Sustained period of awareness. Issues evolve in a predictable series of phases, beginning with identification, followed by confirmation, support, and finally, problem-solving alternatives. Phase 1-Identification Identification consists of observing, detecting a pattern, and attaching an appropriate label to a situation, phenomenon, or need. Confirmation is essential to further progress. Phase 3-Support Identification and confirmation are typically not sufficient to launch an issue into public prominence.
Public support occurs when enough people place value on the resolution of the problem.
Financial support is often needed to employ staff in conducting research to increase knowledge, marketing the issue to increase public attention, and piloting alternative solutions. The final phase in the evolution of an issue is the development of one or more alternatives that can address the problem. In Extension, this is an issue- developed program. Community residents may see the problem, but fail to identify a trend. Regularly, but not exclusively, county agents and subject-matter experts take on this identification role.