Policy Brief Research Articles

An Examination of Immigration Status and Its Implications for Transition-Age Youth in the Child Welfare System

The population of young adults who are undocumented immigrants is growing in the United States, and little is known about the prevalence and experiences of undocumented transition-age youth in foster care. This policy brief uses administrative child protective case records to provide a foundational measure of youth immigration status documentation in California leading up to the enactment of Assembly Bill 829, which aimed to enhance coordination between child welfare and legal services through timely attorney notification. In addition, we examine relationships between immigration status and Transitional Independent Living Plan (a semi-annual document describing youths’ goals and the resources needed to achieve them; TILP) outcomes. Missingness in immigration status was common and increased over time. U.S. citizens and undocumented youth were more likely to have TILPs than youth who were legal residents or had a missing immigration status. Findings highlight opportunities to both invest in services for undocumented young people exiting care and explore barriers to immigration status documentation in administrative records.

Alliance policy brief: Budget jeopardizes key housing programs

With homelessness surging to record levels, the FY 2026 budget proposal threatens to drastically cut funding for essential programs that communities across the country depend on to prevent and address homelessness, according to a June 17 policy brief from the National Alliance to End Homelessness.

Food Bank Use Prior to Homelessness

Food provided by a food bank is a close substitute for food purchased in a retail store. This characteristic of food bank services means that threats to one’s ability to maintain housing – increased rents, job loss, inadequate income supports, high prices generally – can be expected to result in growing reliance on food banks. This policy brief derives, presents, and evaluates preliminary results from an ongoing study of how individuals and families respond to shocks to their budgets that present challenges to their ability to maintain housing. We hypothesize that such a shock sets in motion an effort by a household to conserve income for the payment of rent and so a coincident increase in its use of food banks. By linking administrative datasets reporting food bank use and entry into homeless shelters by uniquely identified people, we show how reliance on food banks increases as individuals and families near the date when housing is lost. This research has the potential for identifying periods of intervention that may prevent homelessness.

Exploring the sexual and reproductive health and rights policies and their relationship to the Termination of Pregnancy Act (1977) and bodily autonomy and integrity in Zimbabwe: a multimethod research protocol

IntroductionIn Zimbabwe, pregnancy termination is generally prohibited unless and only if the circumstances are in sync with the conditions stipulated in the Termination of Pregnancy (ToP) Act of 1977. This raises questions about the modern-day rights of bodily autonomy and integrity (BAI). Funded by the AIDS and Rights Alliance for Southern Africa, this study, therefore, seeks to review and analyse sexual and reproductive health and rights policies and how they relate to the ToP Act (1977) and BAI.Methods and analysisThis study will use a concurrent multimethod approach. First, policies related to the ToP and bodily autonomy and integration will be reviewed and analysed using the policy analysis triangle. Concurrently, a qualitative and quantitative survey will be conducted on purposively selected key informants and focus group discussions with purposively selected women and men, as well as 200 stratified selected women. Qualitative findings will be recorded, transcribed and thematically analysed using MAXQDA V.20 Pro. Simultaneously, the quantitative output will be collected using KoboCollect, exported into Excel and analysed using both Excel and STATA. The strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT) framework and the Basic Logic Model will guide the triangulation of the findings and development of a policy brief.Ethics and disseminationEthical approval for this study was obtained from the National University of Science and Technology Institutional Review Board at Bulawayo, Zimbabwe (Ethics Number: NUST/IRB/2023/23). Written consent would also be sought from the participants. A policy brief would be developed and shared with key stakeholders. At least three manuscripts would emanate from this study and will be submitted for publication in reputable peer-reviewed journals.

Applying Machine Learning Techniques to Predict Drug-Related Side Effect: A Policy Brief.

