1. NAMI Smarts for Advocacy Advocacy Day: Changing Hearts & Minds
© NAMI, Inc. 2013

2. Agenda Why advocate? Tips: Telling Your Story
7 steps to a powerful advocacy story
Write your own story
Practice your story
Demo: Meeting a legislator
Tips for meeting legislators
Call to action

3. Why Advocate?
Because everyone with a mental health condition deserves the opportunity
for recovery

4. Yet, many who could be helped don’t get
the care they need.

5. And without mental health care, America pays a high price in...
School failure
Unemployment
Homelessness
Criminalization
Suicide

6. Why Advocate? Politics is personal
Legislators serve their constituents
Respond best to people they know

7. Why Advocate? Legislators vote on laws & the budget that determine…
Who can get
What care
For how long
At what cost

8. Why Advocate? You can make a powerful case Our ‘ask’ will… Save lives
AND help the state budget

9. GOLD Your story is advocacy Real stories change hearts & minds
And build support for mental health

10. Keep your story brief, Just the highlights
Tip #1
Keep your story brief,
Just the highlights

11. Tip #2
Paint the picture

12. Motivate with hope and recovery
Tip #3
Motivate with
hope and recovery

13. Tip #4
Make an “ask” I

14. With our tips in mind…
Listen to the sample story
Notice your reactions

15. Let’s look at what makes the story work…
Look at the sample story
Compare it with your ‘Seven Steps Checklist’

16. Write your own story… Use your ‘Story Practice Sheet’
Refer to your ‘Seven Steps Checklist’ and the sample story

17. Practice sharing your story…
Turn to your neighbor
Take turns telling your stories
2 minutes each…or less
Give/receive constructive feedback
One thing that would make the story even stronger

18. Help you build a relationship
In-person meetings…
Help you build a relationship

19. But, some meetings make a stronger impression than others

20. Tip #1
Know your issue

21. The Briefing Sheet Know your issue Describe the problem
Identify a solution
Make your “ask”
Good to know: Key players and where the action is

22. Tip #2
Know
your legislator

23. The Backgrounder Know your elected official How long in office?
What committees?
What is their background?
Do you have anything in common?
What are their key issues?

24. Tip #3
Plan
your meeting

25. Meeting Roles Plan your meeting The “lead” The “messenger”
The “storyteller”

26. Tip #4
Make an “ask” I

27. With our tips in mind, let’s get started…
Listen to our sample meeting
Notice the roles people play
Notice where you hear the “tips” in action

28. What made the meeting work?
Find your ‘Checklist for Meeting Your Policymaker’
What did you see during the demo?

29. Congratulations! What did you take away from today?
What does this change for you?
Where do you plan to use your story?

30. Authors Angela Kimball Valerie Hunter Sita Diehl, NAMI
NAMI Smarts for Advocacy is copyrighted by the National Alliance on Mental Illness. No part of these materials may be reproduced, distributed or transmitted in any form except by permission from an authorized representative of the national organization.
© NAMI, Inc. 2013

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