Public Policy Development

Changing policies and practices at a school or preschool, in a local business or workplace, or in a neighborhood, state, and country can create palpable and lasting change. PHI produces forward-thinking research, develops proposals, initiates evaluations and builds buy-in in order to inform and shape some of the most complex policy challenges facing the nation today, including: agriculture and nutrition, marijuana, transportation planning, climate change, economic development, nutrition, healthy communities, health information technology, and alcohol, tobacco and substance use. PHI's approach is centered on the importance of evidence and data, boosting community power and voices, creation of political will, and crafting policies that yield just and equitable solutions.

Our Expertise Can Make Your Work Stronger

See how PHI can work with you to support or lead your health initiatives.

Our Impact

See all Public Policy Development Impacts

82 US cities & counties adopted limits on the number of cannabis dispensaries
37M people impacted by systems & policy changes stemming from CHLP participants' work
120 laws & policies passed or improved by Rise Up Leaders to improve gender equity around the world

Policies Play Critical Role in Reducing Asthma’s Burden on Low-Income, Communities of Color in California

PHI Fellows Advance Health Equity in Santa Clara County

a woman health care worker in a medical gown and mask gives a seated man a vaccination

Cutting-Edge Data for Equitable Distribution of Food, Shelter and Vaccines

Three African American women in medical masks working together around a table, one in the center with a t-short reading "white coats, Black doctors"

HPI Helps Build Equity in California State COVID-19 Response

a person with a medical mask looking at their phone in a call with a physician in a medical mask

Tracking Telehealth Policies to Advocate for Greater Access to Care

Videos: Advancing Gender Equity Around the World

a young African American girl wearing a medical face mask

Addressing the Root Causes of Asthma

Providing Critical Data for Vaccine Equity

a woman pointing to workshop papers on a wall

California State Leaders Take Concrete Steps to Address Systemic Racism

Promoting Consumption of Healthier Beverages While Supporting Jobs and Businesses

Developing Shared Guiding Principles for Equity and Justice

CaLAPH Oakland Group photo, holding a sign

Accelerating Multi-Sectoral Leadership for Health

Advancing Telehealth Policy Across the Country

Image for Guiding Cannabis Policies that Protect Youth & Health

Guiding Cannabis Policies that Protect Youth and Health

Exploring Policy Options for Advancing the Sustainability and Spread of eConsult

Expanding Telehealth Services in California

Selective focus shot of red Coca-Cola can lot in boxes, with other soda cans in the background

Demonstrating Soda Tax Success: Reduced Consumption of Sugary Beverages

Image for Developing Model Marijuana Ordinances to Support Communities

Developing Model Marijuana Ordinances & Other Tools to Support Communities

Advancing Health Equity Through Healthy Housing Policies

Image for Researching California’s Marijuana Laws to Know What’s Working & What’s Needed

Researching California’s Marijuana Laws to Know What’s Working and What’s Needed

Uncovering New Alcohol Use Harms—and Opportunities to Decrease Them

Image for Improve Healthy Living Opportunities for Children by Advancing Policy and Systems Change

Improving Healthy Living Opportunities for Children by Advancing Policy and Systems Change

Turning Cutting-Edge Tobacco Research into Sound Health Policy

Ensuring Strong Health Measures in the California Sustainable Freight Action Plan

Programs

Active Programs

California Alliance for Prevention Funding

CAMI Health

Center for Climate Change and Health

Center for Connected Health Policy

Center for International Tobacco Control

Center for Wellness and Nutrition

Getting it Right from the Start: Regulation of Recreational Marijuana

Lynn Silver, Researcher

Rise Up

Roots of Change

Archived Programs

California Center for Research on Women and Families
(PHI program 2000-2016)

California Convergence Coordinating Office

California Project LEAN

Center for Technology and Aging

Cultiva La Salud/Central California Regional Obesity Prevention Program

Health Spectrum Program

National Opioid Leadership Summit 2019

PHI is Leading the Conversation

Telehealth Policy Webinar Series: Crossing State Lines

Data Equity Webinar Series: Recordings and Resources

Register: Data Equity Webinar Series

PHI Experts Working in this Area:

Mohammad Sediq Hazratzai, MD, MPH

Program Director,
Sehat Initiative

Daniel Turner-Lloveras, M.D.

