Transcript Preventive Services Improvement Initiative

SBHC Advocacy Basics
What is advocacy?
ad·vo·ca·cy
Pronunciation: 'ad-v&-k&-sE
Function: 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
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Why advocate?
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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
an advocacy plan
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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)
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Who will do the advocacy/ Who are the participants?:
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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
advocacy plan
Policy Goals
Resources
Participants
Decision Maker
Long Term:
What do you
have? (money,
Who is directly
impacted by
SBHCs:
Primary
Decision Maker:
volunteers, political
support,
community
relationships)
Short Term:
What do you
want? (money,
volunteers, political
support,
community
Which
organizations
share a
common
mission:
relationships)
Challenges to
overcome
Secondary
Decision
Maker(s):
Who will oppose
the SBHC:
Model from Midwest Academy; www.midwestacademy.com
Actions
Deciding your advocacy goal,
choose a goal that will…
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Advance the mission of the SBHC.
Be winnable.
Be easy to understand to decision makers
and the public.
Have a clear time frame that works for you.
Have clear decision maker(s).
Be non-divisive in the school and
community.
Be motivating to others to get involved.
Determining 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?
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Who will participants in the
advocacy campaign?
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Parents
Students
Health care
providers
Teachers
School
administration
Community
members
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School board
members
State legislators
State health and
education officials
Employers
Family members
Friends
 YOU
Selecting 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?
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Actions to win the campaign
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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
communicate SBHC messages
ACTION
PROBLEM
SOLUTION
Example: National
Advocacy Messages
ACTION:
The federal government
needs to provide stable
and adequate funding
for SBHCs, including
Medicaid
PROBLEM:
Communities face challenges
in addressing troubling
health trends in violence,
obesity, alcohol & tobacco use
early pregnancies and STDs.
SOLUTION:
SBHCs provide accessible
comprehensive preventive
health care.
Don’t forget to….
Set manageable expectations
 Involve others in setting your goals
 Celebrate the smallest successes
 Integrate your vision and goals into all
of your conversations
 Have fun!
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Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed
citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing
that ever has. ---Margaret Mead
Visit www.nasbhc.og for more resources