pathways to happiness for social support - how government can foster satisfaction with personal...

Pathways to Happiness

Policies to address satisfaction with personal relationships

Pathways to Happiness are ways to increase

people’s satisfaction with personal relationships

Social Support

scores are strong but

have edged down over

time.

100= happiest

Let’s look at one aspect of social support:

satisfaction with personal relationships

Our satisfaction with personal relationships dipped but is getting better

a score below 40 means we are not satisfied with our relationships, 70 or above means we are satisfied

Courageous Policies

Same Sex Marriage Laws

Sends a societal message of acceptance

Remove basis for bias, bullying & bigotry

Help to ease suicide rates for lgbt youth

USA State Law Facts: http://www.cnn.com/2013/05/28/us/same-sex-marriage-fast-facts/

Resources for Same Sex Marriage Laws

Countries where being gay is against the law: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/gay-lesbian-bisexual-relationships-illegal-in-74-countries-a7033666.html

White Paper with Model Legislation: http://williamsinstitute.law.ucla.edu/wp-content/uploads/Pizer-Kuehl-Model-Marriage-Report.pdf

Public Day Care

Ratio of teacher to child 1- 3 for babies, 1-4 for toddlers

Education degrees and salaries same as teachers for caretakers

Flexible hours for parents who work evenings (healthcare, actors…)

Nurseries & Preschool part of the public school system

Costs same as for kindergarten (parent pay 1/3 or less of cost)

Resources for public day care

White paper about public day care in Denmark: http://www.oecd.org/education/school/2475168.pdf

Presentation about public day care implications: https://www.barnardos.ie/assets/files/Advocacy/2013ScandinavianChildcare/Tine-Rostgaard-Nordic-Models.pdf

Article about state run childcare: https://www.theguardian.com/society/2012/feb/18/britain-learn-denmark-childcare-model

What’s it going to take?

Better Data and Data Stories

Example of data that is gathered and data stories for child care: http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/early_years/2014/03/children_enrolled_in_georgias_universal.html

Use current data, collect more data, tell stories with data and educate policy makers.

Fight for Justice for All

Include sexual orientation and gender identity in state-wide employment non-discrimination laws.

Expand anti-discrimination laws.

Other policies in the Pathways to Happiness tool series

Campaign finance reformGuaranteed basic income

Media reformMassive public transportation

Local food relianceVillage living (cities and rural)

Multi-use zoningPublic spaces

Political festivalsParticipatory governance

Participatory budgetingAnti-corruption policies

Transparency in governmentCompassion training for policeCommunity-based monitoring

Sousveillance Vote holiday

Vacation lawsFamily leave laws

Sick leave lawsFlex time and job share laws

Telecommuting policiesBabies at work policiesIntergenerational care

Department of neighborhoodsVolunteer programs

Mindfulness practice in schoolsSocial justice awareness raising

Mental health –priority counseling

We envision a world where all beings can thrive.

Can you envision it too?happycounts.org