Drug safety is a critical aspect of public health, yet traditional detection methods may miss rare or long-term side effects. Recently, machine learning (ML) techniques have shown promise in predicting drug-related side effects earlier in the development pipeline. The objective of this policy brief was to propose evidence-based policy options for using ML techniques to predict drug-related side effects. This policy brief was developed upon a previously published scoping review of relevant studies. A secondary analysis synthesized key barriers and opportunities relevant to policy development. Key findings revealed some challenges in data standardization, interpretability, and regulatory alignment. Moreover, the results highlighted the potential of explainable ML and cross-sector collaboration to improve prediction accuracy and fairness. Five policy recommendations were proposed: (1) establishing standardized data collection and secure protocol sharing; (2) funding ML model development and rigorous validation; (3) integrating ML into drug development pipelines; (4) increasing public awareness through targeted education; and (5) implementing fairness regulations to address bias. These recommendations require joint efforts from governments, regulatory bodies, pharmaceutical firms, and academia to be implemented in practice. While ML offers transformative potential for drug safety, its real-world implementation faces ethical, regulatory, and technical hurdles. Policies must ensure model transparency, promote equity, and support infrastructure for ML adoption. Through interdisciplinary coordination and evidence-based policymaking, stakeholders can responsibly advance ML use in drug development to enhance patient outcomes.

Enhancing cancer-supportive care through virtual reality: a policy brief

BackgroundVirtual reality (VR) technology has been useful in enhancing cancer-supportive care by alleviating pain, anxiety and emotional distress. However, its integration into oncology faces multiple barriers, including limited funding, insufficient clinician training, accessibility challenges, absence of standard guidelines and reimbursement policies. This policy brief highlighted policy options needed for VR technology interventions in cancer-supportive care.MethodsThis policy brief was developed upon a previous systematic review that examined the role of VR in cancer-supportive care. To translate these findings into actionable recommendations, we conducted a secondary analysis of policy-related opportunities and challenges. The extracted evidence was synthesized to propose strategic policy options that facilitate VR adoption in oncology.ResultsA total of five key policy options were identified: (1) increasing funding for VR research and development, (2) training programs for healthcare professionals, (3) expanding patient access through financial support mechanisms, (4) establishing standard clinical guidelines and (5) developing reimbursement policies. These recommendations aim to bridge the gap between technological advancements and their practical implementation in cancer care.ConclusionsIntegrating VR into cancer-supportive care requires a coordinated effort among policymakers, healthcare institutions and technology developers. By implementing these evidence-based policy strategies, stakeholders can enhance patient access, improve clinical outcomes and ensure sustainable adoption of VR in oncology.

Strengthening Disaster-Resilient Villages Through Participatory Approaches: Policy Recommendations for Village Governments

Village resilience is an important foundation in community-based disaster risk reduction efforts. This policy brief is prepared based on recommendations from the results of village resilience assessment research. The research as the basis for the policy brief was conducted in 30 Disaster Resilient Villages in Magetan Regency using the Participatory Action Research (PAR) method, which emphasizes active community involvement in the assessment process. The assessment was carried out by filling out a questionnaire from the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) containing 128 questions and covering five main aspects: basic services, regulations and policies, prevention and mitigation, emergency preparedness, and post-disaster recovery. The questionnaire was filled out through interviews and focus group discussions (FGD). The results showed that only around 20% of villages achieved the Main Disaster Resilient Village category. This shows the need for an increase in overall efforts made by the disaster resilient village forum together with the village government. Two main recommendations are proposed. First, strengthening the capacity of the Disaster Resilient Village Forum as the driving force for disaster risk management activities at the village level. This forum needs to be supported through training, facilitation, and strengthening its role in program planning and implementation. Second, the allocation of village funds needs to be increased by around 5–8% to fund activities such as disaster-resistant infrastructure development, disaster mitigation, capacity training, emergency response simulations, procurement of facilities and infrastructure, emergency response funds, and post-disaster recovery. The success of both recommendations is highly dependent on collaboration between local and village governments. Local governments need to support with clear regulations, technical assistance, and adequate budgets. Meanwhile, village governments need to include disaster risk reduction in development plans. This synergy will accelerate the realization of disaster-resilient villages.

Countering Disinformation: A Delicate Balance Between International Action and National Particularities

Policies to address disinformation aim to protect a number of key public goods, such as self-determination by citizens, fair elections, and a healthy media and information ecosystem. The literature on resilience to disinformation finds striking differences between states, resulting from particular combinations of factors. Consequently, there is a need to maintain a delicate balance between coordinated action at the global level and localized interventions in response to particular vulnerabilities. Starting from this premise, this article explores the complexities of local contexts that contribute to resilience and addresses the tensions in developing evidence-based policies grounded in a wider societal context and system of values. Our study relies on data collected in an EU-funded project, Strategic Planning to Strengthen the Disinformation Resilience and the Management of Hybrid Threats, implemented jointly by the Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the National University of Political Studies and Public Administration (Bucharest) between 2020 and 2023. By using insights from key project activities (public opinion survey and policy brief), we assess Romania’s needs and vulnerabilities, which can be addressed through personalized interventions for countering disinformation; we distinguish a particular architecture of policy responses and debate the possible courses of action for a systematic approach to disinformation. Overall, our study contributes to a better understanding of how effective policies for countering disinformation need to be fed by an awareness of relevant global and regional contexts as well as local factors, values, vulnerabilities, and sensibilities.

