Public Health Systems Research
Creating the Evidence for Policy
2006 National Health Policy conference adjunct Meeting
February 7-9, 2006
Washington, DC
How an Outcome Mindset Can Help
• Forces the So What question
• Gets beyond generalities
– I.E POLICY
• Presents a positive alternative to “eliminating the problem”
• Done right, it builds consensus
• Some examples
What is policy?
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
laws passed by Fed, State and or local authorities?
regulations with the force of law?
written practice guidance?
staff training programs?
practice approaches and techniques by those on the front lines?
all of the above?
something?
Outcome Thinking
•
•
•
•
Close your eyes; take a deep breath
You are now in a future place at a future time
Imagine the ideal situation, how your work should end
Now open your eyes and answer these questions
Outcome Thinking
•
•
•
•
Close your eyes; take a deep breath
You are now in a future place at a future time
Imagine the ideal situation, how your work should end
Now open your eyes and answer these questions
Workforce Programs
•
Outcome Option #1: Job Placements
•
Outcome Option #2: 1 year employment with benefits
•
What are the implications for program know-how?
How would it work in Public Health Policy
Research?
•
Take a minute
•
Imagine that PHPR was working at the highest level you can imagine.
•
If this level of success was achieved
– what would be different?
– What would be in place instead?
– What would be gained by those you serve?
•
Answers from:
– A RESEARCHER
– A POLICY MAKER
Other questions implied
by an outcome mindset.
1. Who are the prime customers of policy research?
(those in the best position and mindset to use it)
–
–
–
–
–
Elected officials?
Appointed officials and staff?
Advocates and lobbyists?
Legislative staff?
The media?
2. What's in it for them?????
3. What are your success assumptions
4. What’s the best practice? (research on the research)
What can you do?
•
Researchers Can:
–
–
–
•
Funders Can:
–
–
–
–
–
•
Tie implementation to data access requests
See the public agencies as allies in grant development
Consider implementation as a portfolio element
Take a balanced portfolio perspective with implementation and new knowledge development
See this as a clear niche opportunity
Seek other funders with this interest
Build the niche of researchers
Facilitate connections between non-local researcher interests and those in public policy
Policy Makers and Implementers can:
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
Urge funders to emphasize implementation
Make policy implementation a quid pro guo for approval or data access
Take a policy researcher to lunch
Form a connection to your local university colleagues
Engage students
Stress how research has helped and can help
Build the research connection to evidence based work.
Share/exchange staff
Look for common interests
• “Highly effective people invest little energy on their
existing problem situations. Instead they focus
attention and energy on what they want instead of
these problems!!!
• “A key to high performance is the ability to develop,
articulate and stay focused on a compelling
outcome.”
» Clawson and Bostrom
“Beginning with
success in
mind…and keeping it
there.”
If you are interested
•
Come up and fill out a feedback form that includes interest in
continuing this conversation
•
Email Peggy
•
Or me: [email protected]