Public issues education and local government resources for employees

The resources below will help when learning about the program areas included in public issues and local government. Our specialists can assist with other questions and resources. 

State Ballot Issues Education Assets

Resources for agents can be found on the Communications Media Assets website.

Voter Education

 

Local Ballot Issues Education

Do you want to develop a fact sheet about a local ballot issue? Here's what you will need to do.

Step 1 - Find out when the election will be held and obtain a copy of the ordinance setting the election and an official copy of the ballot title from the county clerk.

Step 2 - Contact Kristin Higgins (khiggins@uada.edu; 501-671-2160) to let her know you are interested in doing a fact sheet.

Step 3 - Kristin will email you a list of additional documents and other information you will need to gather for the fact sheet. Examples may include:

• insert list here

Step 4 - After you send Kristin the requested information, she will create a draft fact sheet and send it to you to for local review. You will need to share it with local officials, any identified supporters or opponents, and other local stakeholders as appropriate. If you can't identify an opponent, find someone who is neutral or has no affiliation with supporters to review it. Send requested changes back to Kristin.

Step 5 - Kristin will finalize fact sheet and send it to Communications for final formatting and design. During the Public Policy Center final review, you will be notified if any of the requested changes are rejected because they would be considered biased or not evidence-based.

Step 6 - Kristin will email the final fact sheet to you. The PDF version of the fact sheet is free of charge, but the county office is responsible for cost of printing fact sheets. Every local fact sheet is also posted on the PPC local ballot issue webpage and a blog post announcing the fact sheet is done. The PPC also shares the fact sheet/blog on our social media. Other assistance, such as a press release or newspaper column, or a powerpoint is available upon request.

County Government Training/ Facilitation 

Due to staffing vacancies, minimal assistance is availabile at this time.

Public Policy/ Emerging Issues Education Resources - Sometimes people have questions about new laws or issues arising in the community. Contact Kristin Higgins at khiggins@uada.edu or call 501-671-2160 to see if we can help.

Water Quality Education resources 

More than 2 dozen Arkansas counties fall within a priority watershed for education about water pollution. Access fact sheets about each of the 11 priority watersheds in Arkansas as well as a link to the state's plan for people interested in addressing water pollution in those areas at https://www.uaex.uada.edu/environment-nature/water/quality/policies.aspx. 

Criminal Justice and Rural Jails Issues Education

We offer a re-entry simulation that is currently in the pilot phase. The Arkansas Re-Entry Simulation uses four 15-minute weeks to model one month in the life of someone who recently left incarceration and under supervised release. Participants assume the identity of a former prisoner and receive a series of weekly tasks they must complete to succeed and avoid going back to jail. The simulation involves 16 stations where volunteers and participants explore and discuss the re-entry process. The simulation is not meant to objectify people returning home or minimize community trauma. Our goal is to create awareness through role-taking and discussion about community attitudes and needs.

Materials included in the simulation packet will include a Facilitator Guide, Volunteer Guide, recommended signage and station materials, participant identity cards, and an evaluation form.

Have more questions?

Contact Kristin Higgins at khiggins@uada.edu or call 501-671-2160.