• Democratic rights and participation
• Health
• Education
• Environment
• Social Conditions and programs
• Community
• Personal well being
• Economy and employment
• Government

The balance of the session built upon the report card discussing such questions as “What does this all mean? How can we use these indicators? Are they accurate for my world?

Workshop STEPS: Toward a Credible and Inclusive Public Policy Process

Presented by Stephanie Hunter, FemJepp

This “hands on” workshop involved the use of the STEPS guide to enable participants to discuss if the guide was feasible or adaptable to their situation in trying to become more effectively involved in public policy initiatives. The STEPS are an assessment tool intended to help identify the elements that need to be in place or be recognized for community-based equality seeking groups, researchers and governments to work together on public policy development, implementation and reform. They help people decide what needs to be considered to begin broad-based discussions for policy development. Working with STEPS participants could be enabled to build on the guide and adapt it to the local issues of concern in their own work. It is most effective for participants if they use actual examples of local issues to work through a comprehensive checklist for each step. The full process is in the FemJepp guide and appendices, including master work sheets. The STEPS are highlighted below.

1. Identify common understandings and ground rules for working together - It is important that all parties – members of community-based equality seeking groups, government policy makers and researchers – discuss and agree to work together on the basis of a set of shared understandings. This includes: agreeing upon an open, clear and inclusive policy process; recognizing the value of community-based and academic research; agreeing to ensure all activities, materials and forms of communication are accessible; and ensuring accountability mechanisms are established and put in place.

2. Laying the groundwork - When the three parties start to work together, each needs to clarify and outline its roles and responsibilities; adopt accessibility guidelines; and discuss and find ways to address power imbalances.

3. Identify and access information and resource needs - There are key resources that need to be recognized and available for all three parties to effectively work on public policies.

4. Build strategies and work plans - For effective involvement in the public policy process, all parties, particularly communities new to the process, should plan their approach in advance. Standard processes should also be set to inform each group of what to expect, and of what is expected of them in terms of input into the process.

5. Put strategies and processes into action - When working together it is important that the three parties adhere to the agreed upon standard processes and forms of input.

6. Evaluate joint process and outcomes