national governors’ association center for best practices project overview nga policy academy...

National Governors’ Association Center for Best Practices

Project OverviewProject Overview

NGA Policy AcademyNGA Policy Academy Improving Oral Health Care for ChildrenImproving Oral Health Care for Children

© 2000 National Governors Association© 2000 National Governors Association

What is Technical What is Technical Assistance?Assistance?

The provision of data, research, expertise, andother support to help decision makers:

– Think through policy options;– Design and implement new systems and

programs; and/or– Make existing systems and programs more

effective.


Types of Technical AssistanceTypes of Technical Assistance

Literature ReviewsQuick-Response MemorandaIssue Briefs, ReportsConference CallsOnsite VisitsSeminars, Roundtables, and Policy ForumsOther


What is a Policy Academy?What is a Policy Academy?

Type of technical assistance

Structured workshop Influential

policymakers Coordinated response Specific issue Process, not an event


Why a Policy Academy?Why a Policy Academy?

Promote strategic planning

Learn from other state experiences

Establish/reinforce dialogue

Build consensus and plan for change


Academy PurposeAcademy Purpose

For each teamteam to develop a state-wide policy initiativepolicy initiative (Action Plan) that can be realistically implementedimplemented to improve oral health care for children


Participant StatesParticipant StatesAcademy IAcademy I Academy IIAcademy II Academy IIIAcademy III

AlabamaAlabama

ColoradoColorado

MinnesotaMinnesota

OhioOhio

OregonOregon

South CarolinaSouth Carolina

VirginiaVirginia

ArkansasArkansas

DelawareDelaware

GeorgiaGeorgia

KentuckyKentucky

TennesseeTennessee

UtahUtah

West VirginiaWest Virginia

WyomingWyoming

FloridaFlorida

HawaiiHawaii

IndianaIndiana

MaineMaine

MassachusettsMassachusetts

MississippiMississippi

MissouriMissouri

PennsylvaniaPennsylvania


General Team CompositionGeneral Team Composition

Governor’s health policy advisor

Member(s) of the legislature

State dental director Medicaid/SCHIP

director(s) State dental association Others


Hopeful Outcome(s)Hopeful Outcome(s)

Executive Order(s) Legislation Budget proposals/

funding mechanisms Interagency agreements

(Memoranda of Understanding or Agreement)

Informal partnerships Rules or regulations Program standards/

guidelines (licensure requirements)

Task forces/ Committees Other


Site Visit ObjectivesSite Visit Objectives

Familiarize teams with Action Plan

Discuss Academy format

Ensure teams function

Set teams in motion (homework)

Policy Academy for State OfficialsPolicy Academy for State Officials Improving Oral Health Care for Improving Oral Health Care for

ChildrenChildren


The Action PlanThe Action Plan


A Return to PurposeA Return to Purpose

For each team to develop a state-wide policy initiativepolicy initiative (Action Plan) that can be realistically implemented to improve oral health care for children


Policy Initiative FrameworkPolicy Initiative Framework(The Action Plan)(The Action Plan)

The Vision (Your State Tomorrow)The Reality Assessment (Your State Today)Priorities/Goals (Gaps)Strategies with Potential (Tactical Plans)Action Steps (Work Assignments)


The VisionThe Vision(Your State Tomorrow)(Your State Tomorrow)

Provides a statement of purpose

Presents a picture of your ideal future (independent of the current reality)

Serves as a reference point for all future decisions


Sample Vision StatementSample Vision Statement

We envision a State where every child enjoys optimal oral health; where prevention is emphasized and treatment is available, accessible, affordable, and timely; where parents are involved, providers are engaged, and insurers are responsible; where government is a guarantor of resources, quality, and patient protection; and where the total well-being of the child is promoted.


The Reality AssessmentThe Reality Assessment(Your State Today)(Your State Today)

Requires a review / inventory of:– Key problem issues in your State– Previous policy actions taken to address these

issues– Current political environment

Assesses your strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats

Helps to identify resources at your disposal Provides context for your efforts


Team Priorities/GoalsTeam Priorities/Goals(Gaps)(Gaps)

Areas where you will focus your energy and resources

Likely to be the “gaps” between your vision and the current reality

Form the basis for planning, policy-making, and setting performance standards

May be short-term and/or long-term


Strategies with PotentialStrategies with Potential(Tactical Plans)(Tactical Plans)

Broad-ranging tactics to affect change

Often require statewide or cross-agency efforts

Usually involve the combination of several courses of action

Should be directly related to your priorities/goals


Action StepsAction Steps(Work Assignments)(Work Assignments)

Specific activities undertaken based on your strategy(-ies)

Require action from specific individuals (or entities) Considerations:

– Who is responsible for coordinating each action?– Who is responsible for completing each action?– What resources are required?– What is the timeline?– Who will be affected?– How will success be measured?


