Promoting the public good: policy in the public square and the church / edited by Yvonne M. Terry-McElrath, Curtis J. VanderWaal, Alina M. Baltazar and D.J.B Trim.

There is a wide range of possible avenues for using policy-related research to improve the public good, and there is a need for new, vigorous involvement in such research that contributes to society as a whole: the majority as well as the marginalized, the academic as well as the general public, and the religious as well as the secular. This volume honors the policy-related research contributions of one individual who has dedicated his career to such research: Duane Calvin McBride, PhD. The policy-related studies presented in this volume were each submitted by individuals who were strongly influenced by Dr McBride as colleague, professor, and/or mentor, and focus on areas in which Dr McBride has made lasting policy-related contributions:1 public health service provision;2 organizational behavior and change;3 substance-use epidemiology;4 high-risk behaviors and marginalized populations; and 5 policy evaluation.The research presented is intended not only to provide new and important insights into the social issues addressed, but also to challenge readers to consider how they themselves can become involved in policy-related research that aims to improve the health of their communities and the larger public.