What is your ASK? National Alliance for Caregiving ASA/NCoA Conference March 18, 2009 Brian M. Duke MHA MBE Director Bucks County Area Agency on Aging

Advocacy cycle Identify issue or problem Research cause and effect Plan goals, objectives, indicators, methods, activities, and timeline Act Monitor and evaluate actions and results

Need to Keep Acting The bottom line for sustaining a coalition, however, would be the same for any community venture, that is, the capacity to act and have an impact on the community. Our experience is that long lasting coalitions keep on acting – visibly, energetically and effectively. Tom Wolff,AHEC Community Partners, Sustainability of Coalitions

Times of Change Resources have diminished or disappeared Needs continue Other priorities overshadow

Essential Right Now Community Development Getting the Message Right

Community Enlist others Engage them to deliver or echo your message Modify the ask - not always $ Catalyze new solutions Create new connections Get to the hallmark of success – the changing of community norm

Getting the Message Right Brevity What’s the ASK? Is there a call to action? Is the message effective?

Three questions Who to approach? What is the message? Who will deliver the message?

In these tough times… A coalition’s voice most needed – collaborative lobbying Do not dilute the need but connect it to other areas of policy concern Speak on the short term crisis and long term relationships* Communication is focused, personalized and relevant * Kristin Murphy, Stephanie Vance, Advocacy for Libraries in Tough Times presentation for the American Association of School Librarians 2009

What’s your ask? You know your coalition’s history mission You know well the definition of need What is the one thing you want?

Social Innovation The ASK should reveal your coalition’s passion It is a part of the ongoing work of the coalition, ideas and organizations to meet social needs Inspiration of new strategies, concepts, ideas, organizations that meet social needs of all kinds. This can take place within government, within companies or within the non profit sector, but is increasingly seen to happen most effectively in the space between the three sectors.* *Wikepedia

Community Activism Where we find ourselves now Is there an impact on confidence? Is change happening fast enough?

To Hope Audacity to be bold Audacity to be passionate Audacity to persist Audacity to tell your story Audacity to be courageous Audacity to be spiritual Audacity to see abundance not scarcity Audacity to stand up for the power of relationships Al Etmanski,PLAN Institute,Audacity,presentation to the Canadian Caregivers Coalition June 2008

Resources Caregiver Coalition Advocacy Guide National Alliance for Caregiving January 2006 Webcasts for Caregiver Coalitions

Contact Information Brian M. Duke Director Bucks County Area Agency on Aging 30 East Oakland Avenue Doylestown, PA Telephone: x