Reach the Decision Makers Fellowship

One of the continuing challenges with developing effective policies to reduce the impact of environmental contaminants on reproductive health is the enormous disconnect between scientists, health-affected groups, community groups and health care providers, and those making policy and regulatory decisions.  The Reach the Decision Makers Fellowship seeks to change this dynamic by providing a diverse group of participants the skills and support to engage the US Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) on policy and regulatory issues relating to reproductive environmental health issues.

Program Description

The Reach the Decision Makers Fellowship trains scientists, community groups and health care providers to effectively promote science-based health standards and public health policy at the US EPA. Fellows include local, state, and national advocates. Through their involvement, fellows gain a better understanding of the underlying science linking environmental contaminants to reproductive harm and build their skills for shaping environmental health policy at the national level. As part of the project, fellows visit the US EPA in Washington, D.C. to learn more about the Agency’s activities and to share their perspectives on environmental reproductive health science and policy.

The training model utilized for Reach the Decision Makers draws on successful training methods implemented by the Women’s Foundation of California for the Women’s Policy Institute (WPI), which has successfully trained more than 100 nonprofit and community leaders in effective public policy engagement. The WPI model draws upon best practices for adult learning, incorporating three primary modes of instruction to enhance participant learning—reading, listening and doing. Fellows both develop the tools and skills to effectively engage key offices and staff members within the US EPA and learn to work with others to enhance the outcomes of their engagement. Having participants engage US EPA on real policy issues of their own choosing allows them to contribute to immediate and lasting changes in environmental health policy.

Learn more about the Reach the Decision Makers program:

• Watch the 2011 Reach the Decision Makers Fellows Video to learn more about the experience of being a Reach Fellow.
• Application Information
• List of 2012 Fellows and Alumni
• Reach Project Highlights

More information on the Women’s Policy Institute is available at: http://www.womensfoundca.org/womens-policy-institute