PolicyOptions.org Initiative

The Policy Options Initiative seeks to establish a network of local community think tanks that will make policy information, news, and research available on websites, weekly email news updates, and research. These community think tanks will feature local, state, and national policy news and analysis on topics of local interest that draw upon policies and program models from around the country and world.  

The goal of the PolicyOptions.org is to fill an important gap in our public life: the availability of accurate, balanced, comprehensive information and analysis about the issues that we care about and hope to impact through public policy and civic engagement. We believe that this information is critical to informed citizen action in shaping policy and planning program improvements.

They will tap the underutilized research capacity of institutions of higher education to create local and state level community think tanks, which will be housed in participating college or university public policy or community outreach centers or institutes. These locally-focused bureaus will be linked through an affiliate structure to cover state issues and to a central national office that will cover national and international policy and program activity.