What Is Policy?

When communities launch policy initiatives, a common question that arises is: what do you mean by “policy”?

Communities across the country are using policy to limit exposure to secondhand smoke, increase access to healthy food in neighborhoods, and ensure equitable access to parks.

ChangeLab Solutions created this fact sheet to define policy, to provide evidence for why policy is such a strong tool for change, and to give examples of how communities have used policy to improve health. It’s a helpful resource for introducing government staff, community leaders, and other health stakeholders to the concept of policy change.

Contact us to discuss how we can help build capacity in your community to use policy to achieve your community health goals.