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1. Coalition Building and Advocacy to Improve Oral Health in Texas. Patti Everitt, Executive Director Children’s Defense Fund in Austin, Texas 512-480-0990 Texas Oral Health Summit: Advocacy, Equity & Access Austin, Texas September 9-10, 2004. 2. Children’s Defense Fund.
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1 Coalition Building and Advocacy to Improve Oral Health in Texas Patti Everitt, Executive Director Children’s Defense Fund in Austin, Texas 512-480-0990 Texas Oral Health Summit: Advocacy, Equity & Access Austin, Texas September 9-10, 2004
2 Children’s Defense Fund • National children’s advocacy organization • State offices in Texas: Austin, Houston, Rio Grande Valley • Issues: children’s health, quality child care, family economic security • Activities: Policy, Research, Public Education, Advocacy
3 Question • How do we create policy change to address a community issue?
4 Key Questions • Who can make the decision to change policy? • What/who will influence their decision? • Do they understand the issue? Are they well-informed? • Why should they care? • Does it affect their district? • Who is for it? Against it? • Who profits from the issue? • Who wins/who loses? • Who cares about the issue?
5 Key Questions • Who are your logical allies? • What data/research is available on the issue? • How well is the community informed? • Is there a core constituency? • Is the issue well defined? • Is there agreement on the issue? • What is the call to action? What is the success? • Is this a temporary or on-going issue?
6 Goal • Develop a consensus on the issue (an understanding and agreement) • General Public • Constituencies • Decision Makers
7 First Steps • Take an inventory • Convene core constituency and create a group • Define the issue • Determine the call to action • Write a statement and/or principles
8 Next Steps • Create a way to support the issue • Sign-on forms • Endorsements • Resolutions • Create a coalition of supporters • Identify key leadership for the issue • Determine what data is available/needed • Agree on key messages • Develop a strategy
9 Develop Tools • Distribution lists • Web site • Research • Spokespersons • Response mechanism • Regular meetings • Press list • List Serve • Printed materials • Legislative packets • Mailing List of community leaders
10 Identify Venues/ Opportunities • Press Releases • Press Events • Public hearings • Public meetings • Editorial board meetings
11 Identify Venues/ Opportunities • Opinion Editorials • Speeches to organizations • Meetings with legislators • Meetings with organization leadership • Training of new leadership
12 Expand 85% Rule
13 Elected Officials All politics are local: • How will the issue affect their district? • Their constituents must let them know they care • Visits: local and state support • Local data
14 Examples of Advocacy • 911 Commission • Released sections of report • Traveling U.S. to build support • Travis County Hospital District • Judge called the issue • Task Force appointed • Call to action determined • Oral Health Listening sessions: • Issues defined • Core constituencies identified
15 Campaign to Restore CHIP • Determined call to action • restore CHIP eligibility and benefits • Created sign-on form & resolutions • Created Coaltion to Restore CHIP • 233 organizations; 2500 individuals • Demonstrates broad based support
16 Campaign to Restore CHIP • Expanded support & endorsements • Business organizations, elected officials • Identified local coordinators • Developed Key Contacts for Campaign • 40 most interested constituencies (on-going) • Regular conference calls & meetings
17 Campaign to Restore CHIP • Identified sub-issues • Local impact of CHIP cuts • Hospital district deficit • Tax rate • Increased cost of ER vs. preventive • Impact on families • Loss of federal funds • Benefits loss • Dental • Vision • Asset test
18 Campaign to Restore CHIP • Created tools • Family story form • List serve • Research • CHIP Family Survey Project • Survey of dental providers • Comparison to other states • City of Mission Study • Public Education • Press Releases • Speeches
19 Campaign to Restore CHIP • Agenda for Sept – December • Local coordinators in additional cities • Additional sign-ons • CHIP Congress in Nov 5 • Children’s Sabbath: Texas Healthy Child Weekend for CHIP: Enroll.Renew.Restore. • Legislative packets and visit • Policy briefing letters to opinion makers & decision makers • Press