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Coalition Building and Advocacy to Improve Oral Health in Texas

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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Coalition Building and Advocacy to Improve Oral Health in Texas

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  1. 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. 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. 3 Question • How do we create policy change to address a community issue?

  4. 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. 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. 6 Goal • Develop a consensus on the issue (an understanding and agreement) • General Public • Constituencies • Decision Makers

  7. 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. 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. 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. 10 Identify Venues/ Opportunities • Press Releases • Press Events • Public hearings • Public meetings • Editorial board meetings

  11. 11 Identify Venues/ Opportunities • Opinion Editorials • Speeches to organizations • Meetings with legislators • Meetings with organization leadership  • Training of new leadership

  12. 12 Expand 85% Rule

  13. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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

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