The Alliance’s Policy Committee provides direction, planning, and general oversight to policy issues that relate to reducing the burden of cancer. By monitoring emerging issues and research evidence, committee members seek engagement and advocacy in policy initiatives that will further reduce the incidence of cancer in our state by encouraging healthy habits and reducing environmental risks. Systems-level policy changes can build a more lasting healthy Minnesota for generations to come. Policy committee members will be familiar with the basic issues of policy development frameworks, evidence-based interventions, and cancer prevention. Membership will include Alliance members, partner organizations, issue experts, and at least one staff member from the American Cancer Society, Midwest Division.

Meetings will take place primarily via e-mail and/or conference calls on a quarterly basis, lasting no longer than two hours. Members are asked to serve one year, with an option of renewing.

• Review information and requests prepared by Alliance members and staff
• Consider requests for Alliance endorsement of policy and system change initiatives
• Prioritize policy, systems, and environmental interventions that are in support of Cancer Plan Minnesota
• Implement and monitor policy and systems projects approved by the Steering Committee
• Educate the public on potential policy solutions to health issues
• Ensure that Cancer Alliance activities coordinate with relevant stakeholders
• Communicate policy and systems change positions on behalf of the Alliance
• Recruit new committee members who will enhance policy reach and outcomes

The Policy Committee has the authority to take action to support policy initiatives that promote the objectives in Cancer Plan Minnesota. Policy Committee members who wish to have the committee act in support of a policy initiative must present a written request to the committee and receive the support of a majority of the committee members. Voting can be conducted by e-mail. The written request must include:

• The policy initiative;
• The related objective(s) in Cancer Plan Minnesota;
• How the policy initiative will benefit by support from the Alliance; and
• The proposed activities to support the policy initiative and the member(s) responsible for those activities. This will include identifying one member who will be the Policy Committee designee for the initiative and will be responsible for coordinating Alliance activities related to the request.

For more information, please contact Katie Engman at katie@ansrmn.org.
Catherine Graeves at cugraeve897@stkate.edu.