Which option is a step in the strengths-based Policy Development Process?

• A. Define needs, goals, barriers
• B. Formulate policy alternatives
• C. Formulate policy goals informed by consumer collaboration
• D. Evaluate outcomes

Answer: (C)

In strengths-based policy development, the focus is on partnering with the people affected to shape what success looks like, using their assets, experiences, and aspirations to guide goals. Formulating policy goals informed by consumer collaboration embodies this approach because it directly integrates the insights and lived experiences of the community, ensuring the objectives reflect what the group can achieve and values they want to emphasize. This collaboration builds empowerment, relevance, and buy-in, making the policy more responsive and sustainable in practice.

Defining needs, goals, and barriers tends to spotlight problems and obstacles, which reads more like a deficit approach rather than leveraging strengths. Formulating policy alternatives is a general step in policy design, not specifically tied to engaging consumers around the goals. Evaluating outcomes focuses on the results after implementation and is important, but it comes later in the process and doesn’t capture the strengths-based emphasis on co-creating goals with consumers.