1. Advocacy 101

2. Biographical Sketches
Georgiana Reynal serves as Chief Advocacy Officer for St. Vincent. In this role, Georgiana oversees legislative and advocacy efforts and works collaboratively with other executives to improve health status in the communities St. Vincent serves.
Caroline Battles serves as Vice President, State Policy and Advocacy at Ascension. Caroline leads the alignment of Ascension’s strategy for advocacy and government affairs and coordinates with leaders across the organization on Ascension’s public policy agenda and efforts to impact public policy.

3. Disclosure
These speakers have no conflict of interest to disclose.

4. Mission of Ascension
Rooted in the loving ministry of Jesus as healer, we commit ourselves to serving all persons with special attention to those who are poor and vulnerable. Our Catholic health ministry is dedicated to spiritually- centered, holistic care which sustains and improves the health of individuals and communities. We are advocates for a compassionate and just society through our actions and our words.

5. What is Advocacy?
Communicating effectively with policymakers to persuade her or him to take an action that he or she might not have taken without influence

6. Public Policy Continuum
Problem Definition/Solution Development
Implementation
Advancing Solutions/Advocacy
To clearly articulate problem(s) and solution(s)
Coalition building
Polling
Issue framing and messaging
Convening
Engaging stakeholders
Testing alternative approaches
To build political will to take action
Coalition building
Polling
Message refinement
Public education
Education for opinion
leaders and policymakers
Media advocacy
Litigation
Direct lobbying of
legislators
Grassroots lobbying
To foster effective implementation
Public education
Monitoring
Evaluation

7. Legislative Advocacy
Legislative advocacy refers to efforts to influence the introduction, enactment, or modification of legislation
The most common means of legislative advocacy is direct lobbying, which entails contacting a legislator, sharing your views on an issue, and asking him or her to vote a specific way on a bill
This can be done with something as easy as a phone call or letter, or by a formal meeting with the legislator or staff person

8. Government is an Active Process – What?
What issue am I trying to address? 
Add examples..

9. Government is an Active Process – Where?
Identifying an Issue
Is it federal, state or local? 
What is the solution? 
A change in policy? 
A change in funding?

10. Government is an Active Process – Who?
Finding your legislators – state and federal 
Indiana General iga.in.gov: 
(will walk through process here to find your legislators, watch key hearings, and track key votes).

11. Government is an Active Process
“The Good have no need of an Advocate” – Phocion (No one ever heard of him because he is wrong)
The two essential elements:
Mechanical
Human

12. Mechanical – The Legislative Process
Two distinct processes happening simultaneously in the Capitol:
Policy: The process by which the State Legislature debates and enacts laws that govern and guide state policy from agriculture to zoology
Appropriations: The process by which the legislature (or Congress) funds the operations of state government

13. Mechanical – Legislative Calendar
Indiana General Assembly:
Regular session: Early January through end of March (even years) or end of April (odd years)
The governor can call a special session if legislators are unable to complete their work within the regular session
Basic process of lawmaking
Forming the agenda: Summer & Fall
Implementing the agenda: Winter and Spring

14. How a Bill Becomes a Law First steps Assignment to committee
Time in committee
The Vote
Next steps
Placing the bill on the calendar
Taking the bill up for debate
Sending the Bill to the other Chamber
Last steps
Conference committee
Governor’s desk

15. Human Side – Personality
The role of elections
Money
Votes
Term Limits
Interplay between state and local
Relationship building at the local level

16. How to Talk to Legislators
Create common bonds
Common community
Common interest
Common people
Friends
Board members
Community sponsors

17. How to Talk to Legislators
Define yourself
Expert on the issue
Community partner
Define your priority/solution
Specific
Achievable
Establish connection with larger agenda

18. How to Talk to Legislators
Issues affecting your message being heard
Hundreds of different issues and pieces of legislation
Competition for attention
Interest in topic
Political will
Political timing

19. How to Talk to Legislators…And Make Them Listen
Expect the unexpected
Elevator meetings
Stalling…not a tactic to slow the process
Pulling them off the floor
“The Senator is on the floor. Is there something I can help you with?”

20. How to Talk to Legislators…And Make Them Listen
No more than:
Minutes
Points
Pages 3

21. Closing the Meeting
Making the Ask
Understanding the political process
Recognize the legislator’s position and stature
Strategy for success
Opportunity for continued dialogue and a richer relationship

22. Closing the Meeting
What is an Ask?
Show me the money, PLEASE.
Vote for my bill, PLEASE.
Come to my event, PLEASE.
Help me convene a group…PLEASE.
Introduce me to the director of the department of issues I care about, PLEASE.

23. Closing the Meeting
Show me the money
Support for a specific program or initiative
Members of Committees
Vote for my bill
Asking for support on a bill – Know your facts:
Bill number
Where the bill is in the process
What the bill does
Why the bill is important

24. Closing the Meeting
Come to my event
Attendance at special events
Developing relationship with the legislator
Help me convene a group to…
Legislator contacts
Engaging the legislator
Introduce me to dept. directors
Greater entry

25. Follow – Up/Through Meeting is Just the Starting Point
Longer Process of Relationship Building
Follow –Up is Critical

26. Follow-Up/Follow-Through
Meeting is Just the Starting Point
Longer Process of Relationship Building
Follow–Up is Critical
Thank the individual as you leave.
There is no substitute for a personal letter.
Follow through on your ask – Take the initiative with the legislator or staff person.

28. Bibliography Public Policy Continuum (slide 6)
Adapted from Holton, Ruth, The California Wellness Foundation, remarks at Grantmakers In Health Issue Dialogue,
Funding Health Advocacy, November 3, 2004.