How to be an effective advocate

1. How to be an effective advocate Sue Lachenmayr New Jersey Society for Public Health Education http://www.njsophe.org

2. Sue Lachenmayr • Certified Health Educator • Media and advocacy training at the university, state and national levels • Develops grassroots coalitions, activity plans to increase preventive service initiatives, health education programs for health professionals and beneficiaries • Douglass College, BS, Psychology • UMDNJ School of Public Health, MPH Sue is President-Elect of the Society for Public Health Education (SOPHE), is Past President of the New Jersey Chapter of SOPHE, and has a gubernatorial appointment to the Commission on Aging. She is an adjunct professor at UMDNJ School of Public Health and a Certified health education consultant for the New Jersey State Department of Health and Senior Services. Contact Sue at lach@blast.net

3. Learning Objectives • Learn what advocacy is and why it is important to public health practitioners • Understand steps to take to get involved in the legislative process • Identify effective strategies for meeting with a legislator • Identify effective strategies for media advocacy Performance Objectives • Know how a bill becomes a law • Know the difference between advocacy and lobbying • Know how to present testimony before a legislative committee • Gain confidence in becoming an advocate

4. Advocacy • To speak for those who have no voice or representation - effective advocacy works to create a shift in public opinion, money, and other resources and to support an issue, policy or constituency.

5. Advocacy is an essential function of public health practitioners • Public health policy is often developed without benefit of input from the public health community • Legislators and policy-makers frequently have little or no knowledge of public health and its functions

6. Be an advocate ... All it takes is • 1 minute to leave a telephone message for your legislator • 3-5 minutes to photocopy and share an article of interest with a legislator • 5-10 minutes to send a letter or e-mail to your legislator • 10-15 minutes to visit a legislative website to get the latest information on bills

7. How to get involved in the legislative process • Provide testimony at a hearing • Write or call elected officials • Find community members who will champion the issue • Advocate with government officials to change the laws

8. Steps for successful advocacy • Identify an issue • Identify supportive policy makers • Work with policy makers who have decision-making power on your issue • Identify potential partners for your issue • Motivate grassroots support • Develop a media strategy • Understand how a bill becomes law

9. Pick a “winnable” issue • What can be gained or lost by supporting (or opposing) the issue? • Are you and others committed to this issue? • What community resources are available? • Who are allies and adversaries on this issue? • Who else shares this problem? What would those who share the problem gain or lose by joining? • What laws already exist to deal with the issue?

10. How to influence legislators • Make a financial contribution, even a small one puts your name on the legislator’s list of contributors. • Provide factual information about key issues. • Visit your legislator at the local district office, state or national office or attend town meetings. • Provide written information about what action your legislator should take.

11. How to influence legislators (cont.) • Recognize legislators with letters of appreciation or a press release when they introduce or vote for a bill you support. • Involve constituents/community members who have been affected. • Recommend a solution so the legislator can rectify the situation

12. Meeting with your legislator • Know the facts. Research all sides of the issue • Know when and how to contact policy makers If the legislator is unavailable, meet with a legislative aide • the aide is often the person who informs your legislator about key issues

13. Meeting with your legislator (cont.) • Send a letter, a fax, or telephone to request an appointment Identify yourself as a constituent • Be an expert. Share factual information about the issue • Arrive on time and keep it simple Provide a a brief written overview of the issue

14. Meeting with your legislator (cont.) • Be patient Give the policy maker few days to review the issue • Follow up with a letter Thank your legislator for meeting with you; • Ask the legislator for a response to your request

15. Identify potential partners for your issue • Find other groups who recognize the importance of this issue • Invite them to join with you on this effort • Identify areas where compromise might be needed

16. Motivate grassroots support • Constituents who are directly affected by the issue can provide personal stories to illustrate why legislation is needed • Building self-efficacy of new advocates by: • Defining the issues • Developing communication skills • Providing opportunities for practice to increase

17. Develop a media strategy • Make sure both legislators and the public understand and remember your message • Begin by answering the following questions: • What do we want to accomplish? • Who has the power to make it happen? • What do they need to hear?

18. Develop a media strategy (cont.) • An effective message • Makes a strong impact • Is accurate • Touches people • Develop a message that: • Describes the problem • States why it is important • Identifies the desired policy outcome you want

19. Develop a media strategy (cont.) • Begin with your conclusion (your primary message) • Keep your message short • Avoid using complex statistical data • Avoid using technical terms

20. Develop a media strategy (cont.) • Repeat your message at least three times in any conversation or presentation • Use the same key words each time • Stay on message - don’t get sidetracked

21. Providing testimony • Prepare a written statement in advance. • Keep your testimony brief. State your name, organization, and your position on the bill • Use sound bites. • Use personal experiences to enhance testimony.

22. Providing testimony (cont.) • Avoid emotional testimony or inflammatory words that might alienate committee members. • Listen to prior speakers. • Avoid repeating previously stated facts.

23. Providing testimony (cont.) • Don’t be disappointed if members of the committee are not attentive. Those who did not hear it will receive a copy of your written version. • Expect questions or comments.

24. How a bill becomes law • Idea developed • Legislative sponsor identified • Bill is drafted by the Office of Legislative Services • “First reading” in Senate/Assembly • Bill number is assigned • Bill referred to appropriate committee

25. How a bill becomes law (cont.) • Bill posted in committee • public hearings • committee vote on bill • Successful bill “marked up” • “Second reading” called by House Speaker or Senate President

26. How a bill becomes law (cont.) • “Third reading” – bill is voted on by members of House or Senate • If approved by majority, bill goes to second house • Governor’s/President’s signature on bill • Bill becomes law

27. Advocacy Vs lobbying • Advocacy: contact with a policy maker to discuss a social or economic problem as long as no specific bill number is mentioned. • Grassroots lobbying: an appeal to the general public asking them to to call or write their Congressman to support a bill • Lobbying: asking a policy maker to support (or oppose specific legislation)

28. Public health practitioners provide policy expertise • Assess community needs to determine key issues • Motivate community members to action • Provide training for community members to become effective advocates • Inform legislators about constituents’ position on legislative issues

29. Suggested Reading Americans for Nonsmokers’ Rights. (1994). Tips for testifying. Berkeley, CA: ASSIST. (1993). ASSIST training materials, volume VI: Media advocacy: A strategic tool for change. American Public Health Association (2000). 2000 APHA Media Advocacy Manual. Washington, DC. Lachenmayr, S (2001) How to impact health policy: advocacy and legislation, Community Health Education Methods: A Practitioner’s Guide, Editors RJ Bensley, J Brookins-Fisher, Sudbury Massachusetts: Jones and Bartlett Publishers Vernick, JS. (1999). Lobbying and advocacy for the public’s health: what are the limits for nonprofit organizations? American Journal of Public Health (89:9, pp. 1425-1429). Wolley SJ, Balin S and Reynolds S (1999). Partners for Advocacy: non-profit organizations and lobbyists. Health Education Monograph Series, (17:2, pp.. 45- 48).