Governmental Policy Formation Process in America - Essay Example

Policy frameworks are important part of administration processes that are designed to improve and improvise the diverse welfare programmes of the public at large. The various areas of the public welfare domain like health, education, transportation energy etc. require comprehensive understanding of the wide ranging implications of the government policies. A well developed theoretical framework of the policy that incorporates the interests of all its stakeholders lays the foundation for the successful implementation of the policy in the said area. Paul Sabatier, noted social scientist, has conceptualized ‘Advocacy Coalition Framework’ or ACF and ‘Multiple Streams Framework’ for the policies in different areas of public welfare, that have proved quite effective. The essay would be discussing these models of policy frameworks in the areas of healthcare and education in the United States. ‘Advocacy Coalition Framework’ takes into account the interests of various stakeholders by incorporating opinions and feedback from wide ranging external and internal resources that may significantly impact the masses in the specified areas. The stakeholders comprise of beneficiaries of the schemes, institutions and intermediaries that facilitate the schemes to the public and the decision making bodies that are responsible for various processes for policy framework and subsequent implementation of those policies. The coalition broadly comprises of two major sources who seemingly reflect the welfare of the people: media, researchers and analysts; actors at all levels of government (local, state and international) (Sabatier, 1988). These sources help to study the various perspectives of the policy in the particular field by taking into account the different variables like socio-economic changes, political paradigms, evolving socio-cultural values, normative beliefs and environmental constraints. Thus, while incorporating the finer details of the policies in the relevant area, the view point of these agencies and the feedback widens the policy perspectives and ensures better decision making in framing the policies. ‘Multiple Streams Framework’ primarily believes that three vital streams of thoughts significantly impact the process of formulation of policies. The first is the problem identification that necessitates the process, second is the diversity in the requirements of the communities and lastly the political imperatives of vested interests that are influenced by public opinions, changing socio-economic and political paradigms that are incorporated into the policy framework. While these process streams may be independent of each other but each of them is critical in creating, assessing and evaluating the policy guidelines to evolve effective policies within the pre-defined areas of public interest. Impact on Healthcare Health care delivery system is one of vital component of public welfare schemes of the government. The recent trends have shown that the rising cost of living has had an adverse effect on the overall public health care system. The healthcare components like accessibility to good medical care, quality and cost are increasingly moving beyond the grasp of general public. ‘The overall poor health status of the U.S population is, in part, the result of limited access to services, especially for the poor, uninsured and vulnerable population’ (Harrington, 2000). The needed reforms, therefore, require not only a comprehensive feedback of delivery system as a whole, but a careful considerations to all the various pros and cons of the developing situations in the concerned areas of the public health care, has become the need of the hour. The various agencies, government and non government are required to come together to formulate strategies and policies for the legislative reforms that need to be implemented. In 1993-94, Congress had debated on the issue and political leaders had acknowledged the problems. In 2003, AHRQ1 ‘was mandated by Congress to develop NHQR2 and NHDR3 to assess the status of quality care and existing disparities in care provided to the American people’(Poker et al, 2004). The pending legislative recommendations were compiled and forwarded by National Coalition on Health Care or NCHC. The application of ACF and multiple stream framework approach in the policy formulation and reform processes has become highly relevant. ‘The Coalition is an organization of organizations — of nearly one hundred of America’s largest businesses, unions, health care providers, associations of religious congregations, pension and health funds, insurers, and groups representing patients and consumers. Collectively, the Coalition is the nation’s largest and broadest alliance working for the achievement of comprehensive health care reform’ (NCHC, 2004). The integrated approach to the formulation of healthcare policy has become intrinsic to the effective delivery that not only promotes transparency in the work methodology but it also takes into account the changing socio-economic and political paradigm within its reforms. Impact on education The fast advancing technology and rapid globalization has greatly changed the socio-economic and political dynamics of the world. The rapidly evolving pluralistic society in America has brought forth huge plethora of issues that need to be incorporated urgently within the policy framework to meet the challenges of the time. In the recent times, the impact on the education system has especially become a major concern. Some of the negative implications of the socio-economic changes have been increasing dropout rates in school going children, drug addiction, inadequate facilities for meeting the challenges of the disability sectors and inability of the state to successfully combat the growing differences in the culturally diverse society. The education should not only become intrinsic part of the masses but it must be able to promote universal values and inculcate global culture. The curricula will need to change so that our children develop these vital traits and become responsible citizens of the world. Advocacy Coalition Framework and Multiple Streams Framework have become important tools for framing educational policy in America. It has been realized that educational leadership is vital for evolving new goals for the teaching and non teaching staff of the education system so that they are better equipped for encouraging creative measures within the student fraternity and provide more encouraging learning environment. The ACF and MCF greatly facilitate in assessing and evaluating the different factors that have considerable impact on the education system and thus help to incorporate the necessary changes within the educational policy framework. The increasingly number of dropouts and ‘performance on this indicator in schools throughout the country has been dismal; nearly one third of the nation’s students do not receive a regular diploma within four years of entering high school’ (Richmond, 2009). ‘No Child Left Behind Act’ of 2001 has been an acknowledgement of the deteriorating failure of the education system to address this issue (NCLB, 2002). The Act has been the fruit of collective efforts of state, national and federal agencies that had come together to look at the various pros and cons of the changing external factors and include the necessary reforms in the policy framework to address the burning issue. While ACF has brought together the various agencies that can give essential input, the MSF has helped to identify and incorporate the necessary changes and develop the educational policy that would effectively address the issue. It can thus be concluded that the above mentioned policy frameworks have greatly helped to improve and improvise the policy frameworks so as to convincingly meet the emerging challenges. Paul Sabatier has conceptualized the model that is capable of incorporating the changing paradigms of socio-economic and political values. The various processes within the two frameworks ensure that essential criteria of public welfare that critically assess and evaluate the changing demands and incorporate them into the reform processes. Reference Harrington, Charlene & Estes, Carrol,L. (2000). Health Policy: Crisis and Reforms in the U.S. Health Care. Jones & Barlett Publishers. National Coalition on Health Care. (2004). Building a Better Health Care System: specifications for reform. Available from: [Accessed 6 April, 2009]. No Child Left Behind Act of 2001. (2008). Available from: [Accessed 6 April, 2009]. Poker, Anna, et al. (2004). The First National Reports on U.S. Healthcare Quality and Disparities. Journal of Nursing Care Quality 2004;19(4):316-21. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. Richmond, Eric. (March 2009). Every Student Counts: The Role of Federal Policy in Improving Graduation Rate Accountability. Alliance for Excellent Education. Available from: [Accessed 6 April, 2009]. Sabatier, Paul A. (1988). Theories of the Policy Process. Boulder, CO: Westview Press. Read More