Community Health Centers and Advocacy – A National Approach A Presentation to the Health Equity Conference

A Presentation to the Health Equity Conference

Community Health Centers Creating access to health care across Virginia Community Health Centers 240,000+ patients 105 Health Center Sites Medical – Dental – Pharmaceutical – Behavioral Health - Prevention

National Efforts on Advocacy Led by National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC) Using multiple tools to achieve goals Email Web Based Advocacy Tools Phone calls Field reps – work with Community Health Centers Shoe Leather… lots of shoe leather

Led by National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC)

Using multiple tools to achieve goals

Email

Web Based Advocacy Tools

Phone calls

Field reps – work with Community Health Centers

Shoe Leather… lots of shoe leather

Define the needs NACHC National Legislative Committee Members bring issues to attention of NACHC Face to Face discussions 2x annually Agendas determined, refined NACHC does most of the “grunt work” on refining agendas defining goals setting target objectives developing and coordinating advocacy campaigns

NACHC National Legislative Committee

Members bring issues to attention of NACHC

Face to Face discussions 2x annually

Agendas determined, refined

NACHC does most of the “grunt work” on

refining agendas

defining goals

setting target objectives

developing and coordinating advocacy campaigns

Trickle Down from NACHC Overall Advocacy Agenda Interactions with HHS/HRSA/BPHC Interactions with Congress Assist states and members with grass roots activities, updates on what’s going on in D.C., etc.

Overall Advocacy Agenda

Interactions with HHS/HRSA/BPHC

Interactions with Congress

Assist states and members with grass roots activities, updates on what’s going on in D.C., etc.

Trickle Up to NACHC States and members give NACHC feedback on issues, what’s going on in the field Interactions with NACHC, HHS/HRSA/BPHC Interactions with Congress On local issues On state issues On national issues Developing state wide grass roots base and campaigns to meet national and state goals/objectives

States and members give NACHC feedback on issues, what’s going on in the field

Interactions with NACHC, HHS/HRSA/BPHC

Interactions with Congress

On local issues

On state issues

On national issues

Developing state wide grass roots base and campaigns to meet national and state goals/objectives

Techniques that work Identify core group of grass roots activist Educate members on the need, their role Keep in contact with members on issues, action items Assist members in developing their grass roots What works at the national level works at the state level works at the local level

Identify core group of grass roots activist

Educate members on the need, their role

Keep in contact with members on issues, action items

Assist members in developing their grass roots

What works at the national level

works at the state level

works at the local level

Techniques that work Identify your champion legislators Identify your champion policy makers Educate on issues, needs Ask How can you solve this together? Keep in contact with legislators On issues, action items Out of sight, out of mind

Identify your champion legislators

Identify your champion policy makers

Educate on issues, needs

Ask

How can you solve this together?

Keep in contact with legislators

On issues, action items

Out of sight, out of mind

Techniques that work No money for PACS, campaign contributions, etc. It’s all about relationships Local Statewide National Build the relationships NOW – before you need them!

No money for PACS, campaign contributions, etc.

It’s all about relationships

Local

Statewide

National

Build the relationships NOW – before you need them!

Techniques that work Organize Your Grass Roots Support Is an on-going process Constant renewal Constant education Constant contact with grass roots Look into using an online advocacy system Keep grass roots informed Issue calls to action

Organize Your Grass Roots Support

Is an on-going process

Constant renewal

Constant education

Constant contact with grass roots

Look into using an online advocacy system

Keep grass roots informed

Issue calls to action

Techniques that work “ Boots on the ground” visits Get key legislators to visit your programs Educate them on what you really do Make it a media event when possible and appropriate

“ Boots on the ground” visits

Get key legislators to visit your programs

Educate them on what you really do

Make it a media event when possible and appropriate

Techniques that work When you have a key issue NOW Emails Phone calls Visits to their offices Get the people most impacted to talk with the key legislator(s) Patients who depend on our services COIs in the community

When you have a key issue NOW

Emails

Phone calls

Visits to their offices

Get the people most impacted to talk with the key legislator(s)

Patients who depend on our services

COIs in the community

Techniques that work When one or two legislators are holding up your issue Always talk with them first Then flood them with constituents Four or five calls may make the difference Hundreds of calls will inundate them

When one or two legislators are holding up your issue

Always talk with them first

Then flood them with constituents

Four or five calls may make the difference

Hundreds of calls will inundate them

Thanks You! Rick Shinn Director of Public Affairs Virginia Community Healthcare Association (800) 966-8272 x:19 [email_address]

Rick Shinn

Director of Public Affairs

Virginia Community Healthcare Association

(800) 966-8272 x:19

[email_address]