Overview
The Course Capstone Project is a sustained research and analysis project throughout the course for which you will write an APHA Policy Statement Development Process Guidelines proposed policy statement that analyzes real-world health policy.
Guidelines
APHA guidelines state that a policy statement “should represent the statement of substantially new, externally directed policy, or a major modification (revision or an extension) of an existing policy.” Also, the guidelines require that policy statements:
Be “comprehensive in nature and review the breadth of evidence-based strategies addressing a macro-level public health problem, rather than focus on a single intervention or strategy for a niche issue.”
“Describe and endorse a defined course of action that could range from desired governmental legislation, regulations, and research, to calls for new science, policies, and practices for non-governmental organizations and private enterprises.”
“Should not include language with specific bill numbers, names, or presidential administration.”
- Review the APHA Policy Statement Development Process Guidelines carefully and follow the guidelines for each section of your policy statement. Prepare your policy statement as if you are submitting it to the APHA for review.
- Your proposed policy statement must be 8 to 10 pages long, not including the Proposal Submission Checklist and Author Disclosure Form, and a references list.
- Your references list must include a minimum of 10 and a maximum of 50 peer-reviewed, scholarly, or similar sources. Format it according to the AMA guidelines described in the APHA Policy Statement Submission Guidelines.
Your tasks this week:
Complete your Course Capstone Project (APHA proposed policy statement). Each of the following components is required. Detailed instructions for each component and the required forms are found in the APHA Policy Statement Development Process Guidelines.
Your project should include:
Proposal submission checklist
Author disclosure form
Policy statement (8 to 10 pages)
- Title page
Author Identification
Sponsorship (Written by a teammate – Assimilate if including)
Co-Sponsorship or Endorsement (Written by the organization – Assimilate if including)
- Summary (250 words maximum)
- Relationship to Existing APHA Policy Statements (½ to 1 page)
- A rationale for Consideration (1 page)
- Problem Statement (1 page)
- Evidence-Based Strategies to Address the Problem (2 to 3 pages)
- Opposing Arguments/Evidence (1 to 2 pages)
- Alternative Strategies (1 to 2 pages)
- Action Steps (1 page)
- References (10 to 50 sources)
- Format your assignment according to the APHA Proposed Policy Statement Submission Guidelines.
- Submit the assignment as a single document, including each component listed above.