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Agenda Comparison Grid Assignment Template for Part 1 and Part 2

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Agenda Comparison Grid Assignment Template for Part 1 and Part 2

Part 1: Agenda Comparison Grid

Use this Agenda Comparison Grid to document information about the population health/healthcare issue you selected and the presidential agendas. By completing this grid, you will develop a more in depth understanding of your selected issue and how you might position it politically based on the presidential agendas: Agenda Comparison Grid Assignment Template for Part 1 and Part 2.

You will use the information in the Part 1: Agenda Comparison Grid to complete the remaining Part 2 and Part 3 of your Assignment.

Mental health is a significant aspect of health and is linked with other life dimensions, including stability and productivity. Mental health disorders affect nearly 20 percent of Americans annually, and some of the top include major affective disorders like depression, anxiety, and bipolar disorders. It is for this reason that they usually recur alongside other ailments, such as substance use disorders and economic factors; hence, they need to be handled as public health holistically. It is also important to note that presidential administrations have acknowledged mental health over the last decade and factored it into more extensive discussions about healthcare reform and public health initiatives.

This paper evaluates the focus on mental health in the Biden and Obama administrations by examining approaches and funding. Further, it will outline the roles of the administrative agencies as well as recommend a suitable advocate to ensure more emphasis is placed on this social issue. Finally, a fact sheet is added as a final tool to briefly present the topic and its significance to the policymakers.

Identify the Population Health concern you selected. Mental Health
Describe the Population Health concern you selected. Good mental health is essential for one’s ability to function efficiently in personal, social, and professional life. Despite better awareness and treatment, there is still stigma and lack of service provision for the mentally ill. The COVID-19 pandemic further exacerbated these problems, with reports of anxiety, depression, and even suicide rates, especially among the youth and healthcare professionals (CDC, 2024). This concern can be approached by removing barriers to care, increasing funding for mental health services, and integrating mental health into the primary care systems.
Administration (President Name) Barack Obama Joe Biden
Explain how each of the two presidential administrations approached the issue. The Obama administration laid the groundwork for fully integrating mental health into national health policy. Obama ensured that mental health services were paralleled with physical health coverage through the Affordable Care Act, forcing insurers to treat them equally. That said, this policy massively expands access to mental health care, particularly among low-income people who gain Medicaid coverage.

Additionally, the administration responded to the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting by launching the “Now Is the Time” initiative, which focused on early intervention, community-based mental health services, and reducing stigma. Further attempts were made to improve mental health support in schools and make teachers aware of early signs of mental illness (O’Rourke et al., 2017).

 Joe Biden continued with some of the policies from the Obama-era administration while addressing new issues from the pandemic. His administration has continued to advocate for mental health parity and extend telehealth opportunities to underserved areas.

Another measure on the agenda proposed by Biden is a boost in funding for the suicide helpline 988, which is one of the key resources available to people who require its help right now. His administration also cares about community mental health and legislation such as the American Rescue Plan to improve the number of behavioral health options for people.

 
Identify the allocations of resources that the current and previous presidents dedicated to this issue. The Obama administration budgeted billions for Medicaid expansion. It introduced grant-funded programs like Project AWARE (Advancing Wellness and Resilience in Education) to the healthcare context. Such campaigns enhanced the provision of mental health care in school settings and facilitated capacity training for intending community opinion-makers about solving mental health-related issues (Gore and Parker, 2019). Biden proposed over $10 billion in funding for SAMHSA and allocated resources to improve the 988-hotline infrastructure and school-based mental health programs. His administration also directed funds toward addressing healthcare disparities that disproportionately affect marginalized groups, ensuring mental health services are accessible to all communities (SAMHSA, 2022).

Part 2: Agenda Comparison Grid Analysis

Using the information you recorded in Part 1: Agenda Comparison Grid, complete the following to document information about the population health/healthcare issue you selected

Administration  
Which administrative agency (like HHS, CDC, FDA, OHSA) would most likely be responsible for helping you address the healthcare issue you selected? Why is this agency the most helpful?

 

  

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is the most relevant agency to address mental health concerns. SAMHSA’s role includes providing grants, developing evidence-based guidelines, and implementing innovative programs like Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics. These clinics deliver comprehensive mental health services, integrating primary care and behavioral health to improve accessibility and outcomes. SAMHSA’s focus on community engagement ensures its initiatives address systemic gaps in care (SAMHSA, 2022).
How do you think your selected healthcare issue might get on the presidential agenda? How does it stay there? Mental health has gained traction on the presidential agenda due to its widespread impact and alignment with other national priorities, such as economic productivity, public safety, and healthcare equity. Policymakers often respond to advocacy from professional organizations, personal testimonials, and compelling evidence linking mental health to societal well-being. Once on the agenda, the issue remains there through bipartisan support, ongoing data collection, and periodic legislative updates. For example, increasing public visibility through campaigns and partnerships with influential advocates sustains momentum for policy initiatives (DeMarco & Tufts, 2014).
Who would you choose to be the entrepreneur/ champion/sponsor (this can be a celebrity, a legislator, an agency director, or others) of the healthcare issue you selected? An example is Michael J. Fox a champion for Parkinson’s disease. Michelle Obama is an ideal champion for mental health due to her established credibility and prior work on public health initiatives, such as her “Let’s Move!” campaign targeting childhood obesity. Her influence extends across political and cultural spheres, allowing her to engage diverse audiences effectively. By leveraging her platform, Michelle Obama can help destigmatize mental illness and advocate for policies that expand access to mental health services.

