This document provides an example advocacy plan template with goals, strategies, next steps, potential helpers, and helpful resources. The template includes examples for working with other child mental health advocates, impacting legislation around loan forgiveness, and engaging in mental health education and outreach. Developing an advocacy plan involves connecting with relevant organizations, researching the issue, and taking specific actions to work towards the goal.

1. Crafting an Advocacy Plan
Goal: Strategies: Next Steps: Who can help: What can help:
Example: Work with other  Connect with ROCAP  Contact ROCAP President about next  AACAP Advocacy
child mental health advocates  Meet other CAP and family meeting Liaison
in my state. advocates  Attend AACAP Advocacy Day  ROCAP President
 Research active family advocacy  Training Director
organizations in state
Example: Impact legislation  Meet with legislators to talk  Research current legislative  AACAP Government  AACAP Advocacy
related to loan forgiveness for about bill information about bill Affairs Updates
child psychiatrists.  Coordinate with others to  Talk to ROCAP members about bill  ROCAP members  AACAP advocacy
build support  Contact AACAP about setting up local website
legislative meetings
Example: Engage in mental  Meet with students,  Develop curriculum content  ROCAP members  AACAP advocacy
health education and teachers, consumers,  Develop calendar of events  AACAP Advocacy website
outreach program with local and/or families to assess  Invite speakers/presenters Liaison/Grassroots  NIMH Neuroscience
high school needs  Offer instructions and practice  Local academic Curriculum
 Identify community opportunities for presenters experts
resources  Develop ongoing feedback process  Local trainees
 Identify educational  Local consumers
strategies/best practices and/or families

2. Goal: Strategies: Next Steps: Who can help: What can help: