This resource is grounded in our experience conducting policy scans – a research method for identifying and assessing policy options to address community health needs – in collaboration with national organizations and government partners, particularly our work with the Douglas County Health Department (DCHD) in Nebraska. It covers four key areas:
-Law, Policy, & Public Health – defines types of laws and policies that can be included in a policy scan and describes their direct and indirect impacts on public health outcomes.
-Overview of the Policy Process & the Role of Policy Scans – explains how policy scans fit into the broader policy change process.
-Policy Scans in Practice – unpacks the “how” of policy scans, outlining ChangeLab Solutions’ approach to conducting policy scans, including practical guidance and tips for scaling the methods based on available time and resources.
-Sharing & Using Policy Scan Results – explores opportunities for governmental public health practitioners to move from research to action by disseminating menus of policy options and other policy scan findings, building on their research, and collaborating with decision-makers to develop and adopt policies.