Title: Association Policy Development and Review

Author:

Section/SPIG: Epidemiology

Issue Date:

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The policy development and review process is an important part of the APHA mission to improve public health for everyone. APHA is an effective advocacy organization and scientific resource on policy-related public health issues. Policy statements function as the basis for APHA positions and actions. Each year at the APHA Annual Meeting, the Governing Council of APHA adopts public policy statements (resolutions or position papers). All APHA constituent groups – Sections, Affiliates, Caucuses, and SPIGs – as well as individual members - are invited to work on developing new APHA policy and improving existing APHA policy.

Two key dates for the 2005 public policy development process are:

Jan. 10 – suggestions for policy areas in need of review for revision or updating.
Feb. 14 – proposals for new policies.

To learn more about the policy development process please visit the APHA Web site for guidelines for the 2005 policy process at <http://www.apha.org/private/ppolicy.htm#overview>. This Web site provides an overview of the process, the complete policy development and review schedule calendar, and policy development guidelines.

To find existing policy statements, all policy statements beginning in 1948 to the present are available in a searchable database at <http://www.apha.org/legislative/policy/>. An index of policy statements listed by topic is available at <http://www.apha.org/legislative/policy/Full_Index_thru_2003.pdf>.

The Epidemiology Section membership is strongly encouraged to participate in the policy development process. If you are interested in proposing a new policy or revising or updating an existing policy, please contact Christine Arcari by e-mail at <carcari@wisc.edu>.