In presenting a broader perspective of legislation and policymaking process, (Milstead, 2016) stresses on the idea of being strategic and success-oriented and well as thinking and acting like policymakers while operating in the health sector. Essentially, Milstead explores the role played by politics and governance in influencing the direction taken by policymaking process in the health sector. He brings out the intricacies and features of the different engagements involved in the political and governance aspects of public health policymaking process (2016). In this regard, there are attempts to place more emphasis on the need to incorporate the participation of nurses and other healthcare practitioners in key decision-making processes around the policy formulation table. Moreover, there is advocacy for bring onboard all the relevant stakeholders including those equipped with special skills and expertise in certain areas of specializations when it comes to public policy formulation. Furthermore this chapter addresses the significance of having political participation in matters related to the legislation and facilitation of the implementation of the various public policies that may be implemented towards dealing with different issues (Milstead, 2016).
How Existing Laws or Regulations may affect Advocacy for the Proposed Policy
The proposed policy is concerned with the promotion of healthy standards of living and particularly the promotion of physical activity among the children as well as the reduction in the advertisement of foods that promote obesity among the children. As such, it is critical to understand the relationship that exists between the existing laws or regulations and the proposed policy. In this respect, the adoption and implementation of policy and regulatory frameworks are likely to affect the process of advocating for the proposed policy by including by widening the range and effectiveness of the strategies used in addressing childhood obesity. Moreover, the integration of the proposed policy into existing laws and regulations is likely to end up bringing about valuable programs and tools that would be useful to the public health it is efforts to deal with concerns associated with childhood obesity. The existing laws and regulations have continued to play a crucial role when it comes to controlling certain behaviors as well as aspects of lifestyle that largely contribute to childhood obesity. For example, there have been attempts by the federal government to monitor and regulate the kind of dietary and lifestyle adverts that are aired on television that are likely to sabotage the concerted efforts towards addressing the issue of childhood obesity. To that extent, the existing regulations and the local, state, and federal levels could play a vital role in ensuring an effective and impactful advocacy of the proposed policy when it comes to addressing matters involving childhood obesity ( Dietz, Benken & Hunter, 2009).
Delegate your assignment to our experts and they will do the rest.
How Legislators or other Policymakers could be Influenced to Enact the Proposed Policy
The application of the "three legs" of lobbying in advocacy efforts would involve coming up with effective strategic measures. In this respect, different strategies could be adopted towards influencing legislators and other policymakers when it comes to the enactment of the proposed policy in dealing with the issue of childhood obesity. In this regard, part of the strategies would involve carrying advocacy programs with the objective of reaching out to the constituents of some of the legislators and policymakers to assist in inspiring and motivating them towards embracing the proposed policy. During the advocacy process, it would be prudent to ensure that the key-decision makers identified and briefed concerning the main content and intention of the proposed policy as well as the unique benefits it is likely to bring about when dealing with concerns associated with childhood obesity ( Cairney & Kwiatkowski, 2017).
The other strategy in influencing legislators and policymakers to agree to make their contributions towards the enactment of the proposed policy would involve collaborating with those of them that are sympathetic and passionate about the idea of introducing new policies with the aim of addressing the issue of childhood obesity. Such legislators would be in a better position to widen the network of advocacy by reaching out to their colleague in the legislative houses and convincing them to support and embrace the proposed policy. The other strategy could involve the identification of the officials in charge of the process of public policy implementation and seeking their view on the aspects of the proposed policy that require improvements or adjustments for it to be more appealing to the majority of the policy makers (Cairney & Kwiatkowski, 2017).
