Public Policy Committee

Objective: To develop strategy to educate policy-makers and the public regarding adoption issues.

Role of the Public Policy Committee:

• Acts to effectuate changes in public policy governing adoptions. The public policy may include laws, agency regulations and societal attitudes.
• Communicate Adoption Network Cleveland positions on public issues through releases to the media, and contact with legislators and organizations with influence and/or interest in issue areas
• Increase participation in alliances or co-sponsorship of programs with other organizations that have similar goals
• Determines, in concert with the executive director, the areas of focus for advocacy and public policy
• Discusses and formulates “position statements” for the organization specific to public policy issues
• At the request of the executive director, provides counsel in the executive director’s role as spokesperson for the organization

Composition:

• Appointed by the board chair in consultation with the executive director
• Includes four to six committee members; can include non-board members. Includes individuals who have expertise in the field and/or advocacy experience and who have relationships with the broader community
• Staff by executive director and designee(s)

Role of Committee Chair:

• Lead and guide work of committee
• Report directly to board chair and relate directly to executive director
• Collaborate with executive director and chair to identify key issues for committee study and deliberation and to set committee agendas
• Ensure that committee members are properly and well informed, that meetings are productive and records maintained
• Assign tasks to committee members as appropriate
• Report to board regarding committee’s deliberations and recommendations