Part 3: Fact Sheet

Mental Health: A Legislative Priority

Significance
Mental health is essential to overall well-being, yet millions of Americans face barriers to accessing care. Untreated mental illness not only affects individuals but also imposes a substantial economic burden, costing over $193 billion annually in lost earnings. Addressing mental health is particularly urgent in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, which intensified mental health challenges nationwide. Strategic investments in mental health services can reduce stigma, prevent crises, and promote healthier, more equitable communities (CDC, 2024).

Policy Goals

  1. Expand telehealth services to reach underserved and rural populations.
  2. Strengthen school-based mental health programs to provide early intervention.
  3. Enhance the infrastructure and outreach of the 988-crisis hotline.

Role of Nurses in Agenda Setting
Nurses, as frontline healthcare providers, are uniquely positioned to influence mental health policy. Their direct patient interactions and understanding of systemic challenges enable them to advocate for practical, patient-centered solutions. By engaging in policy discussions, nurses can help shape legislation that reflects the realities of mental health care delivery (Flaubert, 2021).

Call to Action
Policymakers must allocate sustained funding to mental health programs, prioritizing initiatives that address disparities and expand access. By committing to comprehensive reforms, legislators can support healthier communities and a stronger workforce. The time to act is now.

Conclusion

Mental health is an enduring public health challenge that requires sustained attention and action. The Obama and Biden administrations have demonstrated a commitment to improving mental health care, though their strategies reflect different priorities and contexts. Mental health can remain a prominent policy issue by leveraging administrative resources like SAMHSA and empowering influential advocates such as Michelle Obama. Nurses’ contributions to agenda-setting ensure that policies are informed by clinical expertise and real-world insights, paving the way for impactful solutions. 

References

CDC. (2024, October 21). Mental Health. Mental Health. https://www.cdc.gov/mental-health/index.html

DeMarco, R., & Tufts, K. A. (2014). The mechanics of writing a policy brief. Nursing Outlook, 62(3), 219–224. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.outlook.2014.04.002

Flaubert, J. (2021). The Role of Nurses in Improving Health Care Access and Quality. In www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. National Academies Press (US). https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK573910/

Gore, R., & Parker, R. (2019). Analysing power and politics in health policies and systems. Global Public Health, 14(4), 481–488. https://doi.org/10.1080/17441692.2019.1575446

O’Rourke, N. C., Crawford, S. L., Morris, N. S., & Pulcini, J. (2017). Political efficacy and participation of nurse practitioners. Policy, Politics, & Nursing Practice, 18(3), 135–148.https://doi.org/10.1177/1527154417728514

SAMHSA. (2022). SAMHSA – substance abuse and mental health services administration. Samhsa.gov; SAMHSA. https://www.samhsa.gov/

The White House. (2023). The Cabinet. The White House. https://www.whitehouse.gov/administration/cabinet/

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Question

AGENDA COMPARISON GRID AND FACT SHEET

It may seem to you that healthcare has been a national topic of debate among political leaders for as long as you can remember.

Healthcare has been a policy item and a topic of debate not only in recent times but as far back as the administration of the second U.S. president, John Adams. In 1798, Adams signed legislation requiring that 20 cents per month of a sailor’s paycheck be set aside for covering their medical bills. This represented the first major piece of U.S. healthcare legislation, and the topic of healthcare has been woven into presidential agendas and political debate ever since.

As a healthcare professional, you may be called upon to provide expertise, guidance and/or opinions on healthcare matters as they are debated for inclusion into new policy. You may also be involved in planning new organizational policy and responses to changes in legislation. For all of these reasons you should be prepared to speak to national healthcare issues making the news.

In this Assignment, you will analyze recent presidential healthcare agendas. You also will prepare a fact sheet to communicate the importance of a healthcare issue and the impact on this issue of recent or proposed policy.

Required Reading Resources(at least 2 reference should be from the resources provided)

To Prepare:

The Assignment: (1- to 2-page Comparison Grid, 1-Page Analysis, and 1-page narrative) with a title page. This is an APA paper. Use 2-3 course resources and at least 2 outside resources.

Part 1: Agenda Comparison Grid

Use the Agenda Comparison Grid Template found in the Learning Resources and complete the Part 1: Agenda Comparison Grid based on the current/sitting U.S. president and the previous president, and their agendas related to the population health concern you selected. Be sure to address the following:

Part 2: Agenda Comparison Grid Analysis

Using the information you recorded in Part 1: Agenda Comparison Grid on the template, complete the Part 2: Agenda Comparison Grid Analysis portion of the template, by addressing the following:

Part 3: Fact Sheet

Using the information recorded on the template in Parts 1 and 2, develop a 1-page fact sheet that you could use to communicate with a policymaker/legislator or a member of their staff for this healthcare issue. Be sure to address the following:

Assignment document should include:

  1. Title page
  2. Introductory paragraph
  3. Agenda comparison grid and analysis
  4. Fact sheet
  5. Summary/conclusions
  6. References
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