Health Policy Advocacy WHY IT MUST MATTER TO YOU!

I have no conflicts of interest to report and I have no relevant financial relationships with any ‘commercial interests’ in regards to this presentation. I have completed all the Disclosure Form. Vicki S. Giambrone Executive Vice President and Partner CBD Advisors

Learning Objectives  Discuss what advocacy means and what it doesn’t mean.  Discuss the importance of advocacy for health professionals.  Understand everyone has a role as an advocate.  Identify actions individuals can take to advocate.

What Does Advocacy Really Mean? An Advocate is Active ◦Speaks in favor of ◦Supports or defends a cause… ◦Pleads on another’s behalf...

Advocacy versus Lobbying  The goals of advocacy and lobbying are similar - processes are different.  Lobbying isn’t bad or unethical.  Non-profit organizations can advocate and lobby  Legislators need to/ should interact with issue leaders  Communication for educational purposes is not lobbying  Testifying or offering advice is not lobbying 5

Why Is Advocacy Important?  Ability to inform and impact public policy.  Keeps the focus on those in need who may not be able to speak for themselves  Promotes change at the “systems” level  Works to overcome system barriers  Highlights the work of your organizations and your profession

Why YOU Must be Engaged! Who better than you to educate, inform, influence and impact those who have the power to decide.

A seat at the table.

Academic Prevention and Public Health Professionals  Bring credibility  Are keenly aware of the needs, trends and effects  Access to resources most of us don’t have  It impacts almost all of your work  And you care

Why don’t people engage in Advocacy?  Lack of comfort with/knowledge of advocacy process  Think you can’t  Think you shouldn’t

It can be fun! Really! It can be rewarding!

Put on your big girl/boy pants & go for it!

Build Your Advocacy Tool Kit

Choose your issue  Decide on 1 or 2 issues that particularly interest you, your affiliation group and/or your students  What is of most interest to you the health professionals in your area?  What issues have been identified by the Community Health Assessments?

Develop a Foundation of Knowledge  Do your research!  Really get to know the issue(s)  What is the challenge  What is or isn’t happening that makes it an issue  Identify all “players” that are involved in the issue.  Identify who might be against your issue  Understand their position and see if there is any common ground  Identify the possible solutions.

Identify the process  What is the local/state legislative process?  Where is your issue in this process?  What agencies have any influence authority or control over the issue?  Who needs to know about your advocacy?  What key contacts do we need to make?

Build Credibility  NETWORK  Keep up with key contacts/advocates  Become a Trusted Source of Information  Send information without asking anything in return  Identify, work with, and encourage others to get engaged.

Advocacy Groups & Coalitions Adds Value  Increase links to decision makers  Provide background information on legislative issues  Identify others interested in same issue(s)  Enhance credibility with governmental agencies and other advocacy groups  Increase resources, share workload

Extending CHIP

Delivering Your Message  Make it about awareness and education of the issue  Be specific and to the point.  Avoid using jargon  Make it person. Tell them a story about a person/family or child that best illustrates this problem  State your proposed solution clearly  Provide leave behind materials with contact information  Always tell the truth  Don’t bad mouth the other side

Make it real. Make it personal. Make it easy to connect.

Who needs to hear your message  Elected officials and Candidates  And their staff members  Agency Administrators  Grass-tops  Business & Community Leaders  Board members  Political donors  Grassroots  Public  Targeted like minded individuals  Voters  Media

Don’t Burn Bridges With Legislators; Treat Them With Respect  Don’t be too pushy or too demanding.  Don’t personally attack or question their integrity  Don’t play one legislator against another  Always keep them informed and be fully truthful.

Engagement Strategies That Work  Relationship Building  Policy Proposals  Research and Issue Briefings  Pilot Projects  Public Service Programs  Coalition Awards/Events  Public Service Announcements  Voter Education

Sharing Your Issue with the Public…  Meet with the communications/media people in your organization; professional associations and community organizations.  Offer to be a media resource.  Become a trusted resource  Get a social media profile – read about how to become and “Influencer”  Consider being a blogger for your organization

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Achieving Incremental Success  Big wins often require perfect timing— small wins keep advancing the issue.  Remember it’s a marathon – not a sprint.  It took seven years to get a booster seat bill in Ohio – still not a primary offense. Comprehensive change is often difficult to achieve.

Fitting Advocacy Into Busy Lives  Be registered to vote.  Get on an advocacy alert list  Go to a legislative/issue function  Talk—tell stories  Wear a conspicuous badge/T-shirt  Write a letter to your legislator  Post on Facebook

Learning Objectives Review  Discuss what advocacy means and what it doesn’t mean.  Discuss the importance of advocacy for health professionals.  Understand everyone has a role as an advocate.  Identify actions individuals can take to advocate.

Questions?

Consider Working With a Lobbyist  Some groups, organizations and coalitions may be able to afford one  Align with an organization that already has a lobbyist  Recruit volunteers who have experience in lobbying if a lobbyist is not possible

Lobbying Shouldn’t Be a Negative Term Any attempt to influence legislation is lobbying Directly stating a position on specific legislation to legislators or other government employees who participate in the formulation of legislation; or, Any attempt to influence legislation is lobbying Direct - stating a position on specific legislation to legislators or other government employees who participate in the formulation of legislation; or, Grassroots - urging your members or the general public to contact their legislators with a position on specific legislation (a “call to action”).

Lobbying and Non profits 1976 Lobby Law - non profits can lobby ◦ Sections 501 (h) and 4911 of the Tax Reform Act of 1976 ◦ 501(c)(3) “charitable” organizations are subject to limits or absolute prohibitions What’s Permitted ◦ Issue Advocacy ◦ Voter Registration ◦ Nonpartisan Voter Education ◦ Nonpartisan Candidate Education ◦ Nonpartisan Candidate Forums ◦ Support or oppose ballot questions

Lobbying and Non-profits What's Prohibited ◦ Can’t spend more than a “substantial amount” ◦ Organization may not support or oppose any candidate for public office, including ◦ Endorse candidates for office ◦ Make a campaign contribution or expenditure for a candidate ◦ Use or let candidates use its facilities, resources or mailing lists, unless it is equally available to all candidates ◦ Use an election communication explicitly designed to favor or oppose a candidate ◦ Focus your efforts on policy and regulation changes ◦ Focus on clarifying or seeking change of governmental roles and responsibilities ◦ Bring awareness of public interest issues ◦ Educate legislators, administrators, judges, and community leaders ◦ Develop relationships