Executive Director,
The Latino Coalition Against COVID-19

Kevin Barnett, DrPH, MCP

Senior Investigator,
Center to Advance Community Health & Equity (CACHE)
East Bay Health Workforce Partnership
California Health Workforce Alliance

Joel Ervice

Program Director,
Regional Asthma Management and Prevention Program

Lynn Silver, MD, MPH, FAAP

Program Director,
Safely Opening Schools
Lynn Silver, Researcher
California Alliance for Prevention Funding

Julia Caplan, MPP, MPH

Program Director,
State of Equity

Gina Solomon, MD, MPH

Program Director,
Science for Toxic Exposure Prevention
Achieving Resilient Communities (ARC)

Mei Wa Kwong, JD

Program Director,
Center for Connected Health Policy

William Kerr, PhD

Scientific Director, Center Director,
Alcohol Research Group
National Alcohol Research Center

Serena Clayton, PhD, MA

Program Director, California Bridge,
CA Bridge

Bethany Young Holt, PhD, MPH

Executive Director, CAMI Health | Director, Initiative for IMPTs,
CAMI Health

Linda Rudolph, MD, MPH

Principal Investigator,
Center for Climate Change and Health

Matthew Marsom

Senior Vice President, Programs, Public Policy & Government Relations

Michael Dimock, MA

Program Director,
Roots of Change
Achieving Resilient Communities (ARC)

Mike Sage, MPH

Program Director,
PHI/CDC Global Health Fellowship Program

Work With Us

You change the world. We do the rest. Explore fiscal sponsorship at PHI.

Bring Your Work to PHI

Support Us

Together, we can accelerate our response to public health’s most critical issues.

Donate

Find Employment

Begin your career at the Public Health Institute.

See Jobs

How to Support Birth Equity for Black Mothers & Babies

Black women and birthing people disproportionately experience negative birthing experiences and outcomes compared to other racial and ethnic groups. PHI's Cherished Futures offers systems-change recommendations for philanthropists, policymakers, hospital and clinic leaders, insurance payers and community advocates to help improve birth equity for Black mothers and babies.

Read the report

Continue to PHI.org

Strategic Initiatives

Thought Leadership

Supporting Communities and Local Public Health Departments During COVID-19 and Beyond: A Roadmap for Equitable and Transformative Change

Critical Issues

Pioneering Expertise

Strategic Initiatives

Thought Leadership

Videos: How to Engage Youth in Opioid Use Prevention

Critical Issues

Pioneering Expertise

Strategic Initiatives

Thought Leadership

Videos: How to Engage Youth in Opioid Use Prevention

Critical Issues

Pioneering Expertise

Thought Leadership

E-Learning Module: Incorporating Virtual Visits into Home-Based Asthma Services

Critical Issues

Pioneering Expertise

Strategic Initiatives

Thought Leadership

Expanding the Pipeline for MPTs: Compounds with Potential Activity to Prevent or Treat HIV and Other STIs

Critical Issues

Pioneering Expertise

Thought Leadership

Telehealth Policy Webinar Series: Crossing State Lines

Critical Issues

Pioneering Expertise

Strategic Initiatives

Thought Leadership

Listos California Impact Report: A People-Centered Movement to Build Disaster Resilience

Critical Issues

Pioneering Expertise

Thought Leadership

Report: Are California’s Local Health Departments Resourced to Address Climate-Driven Disasters?

Critical Issues

Pioneering Expertise

Strategic Initiatives

Thought Leadership

Expanding the Pipeline for MPTs: Compounds with Potential Activity to Prevent or Treat HIV and Other STIs

Critical Issues

Pioneering Expertise

Strategic Initiatives

Thought Leadership

Telehealth Policy Webinar Series: Crossing State Lines

Critical Issues

Pioneering Expertise

Strategic Initiatives

Thought Leadership

Video Snapshots: Lessons from the Field: Centering Community Voice

Critical Issues

Pioneering Expertise

Thought Leadership

Case Studies & Best Practices: Strategies to Reduce Youth Overdoses

Focus Areas

Programs

Public Policy Development

Our Expertise Can Make Your Work Stronger

Our Impact

Policies Play Critical Role in Reducing Asthma’s Burden on Low-Income, Communities of Color in California

PHI Fellows Advance Health Equity in Santa Clara County

Cutting-Edge Data for Equitable Distribution of Food, Shelter and Vaccines

HPI Helps Build Equity in California State COVID-19 Response

Tracking Telehealth Policies to Advocate for Greater Access to Care

Videos: Advancing Gender Equity Around the World

Addressing the Root Causes of Asthma

Providing Critical Data for Vaccine Equity

California State Leaders Take Concrete Steps to Address Systemic Racism

Promoting Consumption of Healthier Beverages While Supporting Jobs and Businesses

Developing Shared Guiding Principles for Equity and Justice

Accelerating Multi-Sectoral Leadership for Health

Advancing Telehealth Policy Across the Country

Guiding Cannabis Policies that Protect Youth and Health

Exploring Policy Options for Advancing the Sustainability and Spread of eConsult

Expanding Telehealth Services in California

Demonstrating Soda Tax Success: Reduced Consumption of Sugary Beverages

Developing Model Marijuana Ordinances & Other Tools to Support Communities

Advancing Health Equity Through Healthy Housing Policies

Researching California’s Marijuana Laws to Know What’s Working and What’s Needed

Uncovering New Alcohol Use Harms—and Opportunities to Decrease Them

California Center for Research on Women and Families
(PHI program 2000-2016)