This presentation provides an overview of the PolicyOptions.org initiative, with a focus on campuses starting local bureaus.

1. The Bonner Program:
Public Policy CBR
“Access to Education,
Opportunity to Serve”
A program of:
The Corella & Bertram Bonner Foundation
10 Mercer Street, Princeton, NJ 08540
(609) 924-6663 • (609) 683-4626 fax
For more information, please visit our website at www.bonner.org

2. Public Policy CBR:
Overview
• Context for Public Policy Focus
• Strategy I — Issue Briefs
• Strategy II — Web Site
• Resources
www.bonner.org

3. Public Policy CBR:
Types of Questions
Plan Decide
• Needs & Asset • Model Programs
Assessment • Policy Options
• Issue Analysis • Resources
Evaluate
• Program Evaluation Implement
• On-Going Data (direct service)
Collection
www.bonner.org

4. Public Policy CBR:
Types of Questions — Policy Emphasis
Plan Decide
• Needs & Asset • Model Programs
Assessment • Policy Options
• Issue Analysis • Resources
Evaluate
• Program Evaluation Implement
• On-Going Data (direct service)
Collection
www.bonner.org

5. Public Policy CBR:
Research Informs Community Action
Direct Service
Capacity
Action Convening
Building
Issue Forums & Training & Strategic
Working Groups Planning
Campus
Local
Research Issue Briefs PolicyOptions.org
website
Community-
Based
Research
www.bonner.org

6. Public Policy CBR:
Research Informs Community Action - Policy Focus
Direct Service
Capacity
Action Convening
Building
Issue Forums & Training & Strategic
Working Groups Planning
Campus
Local
Research Issue Briefs PolicyOptions.org
website
Community-
Based
Research
www.bonner.org

7. Public Policy CBR:
Student Learning — Civic Engagement Knowledge
• Public Policy: structure and roles of government, ways to be
involved in shaping public policy, and analyzing the implications of
governmental policies
• Poverty: roots and conditions of poverty, implications, and
possible solutions
• International perspective and issues: distribution of
wealth, health care, environmental concern
• Issue-based knowledge: connected to direct service areas,
such as of homelessness or hunger or education
• Place-based knowledge: connected to the place where the
student is serving, such as knowledge of local context, history,
economics, politics, and issues
• Diversity: understanding of issues of race, class, gender, culture,
identity and belonging, and so on
www.bonner.org

8. Public Policy CBR:
Civic Engagement Knowledge — Policy Focus
• Public Policy: structure and roles of government, ways to be
involved in shaping public policy, and analyzing the implications of
governmental policies
• Poverty: roots and conditions of poverty, implications, and
possible solutions
• International perspective and issues: distribution of
wealth, health care, environmental concern
• Issue-based knowledge: connected to direct service areas,
such as of homelessness or hunger or education
• Place-based knowledge: connected to the place where the
student is serving, such as knowledge of local context, history,
economics, politics, and issues
• Diversity: understanding of issues of race, class, gender, culture,
identity and belonging, and so on
www.bonner.org

9. Public Policy CBR:
Need for Policy-Related Information
• Practioners
- Too busy to keep up with information
overload
- Need practical information in digest form
• Policymakers
- Need brief, up-to-date, and objective policy
analysis
• Citizens/Students
- Educate and inform
- Provide context for community service
www.bonner.org

10. PolicyOptions Issue Briefs:
Fundamental Questions
• What is the nature & extent of the problem?
• What’s been tried in the past to address it?
• What’s being done now?
• What are the alternative approaches?
www.bonner.org

11. PolicyOptions Issue Briefs:
Issue Brief Template
1. Goal Statement
2. Scope of the Problem
3. Past Policy
4. Current Policy
5. Policy Options / Program Models
6. Key Organizations, Programs & People
7. Glossary of Terms
8. Bibliography
www.bonner.org

12. PolicyOptions Issue Briefs:
Descriptive Questions
1. Goal Statement
2. Scope of the Problem (needs assessment)
3. Past Policy (legislation, funding & other milestones)
4. Current Policy (legislation, funding & other assets)
5. Policy Options / Program Models
6. Key Organizations, Programs & People
7. Glossary of Terms
8. Bibliography (literature review, websites, etc.)
www.bonner.org

