Understand Policy

WHAT IS PUBLIC POLICY?

Public policy are the decisions made by governments, administrative agencies, school boards, and entities that are publicly accountable that will impact our communities.

why focus on public policy?

Private charity will never be a replacement for public action. Our charity efforts respond to individuals in need, public policies seek to prevent and minimize need. If we want to end hunger in Ohio, we have to address the root causes of poverty. Our charity feeds people who are hungry today, policy solutions reduce those who are hungry tomorrow.

How is Policy Passed?

Schoolhouse Rock summarized how good ideas become public policy about 30 years ago, and it still holds true today. The State of Ohio parallels the national set up for how a bill becomes a law.

Public policy establishes the rules for how society should operate. We do this at the local, state, and national level through laws. These laws are supposed to represent the values and priorities of the community. When these rules reflect our shared values, we advocate to support and improve them; when the rules don’t reflect our shared values or are ineffective, we advocate to change them.

At the Hunger Network, we believe that we can end hunger in Ohio and greatly reduce the suffering and long-term impacts of poverty. Ending hunger is our top priority, and we want it be moved up in the minds and hearts of our community leaders as well.

As the Church, we know that we cannot do it ourselves. Micah 6:8 calls on Israel as a nation - not just individuals - to ‘do justice, love mercy and to walk humbly.’ As a network of faithful voices, we are calling on our public officials to adopt public policies that will seek to end hunger.

How can you improve public policy for your community?

  1. Host a conversation on the issues. Sadly, too many people are unaware of hunger and how we can actually solve it.

  2. Send an email. Sometimes a quick reminder will help legislators prioritize hunger in their decisions. We've made it easy to contact your legislators here.

  3. Write a letter. A handwritten letter still makes a lot of impact.

  4. Visit their office. Join us for a day at the Statehouse to discuss hunger.