Evaluating a model approach to community-driven and evidenced based cancer policy development

BACKGROUND: Traditional policy development relies on organized interest groups and minimizes the role of communities. Minority and underserved communities can contribute to policies for reducing cancer disparities. The Arkansas Cancer Community Network (ARCCN) developed a model for engaging communities with decision makers and researchers in community-focused, evidence-based cancer policy development. Early experiences with the model's implementation were documented. OBJECTIVES: This study profiles the evaluation design for the AR-CCN policy model and presents early findings. METHODS: Assessment of this integrated approach occurs at three levels: advisory, institutional, and community. The evaluation design tracks policy development activities in five domains: 1. Information Dissemination 2. Partnership Building. 3. Policy Assessment 4. Policy Alternatives 5. Program Development. Key process measures are collected using a tool that monitors these and other common elements across all components of ARCCN. Items are categorized according to their proximal, intermediate or distal impact on cancer policy development. A community policy needs assessment was developed to determine local knowledge of policy processes and resources for engagement. FINDINGS: Early findings indicate progress in all five domains with significant movement in information dissemination, partnership building and policy assessment. Findings from the community policy needs assessment suggest that policy awareness is relatively low in most communities but significant resources exist for policy engagement. CONCLUSIONS: The AR-CCN policy model achieved success in stimulating activities that inform cancer policy through the integrated model. Transferability to other health policy issues appears promising. The health impact and sustainability of resulting policies are areas for future study.