How to talk to politicians so they will listen – how to listen to politicians so they will talk to researchers? Anna Sarkadi, M.D., Associate professor Uppsala University Politicians … and scientists •  Want to make a difference •  Want to make a difference •  Want to keep their promises to the people who have elected them •  Want to keep their promisesto their grant suppliers by answering the research question •  Want to get reelected •  Want to get new grants Politicians … and scientists •  To make a difference: ideology, power and effective services •  To make a difference: politicians •  To get re-elected: sensitivity to issues important to people •  To get new grants: publications & track record •  To answer the research •  To keep their promises: question: skill, integrity intelligent compromises and peer review as well and a skill in explaning as explaining why the why things turned out question was really differently something different It all starts with listening: Politicians are sensitive to opinion… •  The timeout debate had to be handled with care – no one wants to be conected with programs that ”violate children’s rights” •  It was important to early on include the voice of parents and practitioners How to listen: Politicians are sensitive to timing… •  Long-term benefits are desirable, but politicians want results within four years •  The short-term benefits have to outweigh the emotional/political cost •  Local problems dominate,the local press rules How to talk: make theory comprehensible Selective Universal Universal programs? High vulnerabi lity Barriers to access may prevent all from benefiting EDI Low vulnerabi lity Disadvant aged Potential to steepen the gradient SES Advanta ged Proportionate Universality Universal access at a scale and intensity that addresses barriers at every level. High vulnerabi lity Barriers to access EDI 10 -15% Low vulnerabi lity Disadvant aged SES Gradient flattened at both ends of the SES spectrum, but proportionate to level of risk Advanta ged How to talk: make the global local •  Proportionate universality around the corner… How to talk: money makes the world go around… •  Local, concrete costs and benefits •  Models for longterm savings and how the current investment plays out in that model How to talk: make politicians talk to other people and reflect •  Politicians: What do you need to know more about to make informed decisions about universal parenting support in your community? •  Officials: What is the most important obstacle for your community to succeed in delivering universal parenting services? •  Practitioners: What would you need in your everyday work to be able to deliver adequate, high quality universal parenting support? So politicians … and scientists can very well work together: •  Politicians gain –  Accountability –  Precise measures of outcome –  Qualified description of processes with analyses of enabling and hindering factors –  Calculations of cost –  Credibility •  Scientists gain –  Learning to deal with real life settings –  Being able to make an impact on practice •  And maybe even some new grants!