13. PolicyOptions Issue Briefs:
Analytical Question
1. Goal Statement
2. Scope of the Problem
3. Past Policy
4. Current Policy
5. Policy Options / Program Models
6. Key Organizations, Programs & People
7. Glossary of Terms
8. Bibliography
www.bonner.org

14. PolicyOptions Issue Briefs:
Policy Options — Use Planning Tree Format
Goal
Category Category Category
Option 1 Option 2 Option 3
Option 1A Option 1B Option 2A Option 3A Option 3B
www.bonner.org

15. PolicyOptions Issue Briefs:
Policy Options Planning Tree — Example
Treatment of Violence in Schools
Informal Treatment:
Formal Treatment: Combination:
School & Community-
Criminal Justice-Based Retributive Justice
Based
Non-Punitive
Programs: Punitive Programs:
Combination
Developmental Socialization Deterrent Socialization
Custodial Non-Custodial
Punishment: Punishment:
Remove from Community Remain in Community
www.bonner.org

16. PolicyOptions Issue Briefs:
Example — Treatment of Violence in Schools
Informal Treatment:
Formal Treatment: Combination:
School & Community-
Criminal Justice-Based Retributive Justice
Based
Non-Punitive Programs:
Punitive Programs:
Developmental Combination
Deterrent Socialization
Socialization
Non-Custodial
Custodial Punishment:
Punishment:
Remove from Community
Remain in Community
Adult Incarceration: Youth Incarceration: Imposition: Sanction:
Imprision with Youth Detention Limited Loss of Require a Remedial
Adults Ctrs Freedom Action
www.bonner.org

17. PolicyOptions Issue Briefs:
Example — Treatment of Violence in Schools
Informal Treatment:
Formal Treatment: Combination:
School & Community-
Criminal Justice-Based Retributive Justice
Based
Non-Punitive
Punitive Programs:
Programs: Combination
Deterrent Socialization
Developmental Socialization
Custodial Non-Custodial
Punishment: Punishment:
Remove from Community Remain in Community
Adult Youth Imposition: Sanction:
Incarceration: Incarceration: Limited Loss of Require a Remedial
Imprision with Adults Youth Detention Freedom Action
www.bonner.org

18. PolicyOptions Issue Briefs:
Example — Treatment of Violence in Schools
Informal Treatment:
Formal Treatment: Combination:
School & Community-
Criminal Justice-Based Retributive Justice
Based
Non-Punitive
Programs:
Punitive Programs:
Combination
Developmental Socialization Deterrent Socialization
Custodial Non-Custodial
Punishment: Punishment:
Remove from Community Remain in Community
Adult Youth Imposition: Sanction:
Incarceration: Incarceration: Limited Loss of Require a Remedial
Imprision with Adults Youth Detention Freedom Action
www.bonner.org

19. PolicyOptions Issue Briefs:
Example — Treatment of Violence in Schools
Informal Treatment:
Formal Treatment: Combination:
School & Community-
Criminal Justice-Based Retributive Justice
Based
Non-Punitive
Programs:
Punitive Programs:
Combination
Developmental Socialization Deterrent Socialization
Custodial Non-Custodial
Punishment: Punishment:
Remove from Community Remain in Community
Adult Youth Imposition: Sanction:
Incarceration: Incarceration: Limited Loss of Require a Remedial
Imprision with Adults Youth Detention Ctr Freedom Action
www.bonner.org

20. PolicyOptions Issue Briefs:
Example — Treatment of Violence in Schools
Informal Treatment:
Formal Treatment: Combination:
School & Community-
Criminal Justice-Based Retributive Justice
Based
Indirect Treatment: Direct Treatment:
Parent Focus
Combination
Student Focus
In-School Out-of-School
Treatment: Treatment:
School Supervised Non-School Supervised
www.bonner.org

21. PolicyOptions Issue Briefs:
Example — Treatment of Violence in Schools
Informal Treatment:
Formal Treatment: Combination:
School & Community-
Criminal Justice-Based Retributive Justice
Based
Indirect Treatment: Direct Treatment:
Parent Focus
Combination
Student Focus
Out-of-School
In-School Treatment:
Treatment:
School Supervised
Non-School Supervised
www.bonner.org

