Make Seattle Happy Report: A Blueprint for Raising

Awareness in Your Community about the importance of happiness as a guide for the future of our nation, neighborhoods

and personal life

PART THREE: POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS

Part Three: Policy Recommendations

Three recommendation emerging from the Raising Awareness - Make Seattle

Happy Project

Policy Recommendations1) Gross National Happiness Policy Screening

Tool, including research and grassroots application

2) A Happiness Policy Library to inspire and aid progress by policy makers and the community members

3) Crucible for the Gross National Happiness Index and its uses: a litmus test to refine and develop the GNH Index

Gross National Happiness Project and Policy Screening Tool

With the support of the government of Bhutan, we drafted a policy screening tool based on the ones Bhutan is using. How it works:A project of policy is rated on a scale of 1-4 for the screening factors relevant to that policy or policy A positive score is 4X the number of screening questionsA neutral score is 3X the number of screening questions If a policy is positive or neutral, it is recommended to the decision makers

Gross National Happiness Project and Policy Screening Tool

Who uses the tool? A committee, group or selection of individuals who are: qualified to evaluate the project or policy and its impactsknowledgeable about the subject matter and circumstances of a project or policyrespected by the community neutral to the outcome

ExampleThe Policy under consideration is Inclusionary Zoning Laws, and the policy is examined against four screening questions: Economic Security, Community Integrity, Inclusion and Discrimination, and Compassion, Generosity and Gratitude.

A positive score is 4 X the number of screening questions, in this example 16.

A neutral score is 3 X the number of screening questions, in this example 12. The policy must have a score of at least 12 to be accepted. Here it has a score of 14.

Material Well-being

Governance

Environment

Community

Social Support

Education, Learning, Arts & Culture

Physical Health

Psychological Health

Time Balance

Work

The Gross National Happiness Policy and Project Screening tool

is available online in a word document

visit happycounts.org/raiseawarenessreportplease give attribution to The Happiness Initiative/Happy Counts.

A Happiness Policy Library

We recommend the development of a library of policies relevant to the domains of happiness to inspire and aid progress.

These include policies and practices that cities, community members and other agents have implemented to improve one or more domains of happiness.

A Happiness Policy Library Example Policies

Community VitalityParking Day (or Parking Summer)Traffic Calming ZonesNeighborhood Clean-Up DaysAnnual Street Block PotlucksEnvironmentFix it First PoliciesCommunity GardensWater Quality Protection

Time BalanceVacation/Sick Leave OrdinanceMixed-Use Neighborhoods

WorkplaceOffice Park Reintegration

Education and LearningWalking School BusEarly Education Urban Planning GamesPlanning for Smarter Growth Cultural VitalityUrban Structure Design Criteria and CodesArt HubsHealth Activities and PoliciesWalking Promotion by Community GroupsGames In the ParkMaterial Well-BeingInclusionary Zoning Law

A Happiness Policy and Action Library in progress is available

online

visit happycounts.org/happypolicyWe are collecting policies and actions.

Please send suggestions to info@happycounts.org

CrucibleWe recommend a crucible – a litmus test to refine and develop the GNH Index. We recommend two phases:Crucible I: Use the Gross National Happiness Index in two areas in order to gauge the happiness and wellbeing of an area that has implemented a policy or action compared to an area that has not. Crucible II: Use the Gross National Happiness Index in one area before and after implementing a policy or action to gauge the impact on people’s happiness and wellbeing.

Learning from the crucible will be used to refine and develop the Gross National Happiness Index and its use.

Make Seattle Happy: A Blueprint for Raising Awareness in Your Community.

Please use these materials to raise awareness about the importance of happiness and well-being, the happiness movement and the aim of a new economic paradigm. These materials may be used or reproduced for any non-commercial use. For more information, inquiries or comments, please email info@happycounts.org or visit happycounts.org Report compiled by: Laura Musikanski, JD, MBAEditing team: Eldan Goldenberg, James BradburyCopyright © The Happiness Initiative 2013