Creating Health and Wellbeing through Integrated Care

The International Foundation for Integrated Care Canada (IFIC Canada) will be hosting the second North American Conference on Integrated Care in Canada in October 2024 (NACIC24). The goal for the conference is to advance the knowledge and capability around four strategic themes to advance health and wellbeing through the advancement of integrated care. In this 90-minute workshop, we will explore and co-design the themes for the NACIC24 conference. We adopt a world café format focused on four themes that exemplify effective approaches in advancing integrated care that lead to health creation in our communities. The primary strategic themes encompass the 9 Pillars of Integrated Care: Explore Human-Level Transformation for Collective Impact, emphasizing collective action and power dynamics and including Integrated care Pillars of shared values and vision and system wide governance and leadership. The complexities of Building Emergent Care Teams, encompassing roles, workforce dynamics, and digital health applications and including integrated care Pillars relating to workforce capacity and capability, digital solutions and aligned payment systems. Health Creation, Asset-Based Community Development, Realizing Population Health, and Indigenous Ways of Knowing. These relate to the Integrated care Pillars of population needs and local context, people as patners in health and care, and resilient communities and new alliances. Across all three themes, we aim to examine Evaluation methodologies, including the assessment of relationships, trust, and the collective impact of integrated care initiatives, relating to transparency of progress, results and impact of integrated care. The 90 workshop will begin with a 10 minute introduction to the facilitators, the themes and the structure of the workshop. There will be three simultaneous world-café discussions discussing the best focus for organizing papers and sessions relating to each of the primary themes for 15 minutes each. Each discussion will then add 5 minutes to specifically discuss the possibilities for measurement and evaluation in each of the three themes leaving 20 minutes for table reports. Participants will transition through topics with topic-specific facilitators moving between tables. The outcomes of this workshop will inform the design of NACIC24 conference and serve as the basis for a policy brief on ‘Current issues in Integrated Care for Health Creation’ which will be shared with all participants to leverage in their own countries and communities.

Promoting, scaling up and sustaining integrated care initiatives to become system level transformations

Background and purpose: In 2022, WHO Europe published a policy brief, ""Rebuilding for sustainability and resilience: strengthening the integrated delivery of long-term care in the European Region"", that outlined a conceptual framework for integrated long-term care in the European region that enables greater resilience of long-term care. This brief highlighted the necessity of strengthening care systems through better integration as a means for improving care system efficiency, strengthening the resiliency and sustainability of systems in the aftermath of the pandemic, and improving the health and well-being of older people through better responsiveness to populations needs. This workshop aims to engage participants in a dialogue on the challenges, barriers, and facilitators to scaling up integrated care initiatives to become system-level transformations. Two case studies developed by WHO Europe and IFIC will be presented, focusing on key learnings in terms of policies and system-level interventions that can facilitate the scale-up of existing innovative initiatives. The workshop will be co-hosted by members of the IFIC and WHO Europe. Who is it for: The workshop will invite a mix of participants from key European countries and conference delegates, including Special Interest Group members (Ageing and Frailty and Intermediate Care). All individuals with an interest in integrated long-term care, including policy/decision-makers, academics and civil society organisations, as well as care givers and people with lived experience of long-term care, are invited to participate. Format of the 60-minute workshop: 1.Presentation of 2 case studies, highlighting main challenges and enablers (15 minutes) 2.Q&A on the scale-up and case studies (10 minutes) 3.Group work: in the implementation science agenda for I-LTC, what are the gaps we need to fill in order to arrive at actionable policies and practices (20 min) 4.Feedback to the group (15 min) The working groups will be facilitated by WHO Europe and IFIC team members who will capture the outputs and key takeaways of the discussions in writing and present these back to the group as part of a plenary discussion.

