_edited.jpg)
WHAT IS A POLICY Team?
Policy Teams are year-long workgroups that bring together students with similar policy interests. Together, Policy Team members identify local issues, research policy solutions, and work toward implementing them. Through our four phases–education, service, outreach, and implementation–members take their policy ideas a step further and engage hands-on. Policy Teams teach students how to talk with stakeholders, educate others, perform direct service, write policy, and advocate for their solutions.
Issue areas can range from education to housing insecurity to criminal justice to healthcare. While the issue area may vary, the goal of policy teams remains the same: to craft a well-researched policy that is digestible for Athens's policymakers and can be published in the Arch Policy Journal.
THE PHASES
1
Education
Before developing solutions and promoting change, one must first understand the current efforts and complexities of an issue area. Policy Team members will engage in stakeholder conversations and research to better inform their policy proposals.
2
Service
The purpose of service in policy teams is three-fold; it helps members interact with the population they are trying to serve, build connections with stakeholder organizations, and tangibly combat the issue at hand. Each policy team will be responsible for engaging in service and creating service opportunities for API members.
3
Outreach
We help bridge the gap between UGA and the community through outreach. This means raising awareness, educating others, and making information about issue areas digestible and accessible. For policy projects, this phase can take many forms– whether it is writing blog posts, organizing discussions, creating an informational campaign, or hosting panels with area experts.
4
Implementation
Implementation–the most difficult phase–is the ultimate goal of researching and crafting policy. Team members will identify the best contacts and appropriate processes for implementing their policy solution. Examples include emailing commissioners, attending city hall, discussing ideas with government agencies, or sending proposals to the mayor's office.