1.0 The Public Policy Education Model Exploring the Human Resources/Economic Development Connection Community Choices: Public Policy Education Program 8 March 2000 The Southern Rural Development Center Module One:

Community Choices: The Public Policy Education Model Objectives Determine the meaning of public policy education. Know the criteria for assessing which issues can be characterized as public policy issues. Understand how to use the public policy education model for addressing issues of local importance. Determine the meaning of public policy education. Know the criteria for assessing which issues can be characterized as public policy issues. Understand how to use the public policy education model for addressing issues of local importance. 1.1

Community Choices: The Public Policy Education Model Give citizens a better understanding of community policy issues. Stimulate citizens’ interest/involvement in local policy decisions. Enhance community’s capacity to arrive at key policy decisions. Help citizens participate in the democratic process. Give citizens a better understanding of community policy issues. Stimulate citizens’ interest/involvement in local policy decisions. Enhance community’s capacity to arrive at key policy decisions. Help citizens participate in the democratic process. 1.2 Foundation for the Public Policy Education Program

Community Choices: The Public Policy Education Model Key Terms Policy—agreed upon course of action. Public Policy—a designated course of action adopted by a governmental entity. Education—process of imparting information and technical assistance to people and communities. Public Policy Education—program that applies the university’s knowledge base to assist citizens in making informed policy choices. Policy—agreed upon course of action. Public Policy—a designated course of action adopted by a governmental entity. Education—process of imparting information and technical assistance to people and communities. Public Policy Education—program that applies the university’s knowledge base to assist citizens in making informed policy choices. 1.3

Community Choices: The Public Policy Education Model Characteristics of Public Policy Issues Involve problems that require group decision. Solutions are based on value judgments. Issues are of broad interest and concern. Deal with controversial matters. Tend to be recognized by decision- makers as problems/concerns. Involve problems that require group decision. Solutions are based on value judgments. Issues are of broad interest and concern. Deal with controversial matters. Tend to be recognized by decision- makers as problems/concerns. 1.4

Community Choices: The Public Policy Education Model Values People’s views of what should be or what the desirable situation should be. A person’s perceptions of what is good and bad. Affect how people think about problems and policy strategies. Conflicts arise when people discuss public policy issues with different sets of values. People’s views of what should be or what the desirable situation should be. A person’s perceptions of what is good and bad. Affect how people think about problems and policy strategies. Conflicts arise when people discuss public policy issues with different sets of values. 1.5

Figure 1. The Public Policy Education Model Source: House and Hahn. 1.6

Community Choices: The Public Policy Education Model Prepared by 1.7 Lionel J. Beaulieu Southern Rural Development Center March 2000