This course addresses the second public health core function: the use of assessment data in the analysis and development of policy and program plans to meet the health, illness and health resource needs of communities. Students will evaluate the use of policy as an aggregate-level intervention strategy and determine the extent to which a nursing intervention classification can be used to categorize policy strategies. Policies will be evaluated in relation to current national and state health objectives for special populations. Students will evaluate the potential impact of policies affecting communities and populations in targeted health care environments such as home health or managed care. They will use evidence from the literature to develop and implement policy recommendations designed to improve health outcomes. Working with vulnerable and multicultural communities and using informatics in policy and planning are emphasized.