The ABC's of Policy Development

We are aware that many shelters have a process in place for developing and implementing new policies but for those who do not, here is a brief outline to develop policy specifically around Trans Access.

a. Strike a policy development committee: at least one or more members of the committee should be drawn from front line staff, management and a resident representative, meetings should be attended by the Executive Director.
b. Identify strategy: in respect to trans inclusion policies, a key component is education. The first step should include training for staff, residents and board members about trans issues, the Trans Community Shelter Access Project offers workshops and trainings for free. The second, concurrent step is to establish a reasonable timeline to accomplish the committee's work; six months is the proposed goal.
c. Develop recommendations: draw up a working policy and refer it back to front line staff, including directives on staff conduct with regard to the test policy. Guidelines are offered under "Policy Recommendations from the Trans Community Shelter Access Project".
d. Working practice implemented: establish a timeline over which to observe and test the policy in practical day-to-day operations.
e. Gather feedback: gather information on how policy is working from a staff and resident perspective.
f. Staff make final recommendations to committee: based on case studies of the policy in practice, feedback from trans and non-trans residents and incident reports involving trans service users, staff recommends adjustments to the test policy.
g. Committee ratifies policy: in conjunction with front line staff and management, policy committee finalizes and ratifies policy recommendations.
h. Committee outlines expectations of staff conduct: implementing policy recommendations in tandem with staff and resident trainings on trans issues previously undertaken in step b.
i. Policy integration: the new policy is integrated into existing policies and procedures, i.e. intake and non-discrimination mandates.
j. Revisit policy: after a reasonable time (nine months to a year) evaluate impact of the policy and report findings to the City of Toronto Hostel Services Division to archive and audit.

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