The Bonner Program:Introduction to PolicyOptions Issue Briefs

“Access to Education,

A program of:The Corella & Bertram Bonner Foundation10 Mercer Street, Princeton, NJ 08540(609) 924-6663 • (609) 683-4626 fax

For more information, please visit our website at www.bonner.org

Opportunity to Serve”

Need

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Issues to Impact:Partner Survey

Direct Action (service)

Capacity Building

Convening

CBR

Policy News & Analysis

Community Info Hub

0% 25% 50% 75% 100%

88%

92%

85%

87%

89%

92%

34%

24%

25%

28%

19%

47%

Occurring Need / Highly Needn = 43 groups

Community-Based Research

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Community-Based Research:Context — Organizational Develpoment

Plan• Needs & Asset

Assessment• Issue Analysis

Decide• Model Programs• Policy Options

• Resources

Implementdirect serviceor advocacy

Evaluate• Program Evaluation

• On-Going Data Collection

PolicyOptions Issue Briefs

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PolicyOption Issue Briefs:Issue Brief Questions

• What is the nature & extent of the problem?

• What’s been tried in the past to address it?

• What’s being done now?

• What are the distinctly different approaches to addressing this issue?

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PolicyOption Issue Briefs:Issue Brief Template

• Goal Statement

• Scope of the Problem

• Past Policy

• Current Policy

• Policy Options / Program Models

• Key Organizations, Programs & People

• Glossary of Terms

• Bibliography

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PolicyOption Issue Briefs:Wiki for Collaborative Research

460 contributors

1,750 pages

2,800 visits in October

21,000 visits in last year

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PolicyOption Issue Briefs:Audiences

• Planning

- Provide access to policy options & program models to inform decision-making processes

• Issue Forums

- Provide background issue briefs to inform community dialogue

• Leadership Training

- Educate students and others who work on issues

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• 90-page Poverty Study requested by County Manager

• Public forum (80 participants)

•Working groups & PolicyOptions Issue Briefs✓ Transportation

✓ Health

✓ Housing & Water Systems

✓ Education

✓ Legal Needs of the Poor

✓ Economic Development

PolicyOption Issue Briefs:Example — Washington & Lee University

Getting Started

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PolicyOptions Issue Briefs:Getting Started

• Pick at least one community partner

• Identify question related to model programs or policy options

• Add to existing or start new issue brief on wiki site: http://policyoptions.pbworks.com

• Reference Research Guide and Intern Research Guide

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PolicyOptions Issue Briefs:Research Steps

1. Create issue overview page (if new topic)

2. Create local, state, and USA information pages (if new topic)

3. Identify Key Organizations at each level

4. Add facts on Scope of the Problem with footnotes

5. Summarize current policy & programs (follow the money)

6. Interview practitioners and other experts to identify Model Progams and Policy Options that work

PolicyOptions.org News Bureau

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PolicyOption News Bureau:Information You Can Use

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Community Based-Research Center:Staffing Model

Maintain localPolicyOptions.org website

CBR & Policy Research

Community-Based Research Director

Work Study & BonnerStudents

Students inCBR/SL Courses

Graduate School Students

Advisory/EditorialBoard

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PolicyOptions.org Network:Local Affiliates Sharing Common Platform

Lewiston, METrenton, NJ

Minnesota New Jersey

USA

Twin Cities

Maine

Community Think Tank

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ResearchLocal

PolicyOptions.orgwebsite

Community-Based

Research

PolicyOptionsIssue Briefs

Direct Service

CapacityBuilding Training & Strategic Planning

ConveningIssue Forums &

Working Groups

Action

Issue, Place, Organization

Public Education

Campus Outreach:Comprehensive & Integrated

Local CommunityThink Tank

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Local Community Think Tank:Community-Based Research & Convening

Community-Based Research• Needs & Asset Assessment, Data Collection & Analysis,

Program Evaluation

PolicyOptions | Issue Briefs• Scope of the Problem• Past & Current Policy• Model Programs & Policy Options• Key Organizations & Individuals

Convening• Host issue forums & working groups

PolicyOptions | Community News• Funding, Legislation, Regulations, Reports, etc.