The National Collaborating Centre for Methods and Tools is excited to present a two-part webinar featuring the Policy Readiness Tool Part 1: Overview of the Policy Readiness Tool (ALSO ON YOUTUBE: https://youtu.be/FPzViyniKDQ) Learn how the Policy Readiness Tool was developed and how to use the tool in your practice. (Part 2 is available here: http://www.slideshare.net/NCCMT/nccmt-webinar-policy-readiness-tool-part-2) A summary statement of this tool developed by NCCMT is available here: http://www.nccmt.ca/registry/view/eng/144.html Presented by the National Collaborating Centre for Methods and Tools (NCCMT) with guests: Candace Nykiforuk, PhD, CE, Associate Professor, School of Public Health, University of Alberta; CIHR/PHAC/AIHS Applied Public Health Chair and Kayla Atkey, MSc, Policy Analyst, Alberta Policy Coalition for Chronic Disease Prevention (APCCP) NCCMT is one of six NCCs for Public Health in Canada. More on the NCCs at www.nccph.ca. Production of this webinar has been made possible through a financial contribution from the Public Health Agency of Canada. The views expressed herein do not necessarily represent the views of the Public Health Agency of Canada.

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Funded by the Public Health Agency of Canada | Affiliated with McMaster University
Production of this presentation has been made possible through a financial contribution from the Public Health Agency of Canada. The
views expressed here do not necessarily reflect the views of the Public Health Agency of Canada..
NCCMT Spotlight on KT Methods & Tools:
Overview of the Policy Readiness Tool
Advisors on Tap:
Candace Nykiforuk, PhD, CE
September 17, 2015 1:00 – 2:30 PM ET

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Housekeeping
2

3. Poll Question #1
Where are you from?
1. BC
2. AB
3. SK
4. MB
5. ON
6. QC
7. NB
8. NS
9. PEI
10. NL
11. YK
11. NWT
12. NU
13. Outside
Canada
3

4. Poll Question #2
What sector are you from?
1. Public Health Practitioner
2. Health Practitioner (Other)
3. Education
4. Research
5. Provincial/Territorial/Government/Ministry
6. Municipality
7. Policy Analyst (NGO, etc.)
8. Other
4

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Your profession?
Put a √ on your answer (or RSVP via email)
/
Epidemiologist Management (director,
supervisor, etc.)
Allied health
professionals (nurse,
dietician, dental
hygenist, etc.)
Librarian Physician / Dentist Other
5

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Overview of the
Policy Readiness Tool
Episode 18
6

7. NCC
Infectious
Diseases
Winnipeg, MB NCC
Methods
and Tools
Hamilton, ON
NCC Healthy
Public Policy
Montreal, QC
NCC
Determinants
of Health
Antigonish, NS
NCC
Aboriginal
Health
Prince George, BC
NCC
Environmental
Health
Vancouver, BC
7

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National Collaborating Centre for
Methods and Tools
• dedicated to improving access to, and use of,
methods and tools that support moving
research evidence into decisions related to
public health practice, programs, and policy in
Canada.
8

9. Registry of Methods and Tools
Online Learning
Opportunities
WorkshopsMultimedia
Public Health+
Networking and
Outreach
NCCMT Products and Services
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Candace Nykiforuk, PhD, CE is
an Associate Professor in the
School of Public Health,
University of Alberta and
CIHR/PHAC/AIHS Applied Public
Health Chair
Advisor on Tap
10

11. Overview of the Policy
Readiness Tool
Presented by:
Dr. Candace Nykiforuk
CIHR/PHAC/AI-HS Applied Public Health Chair
Associate Professor, School of Public Health
11

12. Poll Question #3
In what ways is policy part of your work
or setting?
1. I participate in policy advocacy (formally or informally).
2. I help to find evidence / build the case for new policies.
3. I contribute to policy development.
4. I am responsible for policy implementation.
5. I monitor or evaluate policy effectiveness.
6. I am interested in policy, but do not have an active role.
7. Policy is not part of my work / applicable to my setting.
8. Other.
12

13. Poll Question #4
How would you rate your capacity to
support or influence the policy process
in your community or setting?
A. High
B. Medium
C. Low
D. Not Sure
13

14. 14

15. Overview: Policy Readiness Tool
• An evidence-based tool to help foster the
development of healthy public policy
• Intent is to make participating in policy change more
accessible to non-experts and experts
- E.g., Policy Developers, Advocates, Community Organizations,
Non-profit Sector Staff and Volunteers, Government Employees,
Community Members
- Simple to use and not restricted to health policies
- Available in English and French
15

