Public health professionals as policy entrepreneurs: The case of Act 1220

Shaping health policy is one core function of public health professionals. To do so effectively, we must understand our role in the process of agenda setting and policy creation. We used the Kingdon Policy Streams Model to describe the rise of childhood obesity onto the Arkansas governmental agenda, culminating in the passage of Act 1220 of 2003, an act of the Arkansas General Assembly to combat childhood obesity. Semi-structured interviews were completed with individuals involved in the development and passage of the Act. Additionally, relevant legislative documents and published reports were reviewed.

Through analysis of the interviews and documents, we identified three groups of policy entrepreneurs who contributed to the problem and policy streams and coupled these with the politics stream, successfully moving this innovative policy alternative (Act 1220) through a momentary “policy window” into law. Reviewing the passage of innovative legislation, such as this case study of Act 1220, will improve our understanding of the avenues of participation public health professionals may have in the policy process, such as serving as policy entrepreneurs. This understanding will enable us to fulfill our role as public health professionals in shaping health policy in the 21st century.