Family Impact Policy Initiatve
The Family Impact
Policy Initiative (FIPI)
is a project of the University of Minnesota’s Children, Youth,
and Family Consortium (CYFC). The goals of the Family Impact Policy
Initiative include:
Family Impact Seminars are a key aspect of
this initiative.
Following a national
model used in 25 states, Family Impact Seminars connect research
and state policymaking by providing state-of-the-art information
in an objective, non-partisan manner. Each topical seminar includes
forums, briefing reports, and follow-up activities explicitly
for legislators, key agencies and staff. Rather than lobbying
for particular policies, the seminars offer a range of policy
options and provide opportunities for participants to identify
common ground.
Minnesota’s first Family Impact Seminar
on “Early Childhood Populations, Programs and Policy
Options” will take place during the 2008 legislative
session.
Understanding Policy
Policies at the local, state, and federal government
levels have the potential to affect children, youth, and families.
Policies implemented in such contexts as a childcare center, a school,
a workplace, or the health care system also have the potential to
affect these segments of the population.
Policies can have a direct influence on the development and well-being of children, youth, and families. For example, education funding is likely to have a direct impact. There are also policies that have to potential to indirectly influence children and families. For example, where roads are located could potentially have an impact on family well-being.
Policies can also have intended and unintended consequences. Some policies are specifically developed and implemented to addresses issues and concerns specific to children, youth, and families. These policies are likely to have expected intended consequences, but they may also produce consequences that were not expected. Similarly, policy development can occur in domains not directly linked to children, youth, and families, but still produce unintended consequences for these groups of individuals.
Policy development is complex. This complexity results from the fact that policy development can be approached from varied perspectives in diverse ways. Regardless of where a policy is developed there are a couple of fundamental considerations that would be good to keep in when throughout the policy development process.
- The best and most effective policies at all levels are developed using a broad perspective and a sound base of research.
- The most effective policies will consider the developmental needs of children, youth and adults, and support families in their varied and complex forms.
- The impact on children, youth, and families must be a consideration in the development and implementation of policies at all levels of society.
