Participating in federal public policy : a guide for the voluntary sector

Table of contents

Introduction

• The Voluntary Sector Initiative (VSI)
• Guide sections
• Module 1 - What is public policy and why is it important to become involved?
• Module 2 - Navigating the systems and the rules
• Module 3 - Where do you want to go? Developing a strategy to influence public policy
• Module 4 - How do you want to get there? Implementing your strategy
• Acknowledgements
• An important note

Module 1 - What Is Public Policy and Why Is it Important to Become Involved?

• Objectives
• Preamble
• What is public policy?
• Resources and links

Module 2 - Navigating the System and the Rules

• Objectives
• Preamble
• The Federal Government
• The executive branch
• The legislative branch
• The judiciary
• The federal policy development process
• Levels of involvement in policy development
• The voluntary sector
• Working together on policy
• Organizational culture
• Hierarchy and authority
• Composition, affiliation and location
• Summary
• Guidelines for involvement of voluntary sector organizations in policy dialogue
• What's in a name: voluntary, charity or non-profit?
• Charities and political activity: can charities lobby government?
• Resources and links
• Government-based policy development resources
• Voluntary sector-based policy development resources

Module 3 - Where Do You Want To Go? Developing a Strategy To Influence Public Policy

• Objectives
• Preamble
• Key questions for formulating a public policy strategy
• Looking outward
• Looking inward
• Tips for building your organization's policy capacity
• 1. Skill acquisition and development
• 2. Gathering knowledge and information
• 3. Identification and use of tools and resources
• 4. Climate and process for policy development and analysis
• Resources and links on policy research

Module 4 - How Do You Want to Get There? Implementing Your Strategy

• Objectives
• Preamble
• Government relations
• Working with Members of Parliament (MP)
• Working with public servants
• Working with ministers
• Resources and links on government relations
• Media relations
• Feature stories
• News releases/news conferences
• Central information contact/information hot line
• Television programming
• Advertisements
• Resources and links on media relations
• Public Relations
• Printed information materials
• Information repositories
• Briefings/public presentations
• The Internet
• Resources and links on using the internet to influence public policy
• Partnerships and collaboration
• Inter-organizational collaboration
• Ten rules for effective policy collaboration
• Resources and links on Inter-organizational collaboration
• Participation on advisory panels and committees
• Membership/supporter relations
• Maintaining contact and building support
• Board of directors
• Resources and links on membership/supporter relations
• Saying thank you
• Description
• Tips
• Advantages
• Limitations

Appendix 1 - Stages of the Public Policy Process

• Issue identification
• Agenda-setting
• Policy design
• Implementation
• Monitoring
• Impact assessment

Appendix 2 - Get the Facts Here

• Appendix 3 - Sample Policy Issues
• Internet resources
• Web sites
• Bibliography