Word Count: 900-1,300 References: APA style, you should have at least 5 sources

Word Count: 900-1,300 References: APA style, you should have at least 5 sources Details: Decide on a health issue: This could be anything you would like, I strongly encourage you to not repeat a health issue you have already focused on or one you are planning to cover for your final project. Explore the policies that have been written on this health issue: These can be at the federal, state, or local levels. There are countless health policies from smoking bans, cannabis legalization, abortion restrictions, “Don’t say gay” law in schools in some states, to zoning laws on grocery stores in redlined districts. How can you find these laws? Try Lexis+ (https://research.lib.buffalo.edu/az.php?q=legal), LexisNexis (https://research.lib.buffalo.edu/az.php?q=legal), US Courts.gov (https://www.uscourts.gov/court-records/find-case-pacer#:~:text=Locate%20a%20federal%20court%20case,where%20the%20case%20was%20filed) Research: Look up the state/county health department and see if you can learn anything more about health outcome differences before and after the policy went into effect. Sometimes there are academic articles on this: https://doi.org/10.1177/1557988316675251 Make a recommendation: What health policy changes would you recommend? Think deeply about how policy could be used to alleviate disparate health outcomes between populations. Make sure to specify if this would be an ideal policy at the federal, state, or local level. If you have an example of it working effectively in another location that would be ideal but often these can be hard to find. Critically consider health implications: What health implications are likely to be seen by populations based on what health policies are in their federal, state, or local level? Why do we need to focus on policy when we consider social determinants of health. Think back to the ecological model and how that might be a factor here. Writing: You can write this as a traditional paper or you could try to write it as a policy brief instead. This guide may help you understand how to write a policy brief: https://www.cdc.gov/policy/polaris/training/writing-briefs/index.html – I think of them as a 2-page crossover between an infograph and a quick paper. They should have simple language, references, sign-posting of main points, and visual aids. They are intended to be digested by legislators while they are walking from their office to vote on an issue. Goal: Evaluate why policies are important part of public health and how we can impact them. Note: You may include an appendix with any relevant information you find on policies: charts, tables, policy briefs, etc.