Developing Your Advocacy Plan What Does It Take to Be an Effective Tobacco Control Advocate?

Objectives Understand why physicians are natural advocates for policy change Understand why physicians are natural advocates for policy change Identify the competencies needed to be an effective advocate Identify the competencies needed to be an effective advocate Grasp basic change strategies (it’s not always logical) Grasp basic change strategies (it’s not always logical) Map out an advocacy plan Map out an advocacy plan

Why Do Advocacy Work? “ The message for us today is that to improve the health of children we need to be respectable rebels. We need to be rebels to push society to do what is right for children.” Haggerty RJ, Jacobi A. Respectable rebel. Pediatrics. 1997;

Physicians as Natural Advocates You have real stories from real people You have real stories from real people You have credibility in your communities You have credibility in your communities You have diagnostic You have diagnostic and problem solving and problem solving skills skills

Will Political Will Social Strategy Scientific Knowledge Julius B. Richmond Model: Changing Public Policy

What’s needed to be an effective advocate? Passion Passion Proficiency (knowledge, expertise, skills) Proficiency (knowledge, expertise, skills) Partners Partners Political power Political power Persistence Persistence

Passion Passion Harnessing your passion to make change Generating a collective Voice

Proficiency Understanding of the problem – root causes, scope, data Understanding of the problem – root causes, scope, data Expertise in tobacco control science – evidence base for cessation techniques and control of second-hand smoke Expertise in tobacco control science – evidence base for cessation techniques and control of second-hand smoke Strategy expertise Strategy expertise Knowledge of the process – who makes the decisions and what are the rules? Knowledge of the process – who makes the decisions and what are the rules? Use of the media to raise your voice Use of the media to raise your voice

Partners Think broadly about key partners Business leaders Business leaders Faith based organizations Faith based organizations Medical organizations Medical organizations Parent organizations Parent organizations Youth organizations Youth organizations Environmental groups Environmental groups Community organizations interested in health of community Community organizations interested in health of community

Political Power Raising your voice Raising your voice Building a constituency Building a constituency Cultivating relationships with decision makers Cultivating relationships with decision makers Media strategy Media strategy

Persistence Sustaining your efforts Sustaining your efforts Overcoming setbacks Overcoming setbacks Celebrate the small wins Celebrate the small wins

Tips Democracy is not a spectator’s sport – participation is required Democracy is not a spectator’s sport – participation is required Advocacy is not conducted in a vacuum Advocacy is not conducted in a vacuum Numbers count! Numbers count! Relationships with decision makers count too! Relationships with decision makers count too!

Advocacy Do’s and Don’ts Do’s Speak out Be authoritative Partner Be creative Be practical Be patient (pretty) Never, ever stop Don’ts Be partisan Antagonize allies Act angry Be too impatient Grandstand for self

Putting Together the Plan Advocacy Goal #1 Advocacy Level Target of Change Timeframe Eliminate exposure to SHS in public parks Community City Council 9 months

Strategy #1 Form Coalition of Supporters Action By whom? By when? Resources/support /partnerships Indicators of success #1 Hold meeting of advocates #2 Public education campaign BerkelhamerWheeler10/1512/15 Medical society to hold meeting with chamber of commerce leaders & other stakeholders Meet w/ hospital PR dept to outline plan # groups attending Number of earned media stories