The Guide is structured to offer some basic information on various policy areas. However, an in-depth treatment of each topic is not within the scope of this project. Although a large number of policy areas are covered, it is not expected that all of them will be necessary or relevant to your agency. Consider this a “smorgasbord” to guide your options rather than a prescriptive how-to manual.Watch for more to come in Phase Two!

Under each topic, there are Your Turn exercises for you to apply to your own agency. If you follow and complete these exercises, you should finish with an assessment of your agency’s current position and a plan of action for policy development.

Each topic also offers Tips and Resources which will include practical insights and leads for getting further information. This is where you might begin to expand on the subject. All references throughout the document are cited fully in the Annotated Bibliography in the Supporting Documents section at the end of the Guide.

Finally, most topics feature actual samples of policies and procedures, under the For Reference sub-heading. They are not necessarily judged, endorsed or recommended by CLO, but are offered to illustrate possible style, sense and wording. Some are deliberately inappropriate in order to generate discussion as you selectively plan for your own policy manual. The sample statements are to be adapted not adopted!