Tips on Getting Your Policy Proposal Approved

1. Tips on Getting YourPolicy Proposal Approved Robert F. Clift BC Healthy Minds / Healthy Campuses Summit January 23, 2014

2. What Kind of Policy? Be clear about the type of policy you are proposing • Statement of Principle • Statement of Action • Statement of Consequences

3. What Are You Trying To Achieve? Be specific and clear about your objectives • Very few people involved in the approval process will have a detailed understanding about what you are trying to achieve • Make it easy for them to understand your objectives and how you propose to achieve them • A well-crafted proposal will stand on its own

4. Who Has the Power to Make it Happen? There are both formal and informal policy approval processes • Who has the formal authority to approve your proposal? • Who are the “gatekeepers” who have the power to influence the people with the formal authority? • What is the best way to frame your proposal to appeal to these people?

5. What are the Costs and Benefits? Every effective policy has costs and benefits • Cost of initial set up • Cost of administration • Cost of delivery • You must enumerate the benefits • If possible, attach a dollar value to the benefits

6. Building Block Approach to Policy A large proportion of new policy proposals are either too large or too small in scope • Your proposal needs to strike a balance • Craft your proposal such that it builds upon past policies and acts as a base for future policies • Articulate your overall principles and desired outcomes • Use these as the touchstone for every proposal

7. Robert F. Cliftexecdir@cufa.bc.ca