Enactment of the Proposed Policy
The objective proposed policy will be to advocate for the reduction of the time children spend watching television and encourage their engagement in more physical activities. The campaign will involve the parents, children, teachers and the school administrators with the aim of encouraging them to implement the policy. The enactment of the proposed policy, in this respect, would involve the creation of new legislation and the associated regulations. This is because the proposed policy seeks to introduce new and unique regulatory aspects towards supporting the campaigns and efforts aimed at reducing the prevalence of childhood obesity. Nevertheless, there may need to modify some of the existing laws or regulations to the extent that they could become more effective in preventing and controlling the various concerns related to the issue of childhood obesity ( Ayers & Frost, 2017).
Existing Laws or Regulations’ effect on Advocacy Efforts
The existing laws and regulations are likely to affect the effort towards advocacy for the proposed policy in different ways. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)'s Public Health Law Program could play a critical role towards the realization of the enactment and implementation of the proposed policy on reducing childhood obesity. This is because this particular program focuses on the identification and broader understanding of the essential legal requirements and authorities related to the issue of childhood obesity. Moreover, it plays a central role in the establishment and development of the relevant competencies of public health officials and professionals in applying essential laws, regulations, and authorities about the management and prevention of childhood obesity. The Childhood Obesity Legislations of 2013 in several states such as Physical Activity, Physical Education, and School Wellness policy options were enacted in several states including Arkansas, Illinois, Massachusetts, North California, Ohio, Rhode Island, South Carolina, and Virginia. In this respect, the Childhood Obesity Legislations of 2013 would play a critical role in supporting the advocacy efforts of the proposed policy ( Chriqui, 2013).
Legislative Process Obstacles that may prevent the Implementation of the Proposed Policy
The implementation process of the proposed policy, as intended, is likely to be met with some obstacles. One of these obstacles is likely to be the fear of embracing change and dealing with unforeseen eventualities that may accompany the implementation of the proposed policy. As such, the most stakeholders who are currently operating in the system guided by the existing laws and regulations would opt to maintain the status quo. Lack of cooperation and collaboration among the legislators and policymakers would also present a major obstacle to the legislative process as well as the implementation of the proposed policy. This kind of obstacle would be a consequence of failure by the proponents of the proposed policy to carry out effective advocacy. Lack of sufficient funds and technical capacity could also prove to be a serious obstacle to the implementation of the proposed policy focused on physical exercise and monitoring dietary adverts with the aim of reducing childhood obesity (Milstead, 2016).
How to Overcome the Obstacles and the Hurdles
In overcoming the existing obstacles to the legislative process and the implementation of the proposed policy, it is important to come up with as sensitization model that brings all stakeholders on board when it comes to keys decision-making processes. This approach would be useful in overcoming the obstacle likely to be presented by those who are fearful about policy change and are keen on having the status quo maintained. In carrying out advocacy campaigns, it is important to ensure that there is effective communication of the content and intention of the proposed policy to the legislators and the relevant policymakers to enhance collaboration. To that extent, it would be much easier to overcome the obstacle that is likely to be presented by lack of cooperation and collaboration among the legislators and policymakers (Dietz, Benken & Hunter, 2009).
References
Ayers L. A., & Frost, N. (2017). Promising Policies for Early Obesity Prevention. Current
Pediatrics Reports , 5 (3), 142-149. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s40124-017-0139-2
Cairney, P., & Kwiatkowski, R. (2017). How to communicate effectively with policymakers:
Combine insights from psychology and policy studies. Palgrave Communications ,
3 (1). http://dx.doi.org/10.1057/s41599-017-0046-8
Chriqui, J. F. (2013). Obesity Prevention Policies in U.S. States and Localities: Lessons from
the Field. Current Obesity Reports , 2 (3), 200–210. http://doi.org/10.1007/s13679
013-0063-x
Dietz, W. H., Benken, D. E., & Hunter, A. S. (2009). Public Health Law and the Prevention
and Control of Obesity. The Milbank Quarterly , 87 (1), 215–227.
http://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-0009.2009.00553 .x
Milstead, J. A. (2016). Health policy and politics: A nurse’s guide (5th ed.). Burlington, MA:
Jones and Bartlett Publishers.
