Advocacy Cycle in Action National Alliance for Caregiving Second National Conference Caregiver Coalitions March 26, 2008

Why advocacy? To promote and pursue changes in services To promote and pursue changes in services To obtain changes in policy, regulation or legislation To obtain changes in policy, regulation or legislation To engage the community to sustain the coalition or adopt norms To engage the community to sustain the coalition or adopt norms

Coalition and advocacy Comprehensive definition of need Comprehensive definition of need Effective messages Effective messages Diversity of community Diversity of community Multiple points of contact Multiple points of contact Continuum of caregiver experience Continuum of caregiver experience Organizational resources Organizational resources Credible source information Credible source information

Coalition readiness Degree of collaboration Degree of collaboration Potential for a united voice Potential for a united voice Opportunities for coalition and individual organizations Opportunities for coalition and individual organizations Evaluation of activities and any advocacy to date Evaluation of activities and any advocacy to date Mission and vision barometer Mission and vision barometer View of the future View of the future

Successful advocacy campaign Strategic Strategic Series of actions Series of actions Designed to pursuade Designed to pursuade Targeted Targeted Build alliances Build alliances Results in change Results in change

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

Identify issue Sources of information Sources of information Criteria for selection Criteria for selection Process of selection Process of selection

In Action…. Process inclusive all voices heard Process inclusive all voices heard Selection may prioritize not eliminate Selection may prioritize not eliminate Confidence in communication Confidence in communication Listen - what you hear may help you select Listen - what you hear may help you select

Research Information and resources Information and resources Confirming the issue Confirming the issue Impact assessment Impact assessment

In Action… Have information which connects constituency with legislator Have information which connects constituency with legislator Stats tell the story…drill down Stats tell the story…drill down Sources are reliable maybe known to legislator or staff Sources are reliable maybe known to legislator or staff Sets the stage…why is it important to this legislator? Sets the stage…why is it important to this legislator?

Plan Goals – express change desired Goals – express change desired Objectives – who, what, when, how Objectives – who, what, when, how Activities – specific tasks Activities – specific tasks

In Action… Maximize strengths Maximize strengths All understand the agenda All understand the agenda Plan includes actions before, during and after Plan includes actions before, during and after Timing – what is determining the calendar or the clock? Timing – what is determining the calendar or the clock? Someone monitors and reports how we are doing Someone monitors and reports how we are doing

Act Focus on goals and objectives Focus on goals and objectives Identify who to approach Identify who to approach Create the message Create the message Develop tactics for message delivery Develop tactics for message delivery Identify resources and actions Identify resources and actions

In Action…. Answers to all of the journalist’s questions: who, what, when, where, how, why? Answers to all of the journalist’s questions: who, what, when, where, how, why? Focus Focus Rehearse…. Can someone without knowledge get it? Rehearse…. Can someone without knowledge get it? Research the person not just the issue Research the person not just the issue style, interests, current agenda

Evaluate Indicators to monitor success Indicators to monitor success Tracking and communicating outcomes Tracking and communicating outcomes Collaboration of coalition Collaboration of coalition Informs identification of issues Informs identification of issues

In Action…. What happened in there? What happened in there? What’s your gut tell you? What’s your gut tell you? Do what you said you would do. Do what you said you would do. Follow up whether solicited or not Follow up whether solicited or not Do a favor Do a favor Adjust and start over Adjust and start over

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