Policy Networks: SHS policy diffusion across Kansas City Metro Area

Audience:

This session examines relationships among advocates, policy entrepreneurs, researchers, program staff, etc. and how these relationships contributed toward SHS policy adoption and diffusion across the Kansas City metropolitan area and is intended for any audience interested in building relationships, coalitions and/or networks to advocate for policy change.

Key Points: Over the course of the last decade, SHS policies have spread from community to community through diffusion networks that link similarly-sized and geographically proximate communities. These networks allow for sharing of ideas, learning, and imitation, resulting in policy promotion, adaptation, and ultimately adoption. However, to date, these networks have not been examined.  Through a mixed method approach incorporating qualitative and quantitative relational network information, we examined the relationships that facilitate policy innovation and adoption.

Educational Experience:

This session will present information on the patterns and implications of collaboration and communication between policy entrepreneurs and other actors in the policy network who were active in the promotion of SHS policies throughout the Greater Kansas City Metro Area (GMA). Specifically, this session will review results from the following research questions:

1. What was the structure of the SHS policy network in the Kansas City metropolitan area?
2. Are those individuals described as important (central) to policy adoption and diffusion also important (central) in the network?
3. Does being more important (central) in the network predict earlier adoption of policies in an individual’s community?

Benefits:

Attendees will glean information on the types of relationships and the composition of networks that contribute toward successful tobacco control policy adoption.