1. Legislative Advocacy 101 By: Brenda Ritson MD, Emily Rothbaum MD, Meg Sullivan MD, Dodi Meyer MD & Anne Armstrong-Coben MD

2. Outline History of Curriculum Goals Intro to Leg Advocacy YOUR Responsibilities Resources http://northstargallery.com/americainheritage/washington/wash94web.jpg

3. History Fall 2007 Comm Peds Residents: –Brenda Ritson, Emily Rothbaum, and Meg Sullivan Helped faculty revise 2 nd Yr Comm Peds block Legislative Advocacy component 5 Session Curriculum developed 2009 curriculum redesign – 3 sessions

4. Objectives To teach Residents HOW to effectively develop and disseminate an advocacy message. To increase resident and faculty AWARENESS of advocacy issues and opportunities.

5. Goals Expose residents to current legislative efforts, issues, and needs surrounding children's health. Teach techniques for researching current legislative issues that pertain to children’s health. Provide a forum for residents to share their work on current issues, legislation, and advocacy efforts with medical students, residents, and attendings.

6. Overarching Goals To foster awareness about legislative advocacy among residents and the CHONY community. WHILE Empowering CHONY pediatricians to be active advocates for children’s health issues, both now and in the future.

7. Legislative Advocacy 101

8. What is Advocacy? “Act of pleading for, supporting or recommending…” – Websters Dictionary. From the Latin advocare: “to call to one’s aid”

9. What is Advocacy to US? “An attitude, plan of action and behavior that have as specific goal(s) the improvement of the physical, emotional, or environmental condition of an individual child or adolescent, family or their community.” – Dyson Initiative definition

10. The Three “A’s” of Advocacy Awareness –Your own, friends, family, colleagues, legislators. Advancement –By getting involved, you can help advance a movement or effect a policy change. Action –Make contacts, write letters, call or visit your elected officials, support an organization.

11. Why Should WE Be Advocates? Children can’t advocate for themselves We have a unique position to see problems and understand their implications The problems matter We have “respect” and “credibility” http://www.dcddiary.org/images/drowningDCDchildren.jpg

12. Why Should We Be LEGISLATIVE Advocates? You may “hate” politics, but you can’t ignore the consequences of politics … especially for children who can’t speak for themselves. http://erlc.com/images/article_photos/misc/silenced_-_iStock.jpg

13. Examples of Leg. Advocacy Mandating window bars in apartments with children (NYC) Helmet Laws (State) S-CHIP (Federal)

14. The Legislative “Process” Sloooooooooow … Varies for different Legislative bodies Know when your voice will be heard –Proposal of a bill –Public Hearings on the issue –Lobbying individual legislators And Intervene!

15. http://www.racewire.org/archives/bill,%20law.jpg

16. How does a Bill become a Law? http://www.votesmart.org/resource_govt101_02.php http://www.legis.state.wv.us/Educational/Bill_Becomes_La w/Bill_Becomes_Law.cfm http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mEJL2Uuv-oQ (video)

17. Who are your Representatives?

18. http://www.cartoonstock.com/lowres/gja0345l.jpg

19. Summary of This Block

20. Block Responsibilities I – Advocacy 101 with Attending –Begin to think about “Hot” Topic II/ III – Research/ Create “Hot” Topic Presentation Present “Hot” Topic Optional – Media/Spread the Word

21. Session I Advocacy 101 –Today … Intro to the Legislative Process Start thinking about Hot Topic

22. Session II Research your “Hot” Topic –Define the problem with a population perspective Who will be affected? How severe are the effects? Who are the stakeholders? –Review recent history –Learn about current controversies/events –Find federal and state policies under consideration or debate –Develop your own stance on the issue

23. Session II-III Create your “Hot” Topic Presentation –Powerpoint? –Samples available

24. Presentation of “Hot” Topic –Goals: Educate others about your issue and Motivate their participation in advocacy –Presentation (Powerpoint?) 20 to 30 minutes Noon conference at the end of the block There’s a guide to help you along

25. Optional 10-15 minutes Start: Letter writing campaign, Petition signing, or Post an invitation to an upcoming policy briefing meeting or other advocacy activity

26. Extras … VOTE! Find out who your Legislators are. Call them in support/against a bill. Write a Letter to the Editor Write an Op-Ed Lobby visits to the State Assembly Participate in “Lobby Day” or “Call to Action” Phone call http://www.labelvalue.com/images/iVotedKids.gif

27. http://www.epilepsyfoundation.org/images/kidsspeakup.jpg How to Choose your “Hot” Topic?

28. Sample Presentations Given The New York State Healthy Schools Act: What is it? How can we support it? Barriers to Renewing SCHIP: Doesn’t anyone care about kids anymore? New NYC School Policies about MRSA Infections: Science or Scaredy-Cats? “Universal Health Care”?

29. Sample Other “Hot” Topics Obesity –Vending Machines –Trans Fat –School Meals Skater Helmets Plan B CMS Regulations SCHIP Reauthorization MediKids Title VII Health Professions Programs –Reducing Resident Funding

30. Resources www.communityped.org www.aap.org/advocacy.html www.kff.org http://capwiz.com/nycac/home/ http://www.familiesusa.org/resources/acti on-center/ http://www.familiesusa.org/resources/acti on-center/ http://familiesusa.org/tell-us-your- story.html http://familiesusa.org/tell-us-your- story.html

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32. Summary It’s easy to be an advocate.

33. Your Tasks Learn! Pick a Hot Topic and Research it –E-mail it to me by Monday Write a Letter to your Rep Give a Noon Presentation Become an Advocate!

34. Questions?

35. The End