Health Policy Brief
NURS: 412 Ethics Policy Economics
Purpose of this Assignment: The purpose of this assignment is for the student to develop advocacy skills. The student will explore a health policy topic from a variety of perspectives, using this information as a foundation for policy development and advocacy. This assignment is designed to help you work in a group to prepare a policy brief which will be sent to a legislator. The assignment engages you in learning about an issue and to accurately – and in a non-biased fashion — identify the policy and political issues that are central to that topic.
Student Approach to Assignment: My group and I approached this assignment by choosing a health policy we all considered very important. We ended up going with H.R. 7394 – Mental and Behavioral Health Workforce Development bill. This bill focuses on expanding the number of mental and behavioral health professionals in underserved and high-need communities. We submitted a policy recommendation to support and advance H.R. 7394 to Representative Bobby Scott.
Reason for Inclusion of the Assignment in the Portfolio: I included this in my portfolio because it shows my ability to think beyond the bedside and address a broader healthcare issue. It also showcases my commitment to advocating for underserved populations and their access to care.
Domain 9 Professionalism
- End of program learning outcome 42: Advocates for professional standards of practice using organizational and political processes. (Domain 9) (9.3, 9.4, 9.6)
- Our health policy brief on mental and behavioral health in the workforce was submitted to Representative Bobby Scott. We proposed a policy-level change to expand access to care, improve community mental health services, and promote equitable health outcomes for vulnerable populations.