Negotiating about power, frames, and continuing education: A case study inpublic health

Drawing on the Cervero and Wilson theory of program planning as the negotia tion of interests, the purpose of this study was to examine the utility oft he distinction between meta-negotiation and substantive negotiation. A cas e study approach was used to examine a continuing education course in publi c health. Historically, the course had represented an attempt to implement federal immunization policy. After the course was under way, stakeholders w hose interests were not being fully met engaged in meta-negotiations to cha nge the power relationships at the planning table and in substantive negoti ations to change the content of the course and audience for it. The redesig n and implementation of the course represented a recurring series of substa ntive negotiations of personal, organizational, and societal interests with in relations of power and meta-negotiations about the power relations thems elves as stakeholders sought to have their interests represented at the pla nning table.