Collaborative Classroom-Based Action Research: Master Teachers’ Journey

This research sought to understand lived experiences of master teachers in creating collaborative classroom-based action research in Silago District in the school year 2023-2024 to develop a policy brief. This study adopted descriptive phenomenology where purposive sampling was used targeted eight qualified master teachers with at least three years teaching experience and prior participation in collaborative classroom-based action research. Semi-structured interviews focused on questions that elicit detailed narratives and views on their difficulties and practice. The study engaged Braun & Clarke‘s (2006) thematic analysis, keeping confidentiality throughout the process. Findings revealed critical themes, Theme 1: Conceptualizing Action Research, Theme 2: Planning the Action Research, Theme 3: Conducting the Action Research, and Theme 4: Evaluating and Reporting the Action Research. Participants pointed out that successful implementation of collaborative classroom-based action research relies on strong leadership support and provision of the needed resources. Collaboration was identified as strength, however some challenges were identified on how participants were able to establish and maintain team collaboration with the members and other stakeholders. Also, the cyclic nature of the reflective practices as a beneficial form of practice was described as adding extra work responsibilities to teachers who already had substantial loads of teaching and managerial tasks. To address these challenges, the study proposed three alternatives: implement flexible scheduling and dedicated research time, develop supportive leadership frameworks for structured collaboration and increase access to resources and funding for research initiatives. Among these, developing supportive leadership frameworks for structured collaboration emerged as the most effective solution because it tackles structural conditions and promotes the conditions necessary for practical action research to flourish. This gives a promising insight into how action research can be used to improve teaching and learning with the support of adequate institutional backing to overcome barriers in realization of the intervention.

Vers les villes terrestres de demain

Coauteurs, avec l’urbaniste Marion Schnorf, de Villes terrestres. Petit manuel d’écologie urbaine , paru aux éditions Wildproject en 2024, Baptiste Lanaspeze et Paul-Hervé Lavessière formulent ici dans la langue technique d’un policy brief (note d’aide à la décision publique), la vision des villes écologiques de demain construite dans le proje « Villes terrestres », qui a donné lieu à la parution du livre.

Policy experts urge California‐federal partnership to preserve investments

A new policy brief is calling for the federal government to be a reliable and key partner to support California's behavioral health system reforms, particularly as the state has committed unprecedented investments and innovative approaches to address its mental health and substance use crisis.

Unlocking Transparency, Building Trust: A Policy Brief for a Developing Health System

Background: Transparency is fundamental to effective governance, yet Iran's health system faces significant transparency issues due to political and cultural obstacles. Objectives: To propose policy recommendations for enhancing transparency in Iran's health system. Methods: This policy brief is grounded in a qualitative study conducted from 2022 to 2024. Results: Lack of transparency diminishes efficiency and social capital, impeding the success of health reforms. Essential principles for enhancing transparency include political commitment, strategic resource allocation, and fostering a culture of openness. Effective policies should tackle systemic barriers, utilize existing infrastructure, and address the root causes of non-transparency. Conclusions: The significance of transparency will continue to grow. While public demand drives this momentum, policymakers must proactively manage risks to prevent unintended consequences. These policy recommendations aim to enhance governance, accountability, and trust, providing a model adaptable to developing countries.

Admission of Medical Students through Graduate Entry as an Alternative for Traditional National University Exam in Iran: A Policy Brief

Admission of medical students holding previously obtained academic degrees through graduate entry (GE) is well underway at many creditable universities worldwide. In Iran, the GE system can lower the pressure on centralized medical student admission and reduce the problems stemming from that. The difference between GE and the traditional one is not limited to student admission and it generally involves accelerated courses in terms of duration. Moreover, the educational process is also different from that of the regular traditional system. Presently, only a small number of medical students are admitted through GE in Iran. This policy brief includes a study of student admission based on the GE method, a comparison and contrast to the traditional approach, a statement of probable problems, and a final presentation of suggestions for the improvement of this procedure. Although a scrutiny of novel educational procedures and an exact prediction of curriculums entail specialized working groups, two preliminary stages for implementation of GE have been recommended in the current policy brief. It is recommended to carefully predict and monitor GE procedures. Given the necessary superstructure and facilities, the resultant procedure should be initially employed in larger universities with students who have prior education related to health sciences, and subsequently be transferred to other universities and bachelor degrees. It is also recommended that a special working group be convened to examine the new curriculum at ministry level and be tentatively convened in one or more universities. Also, economic studies from an educational perspective are recommended to weigh the cost-effectiveness of the new method.

