Policy 201: Beyond a Bill – Using the Policy Process to Build the SHC Movement Beth Blacksin, Director, Government Relations, Advocate Charitable Foundation Liz Feldman, Medical Director, Advocate Illinois Masonic School-Based Health Centers Blair Harvey, Project Director, Illinois Coalition for School Health Centers NASBHC Annual Meeting June 26, 2008

Presenter Disclosures Beth Blacksin, Liz Feldman, Blair Harvey The following personal financial relationships with commercial interests relevant to this presentation existed during the past 12 months: No relationships to disclose.

Objectives  Recognize ways to influence policy change and strategies to develop a campaign  Identify effective ways to engage members in a campaign and how to counter conservative opposition  Discuss how steps in a campaign contribute to building a movement and increasing awareness of the SHC model

Session Outline  Intro and overview of Illinois policy agenda  Strategy to increase funding for SHCs  Governor’s budget line item funding request  Illinois SB715 – how it became law  Building a movement  Discussion, Q&A

Illinois Coalition for School Health Centers MISSION “ To improve the physical and mental health of children and adolescents in Illinois by fostering the development, stabilization and expansion of school health centers.” GOALS  Advocacy  Program and Professional Development  Education  Networking

 Illinois Coalition for School Health Centers formed in 1996 Structure: Steering Committee creates and directs strategic plan 3 working Committees carry out the work: Public Education and Advocacy, Program Development and Evaluation, Conference Planning  50 centers in Illinois, 27 in Chicago  State provides some funding for 39 out of 50 SHCs

Policy Agenda  Sustainability biggest challenge  Level funding in the state since 2000  No increase in state grants  Over 50 communities interested in starting a SHC  Laid the ground work to launch a full campaign

Direct Action Organizing  Win real, immediate, concrete improvement in people’s lives  Give people a sense of their own power  Alter the relations of power

Blank Strategy Chart GoalsOrganizational Considerations Constituents, Allies & Opponents Decision MakerTactics Long Term: Intermediate: Short Term: What do you have? What do you want? Internal Problems Constituents: Allies: Opponents: Primary Decision Maker: Secondary Decision Maker(s):

Goals Long Term What you really want. Ex. Safe affordable health care for all Intermediate What are you trying to win now. Ex: a Patient bill or rights Short Term Steps to the Intermediate Goal Ex. Get bill out of committee Goals are always won from someone Organizational Considerations What resources can you put in? People Time? $? Be specific How will you build the organization? New members Money to raise Allies New Leaders How much? How many? Be specific. Internal Problems in the way? How to solve. Constituency Constituents: Who is directly affected by the issue? Allies: Who cares about the issue? What power do they have over the decision maker? How are they organized? Opponents Who will actively oppose you? Decision Maker The person who has the power to give you what you want? Secondary Decision Maker Someone over whom you have power, who has power over the Decision Maker Decision Makers always people, never an institution. Tactics What constituents do to Decision Makers to make them give you the goals. Petitions Letter writing Media events Rallies Public Hearings Group visits to Decision Makers Actions Accountability Sessions Marches Etc., Etc

Gov Budget Strategy Chart

SB715 Strategy Chart

Lessons Learned  Know and plan for your opposition  Create and use key messages Educate your constituency on the message  Ask the experts  Be relentless  Have a base to mobilize

Building a Movement  Leadership Development Internal and External Skills  Visibility

Leadership Development and Visibility  Engaged and trained new members  Deepened relationships with 7 SHCs in Southern Illinois and 5 more in Central Illinois  Trained members and partners on messaging and campaign tactics  Developed relationship with communities in the SHC planning stages  Developed foundation for ICSHC Youth Advisory Council (YAC)  Built stronger relationships with educational partners  Strengthened skills of current leaders

Leadership Development and Visibility  Educated almost all of the General Assembly Members  Identified 3 new legislative champions  Strengthened relationships with strategic partners Including the State Board of Education, Illinois Public Health Association and the Lt. Governor

Conclusions  A victory is more then just winning, count every step along the way  Don’t forget to celebrate

Illinois Coalition for School Health Centers