SBHC Advocacy BasicsSBHC Advocacy Basics

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What is advocacy?What is advocacy?

ad·vo·ca·cyPronunciation: 'ad-v&-k&-sEFunction: noun

The act of pleading or arguing in favor of

something, such as a cause, idea, or policy;

active support.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language

Why advocate?Why advocate?

Secure funding for your program Influence existing power structure Expand services at your program Integrate your program into the community Get help in forwarding your agenda Protect yourself from “attack” Offer yourself as a resource Have your voice heard and/or strengthened Create change

Key questions to ask when developing Key questions to ask when developing an advocacy planan advocacy plan

What will success look like in your SBHC? What do you want to accomplish politically? Are there small steps you can take to get there? What resources do you have? (human, financial, partnerships, relationships) Who will do the advocacy/ Who are the participants?:

Who will benefit from your vision? Who will stand beside you to achieve your vision?

Which elected/appointed officials have the power to give you your goal? What actions will the participants take to win the campaign? What messages will you use?

A convenient and strategic model to organize your A convenient and strategic model to organize your advocacy planadvocacy plan

Policy GoalsPolicy Goals ResourcesResources ParticipantsParticipants Decision MakerDecision Maker ActionsActions

Long Term:Long Term:

Short Term:Short Term:

What do you What do you havehave? (? (money, money, volunteers, political volunteers, political support, support, community community

relationshipsrelationships))

What do you What do you wantwant? ? ((money, money, volunteers, political volunteers, political support, support, community community

relationshipsrelationships))

Challenges to Challenges to overcomeovercome

Who is directly Who is directly impacted by impacted by SBHCs:SBHCs:

Which Which organizations organizations share a share a common common mission:mission:

Who will oppose Who will oppose the SBHC:the SBHC:

Primary Primary Decision Maker:Decision Maker:

Secondary Secondary Decision Decision Maker(s):Maker(s):

Model from Midwest Academy; www.midwestacademy.com

Deciding your advocacy goal, Deciding your advocacy goal, choose a goal that will…choose a goal that will…

Advance the mission of the SBHC.Advance the mission of the SBHC. Be winnable.Be winnable. Be easy to understand to decision makers Be easy to understand to decision makers

and the public.and the public. Have a clear time frame that works for you.Have a clear time frame that works for you. Have clear decision maker(s).Have clear decision maker(s). Be non-divisive in the school and Be non-divisive in the school and

community. community. Be motivating to others to get involved.Be motivating to others to get involved.

Determining your resourcesDetermining your resources

Do you have the support of your sponsoring agency?

Are there groups/ classes in the school that can contribute?

What percentage of the SBHC staff time is dedicated to advocacy?

How active is the advisory committee? Is there money in the budget for

advocacy?

Who will participants in the Who will participants in the advocacy campaign?advocacy campaign?

Parents Students Health care

providers Teachers School

administration Community

members

School board members

State legislators State health and

education officials Employers Family members Friends

YOU

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Selecting the decision makerSelecting the decision maker

What decision making power do they have?

What is their knowledge of and interest level in SBHCs?

What other political interests do they have?

Do you have a prior relationship with them?

Actions to win the campaignActions to win the campaign

Visits to school-based health centers Personal letters Telephone calls E-mails Post card campaigns Petitions Letters to the editor Public forums/town hall meetings Advocacy Days Face to face meetings

The Message Circle: a structure to The Message Circle: a structure to communicate SBHC messagescommunicate SBHC messages

PROBLEM

SOLUTION

ACTION

Example: National Example: National Advocacy MessagesAdvocacy Messages

SOLUTION:SBHCs provide accessiblecomprehensive preventive

health care.

ACTION:The federal governmentneeds to provide stable and adequate funding for SBHCs, including

Medicaid

PROBLEM:Communities face challenges

in addressing troublinghealth trends in violence,

obesity, alcohol & tobacco useearly pregnancies and STDs.

Don’t forget to….Don’t forget to….

Set manageable expectations Involve others in setting your goalsCelebrate the smallest successes Integrate your vision and goals into all

of your conversationsHave fun!

Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing

that ever has. ---that ever has. ---Margaret MeadMargaret Mead

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