SAGE Journal Articles
Article 1: Gormley, W.T. & Cymrot, H. (2006). The Strategic Choices of Child Advocacy Groups. Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Quarterly, 35(1), pp. 102-122.
This article reviews the strategies utilized by 50 child advocacy groups seeking to influence public policy at the state level. Strategic options identified include insider strategies, outsider strategies, coalition building, and public policy research, as well as the issue of friends and enemies in the political environment.
Questions to Consider:
1. What are some of the threats and opportunities faced by interest groups?
2. What is the difference between insider strategies and outsider strategies?
3. What were the findings of the study conducted by the authors?
Article 2: Dinour, L.M. (2015). Conflict and Compromise in Public Health Policy: Analysis of Changes Made to Five Competitive Food Legislative Proposals Prior to Adoption. Health Education & Behavior, 42 (1), pp. 76S-86S.
This article describes the policy formation processes related to five bills related to the availability of healthful food in schools. Many states have adopted legislation to limit the accessibility of unhealthy food options for children in school.
Questions to Consider:
1. What are advocacy coalitions, and what makes them effective?
2. Each of the states made changes to the bills that resulted in compromises. Select one of the states and describe how the compromises may have weakened the original intent of the bill.
3. Select a public health issue and describe how you might utilize an advocacy coalition. Identify at least five participants.
Article 3: Scott, W.R., Deschenes, S., Hopkins, K., Newman, A., & McLaughlin, M. (2006). Advocacy Organizations and the Field of Youth Services: Ongoing Efforts to Restructure a Field. Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Quarterly, 35(4), pp. 691-714.
This article examines how advocacy organizations bring about new conceptions of youth, influence the organization of the field, and ultimately change the way public policy addresses youth’s needs.
Questions to Consider:
1. How did the perspective of healthy development for youth impact the development of policy?
2. What is an organizational field and how is it used in the context of advocacy?
3. How do advocacy organizations play a part in influencing policy?
Article 4: Armstrong, M.I., Evans, M.E., & Wood, V. (2000). The Development of a State Policy on Families as Allies. Journal of Emotional and Behavioral Disorders, 8(4), pp. 240-248.
This article describes one state’s efforts to develop a policy regarding involvement of parents in planning, services research, and system structural reform. The authors identify the stages of parent involvement in policymaking and share recommendations for a “families as allies” policy.
Questions to Consider:
1. Describe the initiation of the “families as allies” activities.
2. How did the strategies differ at the state level and local level?
3. Describe the stages of family involvement in policymaking identified by the authors.
Article 5: Fader, J.J., Lockwood, B., Schall, V.L., & Stokes, B. (2015). A Promising Approach to Narrowing the School-to-Prison Pipeline: The WISE Arrest Diversion Program. Youth Violence and Juvenile Justice, 13(2), pp. 123-142.
This article evaluates the WISE Arrest Diversion Program by comparing school conduct of participants and school-based arrests, pre-and post-implementation. The program aims to narrow the school-to-prison pipeline.
Questions to Consider:
1. What advocacy strategies may have been utilized in the establishment and implementation of the WISE Arrest Diversion Program?
2. What were some of the outcomes of the WISE Arrest Diversion Program?
3. How could the WISE Arrest Diversion Program serve as a resource to advocates?