Visualizing the Action PlanVisualizing the Action Plan

R ea lity A ssessm en t(Y ou r S ta te Tod ay)

P rio rity/G oa l # 1

A c tion 2 .1 .1 A c tion 2 .1 .2

A c tion 2 .1 .3 A c tion 2 .1 .4

S tra teg y 2 .1

A c tion 2 .2 .1 A c tion 2 .2 .2

A c tion 2 .2 .3

S tra teg y 2 .2

P rio rity/G oa l # 2 P rio rity/G oa l # 3

V is ion(Y ou r S ta te Tom orrow )

Policy Academy for State OfficialsPolicy Academy for State Officials Improving Oral Health Care for Improving Oral Health Care for

ChildrenChildren


The Planning GuideThe Planning Guide


What is the Planning Guide?What is the Planning Guide?

Guidance toolPurpose is to help

your team: – Prepare for the

Academy– Develop your

Action Plan


Academy StagesAcademy Stages

State preparation– Site visits– Homework

Formal Policy AcademyPost-Academy implementation

(and technical assistance)


State PreparationState Preparation(Site Visits)(Site Visits)

Familiarize teams with Action Plan

Discuss Academy format

Ensure teams function

Set teams in motion (homework)


State PreparationState Preparation(Homework)(Homework)

Formalize decision making process

Develop a common vision

Assess current reality Narrow priorities /

goals Develop team

presentation


Working as a TeamWorking as a Team

Choose a LeaderEstablish Tasks, Time Table, and

TimekeeperSelect a ScribeDevelop Team Ground RulesDetermine Decision Making ProcessCheck-In and Check-Out


Team TipsTeam Tips

Try to stay focusedEncourage ideasChallenge your assumptionsHighlight and explore your differencesDifferentiate between what you are totally

committed to and what you can live with


During the AcademyDuring the Academy

Teams “complete” Action Plans– State Presentations– State Delegation

Meetings– Report-Outs

Feedback from faculty and peers


State Team PresentationState Team Presentation

Discuss your initial vision, priorities/goals

Elaborate on key issues and your efforts to address those issues

Emphasize transferable themes and activities

Solicit feedback from faculty and peers


State Delegation MeetingsState Delegation Meetings

Continue developing Action Plan– Reaffirm team vision, priorities/goals– Formulate policy and program strategies– Assign specific action steps based on

strategies (optional)Confer “one-on-one” with faculty,

peers


State Report-OutsState Report-Outs

Outline Action Plan (brief)

Discuss how priorities may have changed (or been reinforced)

Elaborate on immediate next steps

Identify potential technical assistance needs

Solicit feedback from faculty and peers


Following the AcademyFollowing the Academy

Finalize strategies (short- and long-range)Develop specific action stepsImplement the Action Plan

– Agree on a timeline– Develop benchmarks / outcome measures

Report on progressSeek technical assistance as needed


Team ChallengesTeam Challenges

Building team consensus around Action Plan Staying focused Encouraging ideas Challenging assumptions Highlighting/exploring differences Differentiating between what team members are

totally committed to and what they can live with


Team Challenges (cont’d)Team Challenges (cont’d)

Identifying politically feasible strategies Presenting a clear message to influential

policymakers Generating public and political will to support

Action Plan Implementing the Action Plan through executive,

legislative, administrative, and private sector (non-government) processes


NGA Center for Best PracticesNGA Center for Best Practices(www.nga.org/center)(www.nga.org/center)

Robert J. BurnsPolicy Analyst

National Governors AssociationCenter for Best Practices

444 North Capitol Street, Suite 267Washington, DC 20001-1512

(202) 624-7729fax: (202) 624-5313email: [email protected]

national governors’ association center for best practices project overview nga policy academy...

Documents

action plan slide

change slide

event slide

purpose policy initiative

policy forums

future decisions slide

motion homework slide

academy format