• 2015 – $3,000 – Pay Now/Pay Later – Provide mental health screening of TN incarcerated juveniles.

• 2015 – $1,000 – Project Baggage – Remove plastic bags from the UT campus within 5 years.

• 2015 – $1,000 – Connect Forward – Link Tennessee Families First clients to jobs

HBGPC – Process

To make the field of participants in the Final Challenge on Friday, April 27, 2018 more manageable, students will compete in a semi-final by submitting their policy brief and a 3-5 minute video presenting their problem and solution. It will be due on April 9, 2018. The video should support the policy and will be judged on content, not the technical merit of the video itself.

Policy briefs should be direct and concise, about 5-9 pages, excluding appendix and references.

The brief must include:

• Title/Cover page

• Executive Summary–This section is for those who won’t likely read the entire brief. Therefore, it must interest the reader and provide a synopsis of the main parts and findings.

• Introduction & Problem Statement– Introduction, background, current policies, solution

• Policy Options–Alternative solutions working in other areas and your solution -justified

• Action Plan– Timetable for implementation, stakeholders identified with roles, promotion & marketing plan, evaluation plan, future/continuous improvement process

• Budget and Funding Sources/Needs—Resources needed for policy implementation and possible source

• Conclusion—Concise summary of proposal

• Appendix—Any supplemental information that is essential to the proposal

• References—Sources used to develop proposal

All sources should be listed. The supporting arguments for a policy recommendation must communicate in a compelling manner — why it is the best! For example, students must thoughtfully consider not only the substance of a specific policy, but also the socio-political influences, costs, stakeholders (direct and indirect, for and against), institutional processes, and decision-making structures, which are involved in approving, initiating and implementing the recommended policy. It is very important to consult those supporting the issue, against the issue, impacted by the problem, and those in power to implement your solution. Your project may also be a tool, such as a website, educational program, software or app that further addresses or informs an existing problem.

Judging Criteria

• Is there a clear problem definition and significant issue?

• Is the solution doable and worth doing?

• Is there a solid implementation plan?

• Do they have a plan to measure success?

• Have they engaged the issue’s stakeholders?

• Was the team’s oral and written presentation persuasive and will they be effective?

Timeline and Deliverables 2018 

 Recommended Progress Timeline (turning in the draft materials before the semi-finals round on April 9 is NOT required):

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