1. Developing Your Policy Advocacy (Influencing stakeholders and policy)
Lessons learned by Health & Aging Policy Fellows:
Joan Davitt (Class of 12-13)
Toni Miles (Class of 08-09)
Introduction and provide a brief description of our experience with policy advocacy. (4 minutes)

2. Conceptual Framework: The Policy/Practice Enterprise
Understanding & Defining Need (problem analysis)
Creation of a Policy/Program Sanction (formal response plan)
Implementation of the Policy/Program
Evaluation & Modification
Recognition of a Problem
Political/Economic context
Social context
Client System
Agency/provider system
Community
Society
2 minutes for this slide; ease everyone into the discussion. Policy is Multi-level from org to national.
Policy enterprise is circular and iterative, which means you can jump in at any point in the process. No need to wait
As clinicians, researchers and educators, we can offer our expertise, at any stage in this process, e.g. in helping to understand the problem fro our experiences in the trenches; or evaluating an intervention or policy change highlighting the unintended consequences….
Policy is embedded in all of these layers is influenced by the context so we also need to be congnizant of context
No matter who you are or what your profession, policy influences what you do
Cultural context
Historical context

3. How to move to advocacy?
Think of 1 or 2 issues within your expertise AND that might improve with policy changes. (5 minutes)
Use the index cards on your table to write a one sentence description of the issue.
During this exercise, we will encourage participants to share the ‘wisdom in the room’. It would be helpful to have a microphone (if needed) so that audience members can share their issues. As issues are shared, the participants will be encouraged to reach out to like minded folks.
5 minutes for their issues.

4. Moving to advocacy: Scan the environment for your issue
Where is the policy conversation?
How is it being defined and by whom?
What groups are affected by it?
Who are the target group(s) for your advocacy?
talk in small groups about your issue and their issue (20 minutes)

5. Moving to Advocacy: Coalition building
Strength in numbers! The multiplier effect.
Spend time in your small group talking about players in your area that you might join.
Directions: Break into groups of three.
Think about what you bring to the table, why work with you?
Sharing: Use the cards give an elevator speech to the group. Allow 3 – 5 minutes for advising.
Scanning: Have members of the group comment separately on the topic
Joining the conversation: How should I, as an outsider approach?
While this is going on, Joan and I will offer one or two stories to get things going. Again, I would like to hear from the wisdom in the room.
Our stories could include:
Communication strategies – twitter, letters to the editor, op eds, visits to city hall, testimony during committee hearings.
Q Will we have internet access? I (Toni) would like to get the participants to tweet or at least follow my twitter account or yours.

6. Moving to Advocacy: What are you going to do first when you get home?
Overcome the inertia blocking your advocacy.
Discuss the strategy with your coalition partners.
Think of 2 – 3 political consequences from the advocacy.
Directions: Within your group of three.
describe some possible challenges. (job doesn’t allow; advocacy is biased, advocacy is not clinical care, etc. (5 minutes)
There is some university support for community engagement because they now understand that granting agencies will fund this work. Joan to talk about the Center for Community Based Engagement and Learning Grant.
PCORI is one example of a new funding agency that encourages collaboration between community groups and researchers (Toni)
No research is really objective
As researchers we have an ethical obligation to generate benefits from our research – Belmont report, etc.
If you don’t create a narrative, someone else will!
My lone voice cannot have an impact but when you unite with others you CAN!
Action: Be very concrete. Example: Response to the Medicaid Ruling by the Supreme Court, June 2012
- I would like to show this onscreen
2. Politics: Joan may have a story about this one.
If not, then
3. Messaging: Joan may have a story about this one.
Does your advocacy involve messaging?

7. Summary Don’t forget to listen.
You can advocate at any point in policy.
Don’t forget to listen.
Get ‘Big’ by working with likeminded people.
Be clear about your issue.
Just Do It in the next 6 months.
Understanding & Defining Need
Creation of a Policy/Program
Implementation Policy/Program
Evaluation & Modification
Recognize Problem
The ACA!
Client System
Agency/provider system
Community
Society
2 minutes