Advocacy Advocacy Susan Chauncey Horky, LCSWSusan Chauncey Horky, LCSW

University of FloridaUniversity of Florida

Pediatric Pulmonary CenterPediatric Pulmonary Center

TodayTodayTodayToday TopicsTopics

• Advocacy in generalAdvocacy in general

• UF Peds Residency Advocacy RotationUF Peds Residency Advocacy Rotation

Take home messagesTake home messages• Anyone can advocate, in large or small waysAnyone can advocate, in large or small ways

• Many kinds of advocacy depend largely on Many kinds of advocacy depend largely on relationshipsrelationships

• People often start out not knowing what to doPeople often start out not knowing what to do

Dr. Finch is a mid-career physician Dr. Finch is a mid-career physician who is passionately concerned about who is passionately concerned about teen smoking. He talks seriously with teen smoking. He talks seriously with each of his patients about smoking, each of his patients about smoking, but would like to approach the but would like to approach the problem on a broader scale. What problem on a broader scale. What advocacy options might he pursue?advocacy options might he pursue?

MediaMediaMediaMediaGrassrootsGrassrootsGrassrootsGrassroots LegislativeLegislativeLegislativeLegislative

Main Areas of AdvocacyMain Areas of AdvocacyMain Areas of AdvocacyMain Areas of Advocacy

Grassroots AdvocacyGrassroots Advocacy

Individual advocacyIndividual advocacy

EducationEducation

Coalition BuildingCoalition Building

Coalition BuildingCoalition Building

How do I How do I get get

started?started?

How to Get Started:How to Get Started:Find Like-Minded PeopleFind Like-Minded People

• Don’t include irrelevant groups Don’t include irrelevant groups

• Look beyond obvious allies Look beyond obvious allies

• Be clear about goals & rolesBe clear about goals & roles

• Don’t forget money/staffing Don’t forget money/staffing

Coalition Building Coalition Building

Coalition BuildingCoalition Building

Advantages?Advantages?Advantages?Advantages?

Pitfalls?Pitfalls?Pitfalls?Pitfalls?

Forms of MediaForms of Media

Op ed piece

On line in

fo

Article Letters to editor

(<300 words)Radio talk show

TV (focus on visuals)

SustainSustain coverage in various ways

Media: RelationshipMedia: Relationship BuildingBuilding

Media Strategies and TipsMedia Strategies and Tips

Call and say you liked Call and say you liked a story they dida story they did

Call and give a local Call and give a local angle on a national angle on a national storystory

Know who to contactKnow who to contact• In your organizationIn your organization• In the mediaIn the media

Know strengths and Know strengths and weaknesses of weaknesses of different media formsdifferent media forms

Don’t try to educate, Don’t try to educate, just give one piece of just give one piece of infoinfo

Use symbolsUse symbols

Do you have a story?Do you have a story?

Is government involved?

Is there widespread public interest?

Are there broad societal trends?

Is a lot of cost involved?

Are well known people involved?

Does your info run counter to widely held beliefs?

IdentifyIdentifygoalsgoals

Develop

Develop

strate

gy

strate

gy

Get

tp

Get

tp

know

know

legi

sla-

legi

sla-

tors

tors

BroadenBroadensupportsupport

GetGet

FactsFacts

Nancy Amidei’sNancy Amidei’sfive startingfive starting

stepssteps

Building RelationshipsBuilding Relationshipswith Legislatorswith Legislators

When calling legislator’s office:

First call: Ask for info about what committees they’re on

Second call: Ask which aide you should call about your topic

Third call: Talk to aide

Keep legislators informed

Thank legislators, in word and deed

Learning about Current Legislation

The Federal Register:The Federal Register:www.gpo.access.gov/fr/index.htmlwww.gpo.access.gov/fr/index.html

Professional Organization Professional Organization (NASW, AAP,APA, AMA)(NASW, AAP,APA, AMA)

On-Line SunshineOn-Line Sunshinewww.leg.state.fl.uswww.leg.state.fl.us

Your legislator's home pageYour legislator's home pagewww.flsenate.govwww.flsenate.gov

League of Women VotersLeague of Women Voterswww.wlv.orgwww.wlv.org

““Thomas” Home pagesThomas” Home pageswww.congress.orgwww.congress.org

Talking to Legislators: 90 second speech

Give your name and say that you vote

Show that you represent a large number of people

Give them something in writing

Say why you’re there; be brief and direct:(Issue, data, scope)

Say you want them to VOTE for the bill

““Training Pediatricians to Become Training Pediatricians to Become Child Advocates”Child Advocates”

1.1. Develop credibility in the communityDevelop credibility in the community

2.2. Become involved in efforts to pass Become involved in efforts to pass legislationlegislation

3.3. Work proactively as a recognized expert Work proactively as a recognized expert in child health policyin child health policy

(AAP, Pediatrics, 102(3), September 1998)(AAP, Pediatrics, 102(3), September 1998)

Residency Advocacy Residency Advocacy CurriculumCurriculum

TeachingAnd

CommunityPediatrics

TeachingAnd

CommunityPediatrics

PolicyAdvocacy

PolicyAdvocacyIndividual

CaseAdvocacy

IndividualCase

Advocacy

Individual Case AdvocacyIndividual Case Advocacy

Identify a pediatric health issueIdentify a pediatric health issue

Perform EBM literature search to get data Perform EBM literature search to get data that supports your viewsthat supports your views

Create “Needs Survey” for family you see Create “Needs Survey” for family you see that addresses this issuethat addresses this issue

Locate resources to help familyLocate resources to help family

Write advocacy letter to support familyWrite advocacy letter to support family

Policy AdvocacyPolicy Advocacy•Identify elected officials

•Identify bill related to health issue

of your choice

•See how elected officials voted

•Identify current pediatric health issues

•Write letter of support to elected

official

•Write editorial•Work with Dr. Bucciarelli

Teaching and Community PedsTeaching and Community Peds

Conduct educational activities with studentsConduct educational activities with students• ElementaryElementary• MiddleMiddle• HighHigh

Interview school nurseInterview school nurse

Westwood Middle School Teen Zone: after school Westwood Middle School Teen Zone: after school program with activities focused on nutrition, activity, program with activities focused on nutrition, activity, wellnesswellness

ACORN equal access clinicACORN equal access clinic

Take-home MessagesTake-home Messages

Anyone can advocate, in large or small Anyone can advocate, in large or small waysways

Coalition building, media relations and Coalition building, media relations and legislative advocacy depend largely on legislative advocacy depend largely on relationshipsrelationships

People often start not knowing what to doPeople often start not knowing what to do