Policy

How government agencies can use policy:

Assessment

• Reviewing existing local policies to understand what exists to support job quality (e.g. wages, fair scheduling, access to benefits)
• Examining current advocacy partnerships, as well as staff time allocation, and identifying gaps
• Conducting labor market research/assessments or program data to understand policy gaps or impacts and inform policymakers

Knowledge Building and Buy-In

• Understanding the process to pass or update local policies
• Building local alignment on the definition (and supporting sources) of a living wage for the area
  
• Creating or expanding inter-agency collaboration to jointly address job quality policy and corresponding funding
• Interagency collaboration on policy development, implementation, success metrics and evaluation
• Engaging policymakers in the work directly - board participation, award ceremonies, press, site visits, etc.

Implementation

• Passing local level policies that codify job quality principles such as wages, schedules, and access to benefits
• Requiring alignment of diverse funding streams (e.g. WIOA, TANF, CDBG) to achieve shared policy goals - shared spaces, enrollment processes, integrated systems, etc.
• Providing templates, tools, or standard language that partners can use to implement policy changes in other jurisdictions
• Participating in local, state or federal advocacy efforts on job quality or population specific issues
• Elevating diverse voices and stories to bring policy success and gaps to life

👋 Learn How to Implement the Policy Lever