulations may impact how you proceed in advocating for your proposed policy.
Consider how you could influence legislators or other policymakers to enact the policy you would like to propose.

Think about the obstacles of the legislative process that may prevent your proposed policy from being implemented as intended.
To complete:
For this section of your paper (approximately 3?4 pages in length) address the following:

Explain whether your proposed policy could be enacted through a modification of existing law or regulation or the creation of new legislation/regulation.
Explain how existing laws or regulations could impact your advocacy efforts.
Provide an analysis of the methods you could use to influence legislators or other policymakers to support your policy. In particular, explain how you would use the ?three legs? of lobbying in

your advocacy efforts.

Summarize the obstacles you anticipate arising in the legislative process and how you could overcome these hurdles.
This Assignment will be integrated into a Final Paper in Week 10. You do not need to submit anything this week. This Assignment is due by Day 7 of Week 10.

This week, you will continue to work on the Assignment begun in Week 8 as you examine the ethical issues that may arise in advocating for the policy you selected.

Before you begin, review the complete Assignment. You will combine the sections of your paper developed in Weeks 8, 9, and 10 into one cogent paper due by Day 7 of this week.
To prepare for this final portion of your paper:
Review provisions 7, 8, and 9 of the ANA Code of Ethics in relation to advocacy for population health.

Reflect on the ethical considerations you may need to take into account in your advocacy campaign.
Research the ethical considerations, laws, and reporting requirements (with respect to lobbying)

that are relevant to the location where your advocacy campaign will occur.
Consider potential ethical dilemmas you might face in your campaign.
To complete:
For this section of your paper (approximately 3?4 pages in length), address the following:
Explain any ethical dilemmas that could arise during your advocacy campaign, and how you would resolve them.
Describe the ethics laws and reporting requirements that are applicable to your advocacy campaign.

Evaluate the special ethical challenges that are unique to the population you are addressing.
Reminder: You will combine the sections of your paper developed in Weeks 8, 9, and 10 into one cogent paper.