Public Health Policy: Issues, Theories, and Advocacy offers students an engaging and innovative introduction to public health policy: its purpose, how it is originated, and how it is implemented. The book describes the underlying theories and frameworks as well as practical analytical tools needed for effective advocacy and communication. Drawing on the multidisciplinary nature of public health, the book uses concepts and examples from epidemiology, law, economics, political science, and ethics to examine the policymaking process, explain positions pro or con, and develop materials for various audiences to further a public health policy intervention. In addition, Public Health Policy shows how policymaking is a complex and integrated top-down and bottoms-up process that embraces a myriad of public and private stakeholders. Written by a highly experienced health policy researcher and teacher, the book is rich in resources that will enhance teaching and learning. Each chapter begins with an overview of the chapter, including core terms and concepts, and includes illustrative examples of how the highlighted component (law, ethics, economics, politics, epidemiology, and medicine) intersects with public health. Discussion questions at the end of every chapter, along with an interview from an expert from each of the component fields, give real-world perspectives on how that particular subject relates to the overall topic. The book also contains 13 case studies that illustrate the framework discussed in the first part of the book, and show how the different components link to create, sustain, evaluate, or obstruct the development of public health policy. Also included are primers on two essential policy tools: how to write research policy briefs, and how to craft effective letters to an editor, including examples of both drawn from the author's publications in journals and newspapers.

Public Health Policy: Issues, Theories, and Advocacyoffers students an engaging and innovative introduction to publichealth policy: its purpose, how it is originated, and how it isimplemented. The book describes the underlying theories andframeworks as well as practical analytical tools needed foreffective advocacy and communication. Drawing on themultidisciplinary nature of public health, the book uses conceptsand examples from epidemiology, law, economics, political scienceand ethics to examine the policymaking process, explain positionspro or con, and develop materials for various audiences to furthera public health policy intervention. In addition, Public HealthPolicy shows how policymaking is a complex and integratedtop-down and bottoms-up process that embraces a myriad of publicand private stakeholders.Written by a highly experienced health policy researcher andteacher, the book is rich in resources that will enhance teachingand learning. Each chapter begins with an overview of the chapterincluding core terms and concepts, and includes illustrativeexamples of how the highlighted component (law, ethics, economicspolitics, epidemiology, and medicine) intersects with publichealth. Discussion questions at the end of every chapter, alongwith an interview from an expert from each of the component fieldsgive real-world perspectives on how that particular subject relatesto the overall topic. The book also contains 13 case studies thatillustrate the framework discussed in the first part of the bookand show how the different components link to create, sustainevaluate, or obstruct the development of public health policy. Alsoincluded are primers on two essential policy tools: how to writeresearch policy briefs, and how to craft effective letters to aneditor, including examples of both drawn from the author'spublications in journals and newspapers.

Introduction viiThe Author xvPart 1 Building a Framework for Conducting a Multidisciplinary AnalysisChapter 1 The Role of Law: Agencies, Legislatures, Courts, and the Constitution 3Chapter 2 The Role of Epidemiology and Medicine: Diagnosis, Prevention, Control, and Evaluation 45Chapter 3 The Role of Economics: Theories, Modeling, and Evaluation 77Chapter 4 The Role of Politics: Players, Processes, and Power 99Chapter 5 The Role of Ethics: Historical, Contemporary, and Future Perspectives 141Part 2 Case StudiesChapter 6 HIV Criminalization 181Chapter 7 Clean Water Legislation and Mosquito Control 201Chapter 8 HPV Vaccination 213Chapter 9 SCHIP and Children with Special Health Care Needs 245Chapter 10 Overweight and Obesity 265Chapter 11 Breast Cancer Screening 285Chapter 12 Medical Transportation: Local Research Focus 295Chapter 13 Medical Transportation: Local Practice Focus 307Chapter 14 Taxes, Politics, and Public Health Policy: A Look Back at the 2008 Presidential Campaign 327Chapter 15 Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and Modifying Behavior 353Chapter 16 Medical Readmissions and the Affordable Care Act 365Chapter 17 Tobacco Control and Cessation Programs 389Chapter 18 Emergency Preparedness and Infectious Diseases 403Part 3 AdvocacyChapter 19 The Research Policy Brief: A Primer 429Chapter 20 Letters to the Editor: A Primer 467Index 475