22. PolicyOptions Issue Briefs:
Example — Treatment of Violence in Schools
Informal Treatment:
Formal Treatment: Combination:
School & Community-
Criminal Justice-Based Retributive Justice
Based
Indirect Treatment: Direct Treatment:
Parent Focus
Combination
Student Focus
Out-of-School
In-School Treatment:
Treatment:
School Supervised
Non-School Supervised
www.bonner.org

23. PolicyOptions Issue Briefs:
Uses
• Planning
- Provide access to policy options & program
models to support informed decision-making
• Issue Forums
- Provide background issue briefs to inform
community dialogue
• Leadership Training
- Educate students and others who work on
issues
www.bonner.org

24. PolicyOptions Issue Briefs:
How to Organize
• Seek policy topics from public sector
partners & advocacy groups, too
- Government agencies & part-time state
legislatures often don’t have research capacity
• Incorporate into class assignment
- Graduate or undergraduate students who
research particular issue
- Receive academic credit and opportunity to
publish their research
• Develop academic internship with faculty
guidance
www.bonner.org

25. PolicyOptions Issue Briefs:
Collaborative Research — PolicyOptionsWiki.org
www.bonner.org

26. PolicyOptions Issue Briefs:
PolicyOptionsWiki.org — Hunger Example
www.bonner.org

27. PolicyOptions Issue Briefs:
PolicyOptionsWiki.org — Leverages Network
Local or state issue briefs incorporate existing policy options research.
ISSUE BRIEF Local State National Global
Scope of the Problem
Past Policy &
Milestones
Current Policy
Policy Options
Program Models
Key Organizations
Glossary of Terms
www.bonner.org

28. PolicyOptions.org Web Site:
Need for Community Research Portal
• Information sources fragmented
- Time consuming to find relevant local, state,
and national information
- No clearinghouse or portal for policy news
• Collaborative opportunities missed
- Organizations do not know what other
organizations are doing
• CBR papers not disseminated widely
- Broader impact of research not realized
www.bonner.org

29. PolicyOptions.org Web Site:
Solution — Information Sharing via the Web & Email
www.bonner.org

30. PolicyOptions.org Web Site:
Content Areas
• News
- Funding - Reports
- Legislation - Meetings
- Regulations - People
• Research
- Policy Options & Issue Briefs
- Key Organizations, Programs & People
- Data Sources
• Resources
- Websites
- Training Opportunities
- Publications
www.bonner.org

31. PolicyOptions.org Web Site:
Web-Based Database
www.bonner.org

32. PolicyOptions.org Web Site:
Data Entry Form
www.bonner.org

33. PolicyOptions.org Web Site:
Web-Based Editorial Management
www.bonner.org

34. PolicyOptions.org Web Site:
Workflow
Publish in...
Email
News &
News
Research
Reporters Digest
Enter
(using Policy
Collect Options.org
Resources Website
website)
Issue
Issue
Policy Analysts Briefs
Briefs
(using wiki)
www.bonner.org

35. PolicyOptions.org Web Site:
Goal — National Affiliate Network
USA
Alaska New Jersey Virginia
Anchorage, AK Trenton, NJ Lynchburg, VA
www.bonner.org

36. PolicyOptions.org Web Site:
National Affiliate Network — Shared Platform
Local Sites
AK NJ VA CA
National Site
PolicyOptions.org
www.bonner.org

37. PolicyOptions.org Web Site:
Start-Up Steps
• Initial Scan
- Profile organizations & individuals (local, county,
state) as sources of information
- Research broadly focused issue briefs to determine
scope of the problem, current policies, & programs
- If possible, meet and interview key staff
• Issue Briefs
- Begin with topics selected by community agencies
• Daily Scan
- Establish process for on-going data input
www.bonner.org

38. Community Based-Research Center:
Staffing Model
Community-Based Advisory
Research Director Board
CBR & Policy Maintain local
Research PolicyOptions.org website
Work Study
Students in Graduate School
& Bonner
CBR/SL Courses Students
Students
www.bonner.org

39. PolicyOptions.org:
Organizer’s Blog
www.bonner.org

40. Public Policy CBR:
Resources
• Blog — www.policyoptions.org
• Project Management: bonner.grouphub.org
• Start-Up Guides on Issue Briefs & Website
• Website hosting provided centrally
• Networking with other local/state bureaus
www.bonner.org