16. Overview: Policy Readiness Tool
• The policy process is dynamic and can be intimidating,
especially if dealing with a new issue or a new setting
- Tool offers a “place to start”
- Helps the user identify a community or organization’s relative
readiness for a policy
- Based on level of readiness provides evidence-based strategies
known to work with different levels of readiness
• Provides targeted strategies to help navigate what can be
a convoluted policy process
- Especially for those new to advocacy or policy development, or
who are working with an unfamiliar issue 16

17. So What is the Policy Readiness Tool?
• A simple self-administered tool that:
1. Assesses readiness for policy change using a simple, self-
administered checklist
2. Provides targeted, evidence-based policy change strategies for
taking action (based on level of readiness)
3. Recommends general evidence-based resources to foster
healthy public policy
Readiness = relative tolerance for risk for a new policy
It is NOT static & can be different from issue to issue
17

18. Why is Healthy Public Policy Important?
• Healthy Public Policy: any policy that improves
overall health and seeks to increase individual and
community control over the determinants of health
• Building healthy public policy is a key health
promotion strategy (Ottawa Charter)
- Clearest evidence of effective health interventions is consistently
linked to policy
18

19. To build healthier communities…
…local organizations, skilled and lay advocates, and
others must be involved in the process of policy change
To support this, we need to:
- address barriers to local
participation in public policy
- increase local capacity for policy
change
19

20. The Evidence Tells Us…
• Municipalities (and organizations) learn policy
responses from the experiences of similar
communities (and organizations)
• Despite practice-based knowledge on how
municipalities learn from one another, there is limited
best practice research on municipal policy diffusion
• Practitioners value tools and best practices that help
them influence the policy process in their own setting
20

21. Development of the Tool
• Emerged out of a research program on municipal policy
development & diffusion in tobacco control
21

22. Municipal Tobacco Bylaws & Community Characteristics
(Nykiforuk, NCIC: 2001-2002)
Diffusion of Municipal Tobacco Policy in Two Provinces
(Nykiforuk, CIHR-STPTR: 2004-2005)
National Survey of School Smoking
Policies & Tobacco Use
(PI: Lovato, CTCRI: 2005-06)
Smoke-free Spaces Knowledge
Synthesis
(PI: Nykiforuk, CTCRI: 2005-06)
Ecological Policy Environment of
Smoke-free Spaces
(PI: Nykiforuk, OTRU: 2007-08)
Alberta Policy Coalition for Chronic Disease
Prevention
(PIs: Raine,Nykiforuk, ACB-PHII: 2009-11; HSFC
2011-present; CPAC 2013-2016)
- KAB of Policy Influencers re: Healthy Public
Policy for Prevention
- Policy Readiness Tool Development
Pilot Evaluation of Policy Readiness Tool
(PI: Nykiforuk, UA-Killam 2012-2013)
Policy Readiness Tool Dissemination Grant
(PI: Nykiforuk, CIHR 2014-2016)

23. Development of the Tool
• Emerged out of research program on municipal policy
development & diffusion in tobacco control
• The Policy Readiness Tool employs Rogers’ “diffusion of
innovations theory” to make participating in policy
change more accessible
23

24. Diffusion of Innovations
= a theory that is used to examine how
something new spreads from
place to place over time 24

25. Development of the Tool
• Emerged out of research program on municipal policy
development & diffusion in tobacco control
• The Policy Readiness Tool employs Rogers’ “diffusion of
innovations theory” to make participating in policy
change more accessible
• Level of innovation: the degree to which an adopter is
relatively earlier or later in taking up new ideas than
other members of a system
25

26. Understanding Level of Innovation
• Past work on smoke-free spaces bylaws revealed
common patterns of municipal policy behaviour
• Key findings:
– Initial adopters were often the first to amend or strengthen
bylaws over time - “Initiators” reprise their roles as issue
evolved
– Municipal decision-makers followed familiar patterns of
policy making within their network
– Different types of “adopter characteristics” were suggestive
of a municipality’s bylaw readiness relative to others in the
same policy context 26

27. Development of the Tool (2011)
• Phase 1: Development of a pilot tool
• Phase 2: Tested the tool with municipal
representatives across Alberta (24 communities)
• Phase 3: Lit review, environmental scan, and key
informant interviews with experts working in policy
– To collect evidence-based and best practice strategies on
development / implementation of healthy public policy
27

28. Policy Readiness Tool – Key Partners
• Expert advice provided by the Provincial Advisory
Group of the Alberta Policy Coalition for Chronic
Disease Prevention (APCCP)
- Included policy developers and advocates, practitioners,
community organizations, and researchers representing 15
different organizations across Alberta
The APCCP works together to coordinate efforts, generate
evidence and advocate for policy change in order to reduce
chronic disease in Alberta.
http://www.abpolicycoalitionforprevention.ca/
28

