Public Health Policy and Advocacy Center

In January 2007, the Board of Directors of The Medical Foundation (TMF ) established the Public Health Policy and Advocacy Center (The Policy Center) through TMF’s Community Health Division. The Policy Center’s goal is to tie research and action into new policy initiatives. It will distinguish itself by partnering with organizational and community leaders, governmental partners, researchers and policy makers to advocate for evidence-based policies and practices that serve to promote health in Massachusetts as well as in the New England region by:

Laurie Stillman, Policy Center Director, speaks with children and federal officials about the importance of reducing diesel emissions from school buses, which can precipitate asthma attacks.

• Identifying public health challenges that can benefit from a greater policy or advocacy focus
• Raising awareness and building support for health policies and best practices by publishing Issue Briefs
• Promoting evidence-based practices that support prevention and community health
• Serving as a neutral convener to move health issues forward
• Mobilizing community leaders to develop policy solutions to public and environmental health problems
• Providing public health leadership or technical capacity when governmental agencies’ or non-governmental organizations’ own internal resources may benefit by outside support
• Training and supporting governmental officials to become more effective public health leaders
• Training and organizing community partners to be more effective public health advocates
• Media Advocacy

The Policy Center has experience and interest in addressing:

• Promoting and financing prevention in the context of health reform efforts
• Chronic disease prevention and management
• Infectious diseases
• Environmental health (indoor and outdoor exposures as well as built environment)
• Promoting wellness
• Epidemiology
• Health disparities
• Women's health
• Health care financing
• Mental/Behavioral Health and Substance Abuse
• Tobacco Control
• Injury Prevention
• Youth risk behaviors
• Communications and media strategies
• AND many other public health issues
  
  In addition, the Policy Center draws on the significant and varied expertise of The Medical Foundation, including program assessment, leadership training, health communications, community organizing and youth development.
  
  For more information:
  Laurie Stillman, Director
  Public Health Policy and Advocacy Center