Reach the Decision Makers Fellowship

Program Description

The Reach the Decision Makers Fellowship trains scientists, community members, clinicians and public health professionals to effectively promote science and health-based policies 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:

• Informational Overview: Learn about the accomplishments of Reach in this 2-page overview.
• Application Information: Read about previous application information.
• Reach Project Overviews: Learn about past project accomplishments.
• Reach the Decision Makers Fellows:  List of Reach the Decision Makers fellows and alumni.
• Watch the Reach the Decision Makers Fellows Video