Politics and Partnerships

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, participants will:

1. Gain a general understanding of the strategies involved in planning for successful political action, including understanding the demography and culture of your local service area;


2. Identify key players in decision-making at all levels for political effectiveness;


3. Develop skills to build coalitions;


4. Discern how local decisions are made;


5. Develop team planning skills with local Boards and Commissions;


6. Develop political advocacy skills;


7. Understand the process and impact of political opinion polling and campaigning;


8. Develop skills in handling the media effectively;


9. Develop skills in negotiation and compromise;


10. Develop and understand the role of lobbyists and how to use them effectively at the local, state and federal levels;


11. Gain an understanding of how to assess current local political issues, including the role of newspaper editors and editorial boards;


12. Develop political skills in working with various support groups and community leaders, which at times can have conflicting interests with Boards and Commissions;


13. Learn how to develop support groups, including recruitment, tactics and legal issues;


14. Become knowledgeable of the various governance and legal structures of Boards and Commissions and support groups;


15. Prepare useful educational materials that may assist others with understanding and assessing the political proces;


16. Gain knowledge of federal, state and local statutes, ordinances and resolutions and their impact on local decision-making; and


17. Outline recommendations for an action plan.