1. NAMI Iowa Day on the Hill Advocacy Training 3.12.19
© NAMI, Inc. 2013

2. Agenda Why advocate? Tips: Telling Your Story
7 steps to a powerful advocacy story
Work on your own 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. Help you build a relationship
In-person meetings…
Help you build a relationship

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

17. Tip #1
Know your issue

18. Tip #2
Know
your legislator

19. Tip #3
Plan
your meeting

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

21. Tip #4
Make an “ask” I

22. 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

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

24. It’s time to practice! Find 2-3 other people to do the role play with.
Assign yourselves a role – legislator, lead, messenger, storyteller, or a combination.
Spend a few minutes writing out your thoughts.
Do your role play!
© NAMI, Inc. 2013

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

26. Questions?
Concerns?
Call to ACTION!