The Policy Readiness Tool: Assessing Readiness for Policy Change
The communities in which we live, work and play (e.g. municipalities, neighbourhoods, schools or workplaces) have a significant influence on our health. By encouraging the development of healthy policies in these locations, we can play a powerful role in building healthier environments for everyone.
The road to healthy policy change is often complex. Nevertheless, the strategic application of policy theory through the creation of resources like the Policy Readiness Tool can help to make this process more manageable.
The Policy Readiness Tool was developed with support from the Alberta Policy Coalition for Cancer Prevention (APCCP; 2009-2011)1. The APCCP is housed in the School of Public Health at the University of Alberta (Edmonton, AB). The APCCP represents a broad range of practitioners, policy-makers, researchers and community organizations who have come together to coordinate efforts, generate evidence and advocate for policy change to reduce incidence/prevalence of cancer and chronic disease in Alberta.
The initial project idea for the Policy Readiness Tool emerged from research on the diffusion of smoke-free bylaws, conducted by Dr. Candace Nykiforuk and colleagues (for more information, please see www.placeresearchlab.com). Development of the Tool was informed by consultation with members of the APCCP’s former advisory groups and involved several stages of research. As we share the Tool and collect feedback, we will continue to modify its design and test its applicability in different policy contexts.
Be sure to check back to this website regularly for updates and new resources.
> Get started with the Policy Readiness Tool
1. In October 2011, the APCCP underwent a name change to the Alberta Policy Coalition for Chronic Disease Prevention