Enhancing post-road traffic orthopaedic injury rehabilitation to reduce disability in Rwanda: Policy brief

Background Prolonged disability resulting from road traffic injuries (RTIs) contributes significantly to morbidity and disease burden. A good understanding of the prevalence and the level of disability of orthopedic injuries in developing countries is crucial for improvement; however, such data are currently lacking in Rwanda. Policy and implications The goal of the policy is to address the growing number of road traffic injuries (RTIs) in Rwanda, with a focus on orthopaedic injuries that result in permanent disabilities. It suggests enhancing data collection and research, bolstering emergency response systems, growing rehabilitation services, offering victims social and financial support, and promoting inclusive policies. These programs may result in better emergency care, better rehabilitation outcomes, more informed interventions, lighter loads for victims and their families, more community support and awareness, and eventually a safer and more welcoming society for all Rwandans impacted by RTIs. Recommendations Rwanda’s road traffic injuries (RTIs) are on the rise, and addressing this requires strengthening emergency response systems, expanding rehabilitation services, improving data collection, providing financial and social support, and advocating for inclusive policies. These measures aim to improve care, rehabilitation access, and foster a safer environment, reducing RTI burdens. Conclusions The conclusion underscores the urgent need for comprehensive action to tackle the high prevalence of road traffic orthopaedic injuries in Rwanda, emphasizing the need for enhanced emergency response, expanded rehabilitation services, and inclusive policies.

Development of Iranian clinical practice guidelines: An experience in cardiovascular diseases-A policy brief.

In the wake of the dominance of evidence-based thinking, clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) within the country's health system have gained a key position in recent years and playing an important role in enhancing all functions of this system. However, the absence of a standard model, the inadequacy of existing documentation for designing clinical guidelines, data obtained from the national self-care project (IMPROVE-CARE), the Persian Registry of Cardiovascular Disease, the national priorities declared by the Iranian Network of Cardiovascular Research, and most importantly, the order from the Ministry of Health, all highlight the necessity of establishing a structure followed by the creating of a standard model for the development of guidelines, and subsequently, the creation of Iranian clinical guidelines. This policy brief article discusses the process of establishing the structure and the produced content and presents the necessary policies for the development of national clinical guidelines.

A reproductive justice investigation of utilizing digital interventions amongunderserved populations with criminal legal system supervision: Policy brief.

A reproductive justice investigation of utilizing digital interventions amongunderserved populations with criminal legal system supervision: Policy brief.

Secondhand Smoke and Cardiovascular Disease: A Policy Brief on Prevention and Exposure Reduction

Cardiovascular diseases are recognized as the leading cause of death globally, accounting for a substantial proportion of mortality and disabilities worldwide. Given that exposure to secondhand smoke is one of the risk factors for cardiovascular diseases, this policy brief presents strategies for reducing exposure to secondhand smoke in the healthy population and cardiovascular patients. Reducing the burden of cardiovascular diseases caused or aggravated by secondhand smoke exposure and improving health levels requires a multifaceted approach.

Catalyzing digital transformation through Smart Cities initiatives in Indonesian local government

In the domain of public service delivery, our research provides crucial guidance towards enhancing collaboration and achieving digital transformation. This study, focusing on Indonesian local government, uncovers insights that can reshape the smart governance dimension in the era of smart cities initiatives. Qualitative methods were used, conducting in-depth interviews with public officials, advanced observations, and detailed data collection from government agencies, NGOs, and citizens of Jambi, Indonesia. We identify significant challenges such as leadership commitment, digital talent resources, silos, and data integration deficiencies, emphasizing the need for sincere collaboration and advancing data interoperability. Addressing leadership awareness and the digital talent gap is essential for successful implementation, alongside improving cyber management and data security. Building on these challenges, the research highlights potential development areas including collaboration enhancement, prioritization of interoperability, robust data center development focusing on cyber management and data security, and targeted digital talent cultivation. Through research collaborations, this reseach aims to provide actionable insights and practical recommendations, contributing to effective governance. Tangible outcomes include a conceptual model, practical framework, and policy brief, empowering stakeholders. Ultimately, this research aspires to catalyze positive transformation, shaping a future of inclusive, innovative, and meaningful smart cities.