How to change policies, systems and communities Everybody at the Table: Changing the System One Step at a Time 1 Presented by: Elisha Coffey, MSW, program manager, Involved Consumer Action Network (I CAN), Mental Health Association of Southeastern Pennsylvania (MHASP) Adam Nester, MS, MHASP’s advocate for mental health systems and policy Moderator: Christa Burkett, TA coordinator, National Mental Health Consumers’ Self-Help Clearinghouse

Advocacy Myth #1 I just don’t have the time. Most of us don’t have a lot of extra time. But if we don’t speak out for our own rights (and the rights of others), who will speak for us? On some issues, it takes as little as five letters or phone calls (and five minutes) to tilt a representative’s decision-making process one way or the other. 2

Advocacy Myth #2 I won't make a difference. Every voice makes a difference. Look at recent presidential elections. The decision sometimes comes down to a few votes in a few states. Your opinion matters, but it only helps if you make it known. The assumption that your voice won’t make a difference is what makes bad public policy possible. 3

Advocacy Myth #3 Someone else will do it. Someone else will contact your legislator, but they may be on the other side. Many groups are trying to get their voices heard. Your silence makes your opponents' voices even louder. No one is going to advocate for our issues— except us. Millions of Americans have mental health conditions. It would be easy to change things if each person took five minutes out of their day to make that phone call or write that letter. 4

Advocacy Myth #4 Nothing ever changes. Sometimes it seems like glaciers move faster than the legislative process. During the 108th session of Congress in 2003, 3,700 bills were introduced in the House and 2,004 of them made it to the Senate. Legislative change happens slowly; the system is engineered this way on purpose.  If laws were easy to change, then every swing of public opinion could change laws that would swiftly affect citizens. Though the system is slow, change does happen and you can effect change. 5

Advocacy Myth #5 I don't know enough. You don’t have to know all the details of a bill. Legislators don’t expect you to. All you have to know is why the bill is important TO YOU (and we’ll help you with that). Members of Congress put a high value on input from the people they represent. 6

So why is advocacy important anyway? 7

What we learned from 2012 “If you’re not at the table … you’re on the menu.” 8

A note on non-profits and advocacy I’m a non-profit; I can’t engage in advocacy. Knowing what constitutes lobbying under the law, and what the limits are, is the key to being able to lobby legally and safely. The IRS allows 501(c)(3)s to engage in lobbying as long as it is not a "substantial part" of their activities. A distinction can be made between educating legislators and lobbying. Base/Nonprofit- Management/Accountability/lobbying 9

What Is Legislative Outreach? 10 The process of engaging legislators, their staff, and the public to effect positive social and political change. Different from petitioning government for help. Building bridging relationships between those involved in creating and putting laws into action and the public by coordinating groups of like-minded people on a particular issue or set of issues.

Why Do Legislative Outreach? 11 To have a measurable positive impact on laws and social policy. To communicate your needs directly to the people that are elected to represent you.

The Questions of Advocacy 12 Who are we engaging? What are we hoping to achieve? Where can we make the biggest difference? When should we engage? Why are we engaging at this time? How did they respond, and How are we going to follow up?

Who are we engaging? 13 Legislators Individually and in groups Individual meetings and public hearings Staff and the representatives themselves Our communities People in recovery Family members Service providers Allies in the community

What are we hoping to achieve? 14 What is the law or policy we are hoping to change? What are the expectations from this legislator? What information do we have that we feel they need to know? What are the minimum and ideal points we would like to communicate?

Where can we make the biggest difference? 15 Are you best suited to take on this issue alone or is there someone you can partner with? Is anyone already working on this issue? What unique strengths do you bring to the table, and can you identify other strengths in the people around you?

When should we engage? 16 What has our previous relationship with this legislator been like? Have we laid the groundwork for this legislator or their staff to be receptive to our message? Is there a vote on this issue coming up?

Why are we engaging at this time? 17 Why are we selecting this legislator to work with? Constituency – they represent us Local – they understand our region Issue – they serve on the Committee that deals with our issue & creates the legislation that governs it in some way. Is there a vote on this issue coming up?

How did they respond and how are we going to follow up? 18 How did the visit go? Do we have a point of contact (name, title, & phone) Did they accept our position on the issue? Did the legislator’s vote reflect the outcome we wanted? If not, do we know why?

How did they respond? How are we going to follow up? 19 If they did not accept our position: How do we respond? Organize concerned citizens into committees Signature petitions Phone banks campaigns Rallies Keep sending information – reports, policy papers, etc. Keep scheduling meetings, and sharing your experience

How did they respond? How are we going to follow up? 20 If they asked for more info, who is tasked with following up? Did the legislator take the extra step of trying to convince others of our position?

Advocacy Tips Hierarchy of contact style based on effectiveness  Face to face  Personal letter  /phone call  Form letter It takes about 10 phone calls to get an issue on the radar of a legislator. 21

Advocacy Tips 22 Do: Get Contacts Name, Title, and Phone Keep any business cards they give you If you can figure out patterns in addresses, phone numbers, etc. remember them. Many phone numbers & addresses in the office follow a pattern. When setting up meetings always ask to speak to the Scheduler or Scheduling Assistant

Advocacy Tips 23 Do: Be OK with changing schedules Even if you schedule a meeting with a member of Congress, you may end up meeting with a staffer. Find out who actually handles the issue. The staffer you’re meeting may be the person that will be advising that legislator on the issue when it comes to a vote. It never hurts to ask when scheduling the meeting: “And who is the staffer who usually handles (Housing, Human Services, Public Health etc.) issues for Congressman/woman XXXX?”

Advocacy Tips 24 Do: Select someone from the group to monitor your time We can all get energized by advocacy, and lose track of time. The staffer coordinating the meeting will typically tell you how much time you have. Agree ahead of time who the timekeeper will be, and agree that they have the right to monitor the flow of the conversation to ensure that everyone can be heard.

Advocacy Tips 25 Do: Be discreet in who you tell about your meetings, and how much you tell them. Be aware of what other groups are doing, and how your efforts may complement each other.

Advocacy Tips 26 Do NOT: Talk about issues that aren’t related to the purpose of the meeting: e.g., your feelings about Congress, the President, either political party or anything that they have no control over. If they ask some personal questions – “Do you have kids?” – etc., it’s okay to answer those questions. Every moment you spend talking about outside issues is a lost minute to focus on the issue that is important to you.

Advocacy Tips 27 Do NOT: Send legislators spam Give the private contact information of legislators and their staff to people you do not know well and trust Break the confidence of a meeting by sharing something publicly you were not meant to.

You’re the Expert! Learn to tell your Recovery Story. Help legislators understand that Recovery is possible. Show legislators how they can make good decisions that support Recovery in their communities. You are the best person to tell your story. 28

What is your message? How was your life challenging before your recovery? What kind of help have you had during your recovery journey?  Friends, family, programs, staff members? Because of my recovery I’m able to participate in my community by…  Working, volunteering, being a family member, being an advocate, hobbies, activities… 29

Stay “In the know” Join our community of change agents who Take Five at 30

A last word: 31 “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.” --Margaret Mead ( )