Contextual factors can range from internal (the organization, the practice, the environment, the culture, etc.) to external (laws, policies, politics, regulations, etc.). However, whether originating internally or externally, contextual factors have the capability of advancing or hindering an advocacy priority.
For this Discussion, you will consider how contextual factors impact policy making, focusing specifically on how these factors might impact your advocacy priority. Consider what contextual factors might promote getting your priority on the agenda, as well as those that might work against it.
Resources
Be sure to review the Learning Resources before completing this activity. Click the weekly resources link to access the resources.
WEEKLY RESOURCES
Readings
· Dawes, D. E. (2020). The political determinants of health. Johns Hopkins University Press.
· Chapter 4, “How the Game is Played: Successful Employment of the Political Determinants of Health” (pp.78–111)
· Porche, Demetrius J. (2023). Health policy: Applications for nurses and other health professionals (3rd ed.). Jones & Bartlett Learning.
· Chapter 9, “Policy Formulation and Implementation” (pp.101-112)
· Chapter 10, “Policy Analysis” (pp.113-140)
Media
The following media resources address the contextual factors impacting the answer to the following question, “How did we get here?” regarding the current state of healthcare in the U.S.
Please select at least two from the following to view.
· CNBC. (2018, December 26). Why medical bills in the U.S. are so expensiveLinks to an external site. [Video]. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3NvnOUcG-ZI Note: The approximate length of this media piece is 15 minutes.
· FRONTLINE PBS. (2021, May 18). The healthcare divide Links to an external site. (full documentary): FRONTLINELinks to an external site. [Video]. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UVvEkeH4O8o Note: The approximate length of this media piece is 53 minutes.
· IntelligenceSquared Debates. (2017, October 6). The U.S. health care system is terminally brokenLinks to an external site. [Video]. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o0JFn7rVHdg Note: The approximate length of this media piece is 95 minutes.
· PBS NewsHour. (2021). Health care: America vs. the WorldLinks to an external site. . https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BytzrjEfyfA Note: The approximate length of this media piece is 56 minutes.
To Prepare:
· Review resources about contextual factors.
· Consider how contextual factors will impact your advocacy priority.
By Day 3 of Week 4
Post a response detailing the following:
· Which contextual factors will promote getting your advocacy priority on the agenda?
· Which contextual factors might work against it?
RESPOND TO THIS DISCUSSION POST
EV NO
The Impact of Contextual Factors on Advocacy and Policy
It is also important to assert that different contexts determine the promotion or obstacle to the choice of advocacy priorities. Native characteristics like organizational fit, leadership endorsement, and resources are other factors that may keep an advocacy priority on the policy agenda (Schmid, Sewerin, & Schmidt, 2020). For instance, an organization with a mission statement to fight health disparities would find funding interventions for social determinants easy. Outside, favorable political regimes, legal structures already in existence, and high total awareness build up a favorable environment (Wickert et al., 2021). For instance, if decision-makers and the masses believe that health inequities are critical issues, the advocacy agenda will likely advance.
However, advocate context factors can limit agendas. In the internal context, the significant challenges include adequate funds, competing organizational goals and objectives, and resistance to change. Externally, political culture and conditions, other legislation priorities, and bureaucratic politics may frustrate the progress of policies (Geddes, 2023). For example, partisanship in political systems may cause deadlock and less chance that an introduced plan would receive enough focus. Moreover, cultural barriers or lack of proper information sharing will significantly reduce public support, which is another challenge for advocates.
To counteract these challenges, advocacy should utilize key supportive factors of the contextual changes while managing potential barriers at the same time. Partnerships with related organizations and interest groups can enhance the advocacy message and its visibility. In this case, Eradicating myths involves public sensitization to ensure that public opinion is in tandem with advocacy goals (Wyszomirski, 2021). Further, this enables advocacy priorities to be put in to correct relations to needs and demands within societies or alignment to current legislation trends when formulating and implementing policies. Based on the presented contextual dynamics, it’s possible to emphasize that navigation of these contexts will make advocating more capable of popularizing its agendas and producing changes.
References
Geddes, B. (2023). Politician’s dilemma: building state capacity in Latin America (Vol. 25). Univ of California Press.
Schmid, N., Sewerin, S., & Schmidt, T. S. (2020). Explaining advocacy coalition change with policy feedback. Policy Studies Journal, 48(4), 1109-1134. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdfdirect/10.1111/psj.12365
Wickert, C., Post, C., Doh, J. P., Prescott, J. E., & Prencipe, A. (2021). Management research that makes a difference: Broadening the meaning of impact. Journal of Management Studies, 58(2), 297-320. https://research.vu.nl/files/120398817/Wickert_et_al_2020_Impact_editorial.pdf
Wyszomirski, M. J. (2021). The politics of arts policy: Subgovernment to issue network. In America’s commitment to culture (pp. 47-76). Routledge.