Why Your Voice Matters: How You Can Help to Drive State and National Conversations What is Advocacy? Why should you advocate? Legislative Update on federal issues related to Substance Abuse/Mental Health Most Effective tips for Public Advocacy

What is Public Advocacy Advocacy encompasses a wide range of activities that influence decision makers Examples include capacity building, relationship building, forming coalitions, and leadership development Lobbying is NOT a dirty word but lobbying and advocacy are NOT interchangeable Generally speaking, advocacy encompasses many different kinds of activities designed to promote a cause or idea through public education. Lobbying refers to specific activities intended to influence specific legislation. It only counts as lobbying when you ask a decision maker to vote for or against a specific piece of legislation. (Public Policy, 2016)

Why Should You Advocate Nonprofit organizations and constituents play a vital role in the development and implementation of public policy to promote an informed, healthy, and strong democratic society. Effective advocacy builds your capacity to achieve the greatest good for the greatest number of people and communities you serve. Engaging in public policy advocacy can also raise awareness of your organization’s mission, mobilize your constituents, and attract positive media attention. Greater leverage with decision-makers. By creating popular buy-in for an initiative and by generating press coverage, policymakers and others are more likely to join, support, and protect your organization’s vision and goals (Advocacy vs. Lobbying, 2003).

Relationship Building Utilize staff. They have more time than the member and if you can get staff buy-in, you have a strong inside advocate Offer to be a resource, or expert on your topic when bills come up in your issue area Follow-up, do what you say you are going to do

Coalition Building A coalition is a group of interdependent people focused on advancing or opposing a particular issue. A coalition’s power lies in its ability to present a united front The more diverse the coalition, the better A coalition is effective only when its issue has merit and the coalition members are organized, informed, and dedicated to communicating the importance of the effort. Coalition building calls for establishing and developing contacts that work well together (Advocacy vs. Lobbying, 2003).

Update on Federal Activities Related To Substance Abuse/Mental Health In October 2015, the House Energy and Commerce Committee held a hearing to advance the following bills: HR 2536, The Recovery Enhancement for Addiction Treatment Act HR 2805, the Heroin and Prescription Opioid Abuse Prevention, Education, and Enforcement Act of 2015 HR 2872, the Opioid Addiction Treatment Modernization Act HR 3014, The Medical Controlled Substances Transportation Act of 2015 The Synthetic Drug Control Act of 2015 The Improving Treatment for Pregnant and Postpartum Women Act of 2015 The Co-Prescribing to Reduce Overdoses Act of 2015 (Office of Congressional Research, 2016)

Mental Health Reform H.R by Tim Murphy- Health Committee hearing in late 2015, passed along partisan lines Rep. Matsui and Rep. Green (Democrats) will file the Comprehensive Behavioral Health and Recovery Act to deal with similar issues addressed in 2646 Negotiations will occur prior to either bill moving forward. Difficult to find common ground on mental health reform (Office of Congressional Research, 2016)

Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act, S.R. 524 Bipartisan bill in the Senate (passed 94-1) Aims to tackle Rx drug abuse and heroin overdose Increases availability of naloxone Promotes evidenced based interventions for treatment of opioid addiction Promotes use of diversion from criminal justice system Authorizes $5 million for a grant program for current or former recipients of Drug Free Community grantees to combat these issues on local level Speaker Ryan on 3/15/16 lauded passage and said House will work quickly to pass legislation and conference will occur (Office of Congressional Research, 2016)

Congressman Bilirakis Initiatives Pasco designated as a HIDTA Mental Health/Substance Abuse Forum Drug Czar to visit Pasco COVER Act passes House PROMISE ACT clears first committee panel Supports Bipartisan Substance Abuse Reform, working on funding and CARA companion in House (Bilirakis, 2016)

How Can You Advocate Get to Know Your Lawmakers at all levels (understand difference of state/federal/local issues) Prioritize Requests/Top 2 issues at a time Visit in District/Develop Relationships with Staff Offer Yourself as a Subject Area Expert on your topic. Keep all correspondence original and to less than the front of one page Ask Questions and Follow-up Build a relationship over time and be positive

ADVOCACY VS. LOBBYING, COALITION BUILDING AND PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT. (2003). RETRIEVED MARCH 14, 2016, FROM BILIRAKIS BRIEFING [TELEPHONE INTERVIEW]. (2016). CONGRESSIONAL RESEARCH SERVICE: SUBSTANCE AND MENTAL HEALTH POLICY REVIEW [TELEPHONE INTERVIEW]. (2016, MARCH 15). PUBLIC POLICY ADVOCACY: WHAT, WHY & HOW. (N.D.). RETRIEVED MARCH 14, 2016, FROM CY References