29. So What is the Policy Readiness Tool?
A simple self-administered tool that:
1. Assesses readiness for policy change using a
simple, self-administered checklist
29

30. 30

31. “Readiness” Categories
• Use of 3 categories eases applicability for
practitioners:
– Innovators
– Majority
– Late Adopters
• Enables users to apply the tool in a variety of
contexts
Readiness = relative tolerance for risk for a new policy
It is NOT static & can be different from issue to issue 31

32. “Readiness” Categories - Caveats
• Not a value judgment about a community or organization
There is no good or bad adopter category!
• Instead, the Tool offers an efficient way to select
appropriate strategies to support policy development in a
particular context
Not a one-size-fits-all solution, but a place to start!
32

33. So What is the Policy Readiness Tool?
A simple self-administered tool that:
1. Assesses readiness for policy change using a
simple, self-administered checklist
2. Provides targeted, evidence-based policy
change strategies for taking action (based on
level of readiness)
We’re
coming
back to
this! 33

34. 34

35. So What is the Policy Readiness Tool?
A simple self-administered tool that:
1. Assesses readiness for policy change using
a simple, self-administered checklist
2. Provides targeted, evidence-based policy
change strategies for taking action (based on
level of readiness)
3. Recommends general evidence-based
resources to foster healthy public policy
35

36. 36

37. Who Can Use the Tool?
Anyone interested in encouraging healthy public
policy development:
 Policy developers
 Advocates
 Community organizations
 Non-profit sector staff and volunteers
 Government employees
 Community members / general public
 Researchers
Available in English and French
37

38. What Kinds of Policies Can the Tool be Used With?
• Designed to encourage and support healthy public policies in
general, for example:
 Smoke-free public spaces regulations
 Injury prevention (e.g., helmet bylaws)
 Nutrition policies (e.g., in schools or recreation facilities)
 Social planning policies
 Location/implementation of new green spaces or facilities
 Etc., etc.
• Created with municipalities in mind, but can be used with
other types of governing bodies (e.g., organizations, schools,
school boards) 38

39. Using the Policy Readiness Tool
• Complete the short checklist found online
http://policyreadinesstool.com/the-tool/start-the-tool/
• Choose the ‘closest’ description (A, B, or C) in
each row that describes a characteristic (there are
11 rows)
• Your result will be provided when you click
‘finish’ and link you to strategies for the adopter
category most appropriate
Let’s try it together…
39

40. Take a moment and think about a community you are familiar with,
and consider the 5 questions below:
Choose the closest response, then tally your total As, Bs, and Cs (at your desk)…
…We will ask for your response on the next slide.
40

41. Poll Question #5
Based on your responses to the 5
questions on the last slide:
1. Mostly A’s
2. Mostly B’s
3. Mostly C’s
41

42. Using the Policy Readiness Tool:
“Adopter Categories”
42

43. Adopter Category Descriptions
• Mostly As: Innovators are described as
“adventurous” and often serve as initiators or role
models within their social networks
• Mostly Bs: The Majority are described as “deliberate”
because they require time to consider the evidence and
determine whether to adopt a new policy
• Mostly Cs: Late Adopters are described as
“traditional” and may be skeptical of new ideas (without
substantial evidence) or eager to maintain the status quo

44. Mostly As: Innovators
• Are described as “adventurous” and often serve as
initiators or role models within their social networks
- Attracted by high-reward initiatives and are “risk-takers”
- Can cope with elevated levels of uncertainty associated
with the new policy
- Typically willing to cope with initial problems & able to
identify solutions to these problems
44

45. 45

46. Mostly Bs: The Majority
• Are described as “deliberate” because they require
time to consider the evidence and determine
whether to adopt a new policy
- Seldom lead the pack
- Is often of the philosophy that it is better to change as a
group than to be one of the first to change
- Tends to adopt policies at about the same time as the
average adopter
46

47. 47

48. Mostly Cs: Late Adopters
• Are described as “traditional” and may be skeptical
of new ideas (without substantial evidence) or eager
to maintain the status quo
- Usually wait until the majority of others have adopted a
policy
- May need to be pressured into policy adoption
- May never adopt the policy unless required to
48

49. 49

50. Reminder: Category Caveats
• Not a value judgment about a community or organization
There is no good or bad adopter category!
• Instead, the Tool offers an efficient way to select
appropriate strategies to support policy development in a
particular context
Not a one-size-fits-all solution, but a place to start!
50

51. Lessons from Practice so Far…
• Successful diffusion depends on interaction between the
adopter groups over time and place
- e.g., A critical mass of bylaws can lead to provincial policy
• Supports action and advocacy:
- Find sound innovations & support innovators
- Make innovator activity observable (visible!)
• Understanding policy adoption trends is useful for:
- Refining policy strategies
- Responding to changes in policy context
- Informing new policies or policy development in other
jurisdictions
51

52. Applying the Tool: Strengths
Increasing Local Capacity for Policy Change
1) Builds personal and community level capacity
 Increase knowledge, skills & leadership
2) Addresses the resource capacity issues of advocates
and organizations
 Focus on effective use of limited resources via tailored strategies
3) Builds knowledge through intersectoral collaboration
 Encourage those from different sectors to consider new policy
change strategies 52

53. Applying the Tool: Limitations
• Diffusion theory is uni-directional, time-specific, and
linear
- Static instrument explaining a dynamic process, which may still
be ongoing at time of “readiness” assessment
• Most applicable to simple (single issue) and straight-
forward cases of policy change
• Caveat - users must remain flexible and leave room to
act on the unexpected!
53

54. Examples of Community Products & Outcomes
• Policy Readiness Tool (English and French) (~1200
downloads since early 2012)
• General Strategies for Policy Change (English & French)
• Profiles is:
• ‘Registry of Methods and Tools’ on National Collaborating Centre for
Methods and Tools website
• ‘Prevention Policies Directory’ on the Canadian Partnership Against
Cancer’s website
• ‘Practice-based Evidence in Nutrition’ through Dietitians of Canada
• Requests for specific uses all across Canada (e.g., using the
Tool to identify municipalities to work with for research around
healthy eating policies in recreation facilities) 54

55. What’s Happening Now
• New website:
• Online completion of the questionnaire component
• Resources and strategies always being updated
• Evaluation of the new website (online survey and
interviews)
• Working to adopt the Tool specifically for use in
school settings
• Connecting people interested in healthy public policy
change
55

56. Join us in the conversation!
56

57. Upcoming Webinar
• Thursday, October 1, 2015 (1:00-2:30pm EST)
• Using the Policy Readiness Tool in Public Health
• Advisors on Tap:
• Kayla Atkey, Alberta Policy Coalition for Chronic Disease
Prevention
• Cathy Gladwin, Injury Prevention Centre, University of Alberta
• Sherry Jarvis, Applied Research Collaborations, Dalhouise
University
• Shandy Reed, Alberta School Employee Benefit Plan
57

58. Acknowledgements
The team would like to thank members of the Alberta Policy
Coalition for Chronic Disease Prevention (APCCP) for their
expertise and feedback in the development of the Policy
Readiness Tool.
Financial Support:
* Diffusion work was funded by a CIHR Strategic Training Program in
Tobacco Research Fellowship (2004-2005).
* PRT development supported by the APCCP (2009-2011), which was
funded by Alberta Cancer Prevention Legacy Fund (Alberta Health
Services).
* PRT pilot evaluation funded by Killam Trust Fund, University of Alberta
(2012).
* PRT dissemination grant funded by CIHR (2014-2015) 58

59. 59

60. Dr. Candace Nykiforuk
Associate Professor, School of Public Health, University of Alberta
CIHR/PHAC/AI-HS Applied Public Health Chair
E: candace.nykiforuk@ualberta.ca
www.policyreadinesstool.com
E: prt.info@ualberta.ca
For more information or conversation:
60

61. Poll Question #6
What are your next steps? I plan to …
A. access the Policy Readiness Tool.
B. read the NCCMT summary of the Policy
Readiness Tool.
C. consider using the Policy Readiness Tool.
D. tell a colleague about the Policy Readiness
Tool.
61

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• Use Q&A to post comments
and/or questions
• ‘Send’ questions to All (not
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Q&A
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Your Comments/Questions
62

63. Join us for our next webinar
Part 2: Using the Policy Readiness Tool in
Public Health
October 1, 2015 from 1:00 – 2:30pm EST
Hear the stories of how public health practitioners
have used the Policy Readiness Tool in practice and
discuss challenges and successes when applying
the Policy Readiness Tool.
Click here to register: http://ow.ly/Qc50a
63

64. Your Feedback is Important
Please take a few minutes to share your thoughts
on today’s webinar.
Your comments and suggestions help to improve
the resources we offer and plan future webinars.
Click here to complete a short survey:
https://nccmt.co1.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV
_2r7Ri63uZigAlJX.
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Funded by the Public Health Agency of Canada | Affiliated with McMaster University
The views expressed here do not necessarily reflect the views of the Public Health Agency of Canada.
For more information about the
National Collaborating Centre
for Methods and Tools:
NCCMT website www.nccmt.ca
Contact: nccmt@mcmaster.ca