Transcript Strengthening Colorado Community Health Centers Through Grassroots Advocacy Elizabeth Garbe Policy Analyst Colorado Community Health Network.

Strengthening Colorado
Community Health Centers Through
Grassroots Advocacy
Elizabeth Garbe
Policy Analyst
Colorado Community Health Network
Presentation Overview
• Community Health Center Movement
 National
State
Local
• Grassroots Advocacy
• Legislative Priorities
• How You Can Participate
The Community Health Center (CHC)
“Movement”
• Created in 1965 by the Johnson Administration
• Vision:
– Communities will have accessible, affordable, and
appropriate primary health care regardless of
patients’ ability to pay
– Community members will play a unique leadership
role in the delivery of health care
• Started with 8 CHCs – now more than 1,000
The 5 Pillars of a
Community Health Center
1. Serve all patients regardless of ability to pay
for services
2. Located in high-need areas
3. Provide comprehensive primary health care
4. Governed by community boards
5. Mission-driven to provide health care to
low-income, working families
America’s Community Health Centers
• There are more than 1,000 CHCs serving 3,600
communities in every state and territory of the United
States
• CHCs are the health care home for more than 15
million Americans
• CHCs have been rated the most successful program of
the US Department of Health & Human Services
• President Bush has made CHCs a centerpiece of his
national health care agenda
(NACHC)
• Represents Community Health Centers
nationally
• Provides a coordinated structure and united
voice for Community Health Centers and
state Primary Care Associations
• Takes the lead on national issues affecting
Community Health Centers
• Represents Community Health Centers
statewide
• Provides a coordinating structure and united
voice for Community Health Centers
• Takes the lead on state issues affecting
Community Health Centers
By the numbers for Colorado…
• 14 Community Health
Centers
• 118 sites in 34 counties
• Served nearly 400,000
patients in 54 of
Colorado’s 64 counties
• Provided 1.6 million
patient visits in 2006
Why we need YOU!
• Any successful
legislative advocacy
must include:
– Policy analysis and
professional lobbying
– Media and public
relations
– GRASSROOTS
ADVOCACY
What is Grassroots Advocacy?
• You and Me advocating
for change because
government policy
affects
– Our lives,
– Patients lives, and
– The services we can
provide to our
community.
What is Advocacy?
• Asks something of others
• Demands a change to
benefit the lives of many
• Creates a collective voice
• Creates a space for public
discussion
• Finds solutions to problems
Democracy is Not a Spectator Sport
CCHN’s Legislative Priorities
• Protect current services and resources.
• Participate in health care reform efforts to
increase access to comprehensive primary
health care for all Coloradans.
• Increase funding necessary to expand access
to health care.
State Funding IS Important to CHCs:
Income Sources for
Colorado Health Centers
Other Grants/
Contracts
19%
Medicaid
36%
BPHC
21%
Medicare
6%
Self Pay
10%
CHP+
2%
Private
6%
What This Means
• State laws and regulations determine:
– How a program is implemented.
– How funds are dispersed.
– Who can participate in programs.
• Being a part of the future has to do with our
efforts today.
We Are Powerful!
• Colorado’s Community
Health Centers
– Care for 1 out of 12
Coloradans
– Employ over 2,600
Coloradans
– Are located in almost
every legislative
district in Colorado
We Are Powerful!
• Legislators must be accountable to their
constituents.
• If they do not hear from their constituents
we lose an opportunity to shape their
position.
• Just five calls from constituents can make an
enormous difference in the way a legislator
will vote on an issue.
Proof of Success
• SB06-44 – CICP Funding
– E-mailed legislators
– Called the Governor
• Referendum C
–
–
–
–
Walked door to door
Put yard signs up
Educated family and friends
Voted
–
–
–
–
–
Walked door to door
Put yard signs up
Made calls
Educated family and friends
Voted
• Amendment 35
“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~
How You Can Participate
• Sign up to receive messages from CCHN.
• Respond to Calls to Action.
• Get to know your CHCs Grassroots Advocacy
Coordinator.
• VOTE!
“Of all the forms of inequality,
injustice in health care is
the most shocking and inhumane.”
~Martin Luther King Jr.~
THANK YOU!
GET ACTIVE!