DEFINITIONS

(adopted from the American Public Health Association)

Resolution: A statement of a specific action, series of actions, or a principle endorsed by the Association, and usually directed toward a specific external individual, organization, or event.

Policy Resolution: A concise statement of the Association’s stance on specific issues affecting the health of the public. It may inform, exhort, show support (or lack of support) for programs or legislation or describe a course of action. It represents a new statement on the part of the Association, or a substantial modification or extension of existing policy of the Association.

Non-Policy Resolution: A concise statement by the Association on non-policy matters, such as the commemoration of a significant event.

FORMAT

Resolutions

1. Statement of the problem.  The reasons for the proposed action need to be documented. Each reason needs to begin with a participle phase (e.g., “believing that”, “recalling that”, etc.)
2. Statement of the desired action(s).  The desired action(s) needs to be appropriate to the problem and feasible for the Association to undertake. Each desired action needs to be stated in a single phrase beginning with the action present tense of the verb (e.g., “requests”, “notes”, “expresses”, etc.) and listed consecutively.
3. Statement of the impact.  May include cost to WPHA to implement recommended action, impact on public health.
4. Length.  No longer than 300 words.

 Position Papers

1. Statement of the problem.
2. Purpose of the position paper.
3. Objectives to be attained.
4. The actions desired.
5. Methods for implementation.
6. Fiscal and public health impact statement.
7. Length: No longer than ten (10) typed, double- spaced pages.