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Coalition Building and Advocacy to Improve Oral Health in Texas
1 Coalition Building and Advocacy to Improve Oral Health in Texas Patti Everitt, Executive Director Children’s Defense Fund in Austin, Texas Texas Oral Health Summit: Advocacy, Equity & Access Austin, Texas September 9-10, 2004
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Children’s Defense Fund
2 Children’s Defense Fund National children’s advocacy organization State offices in Texas: Austin, Houston, Rio Grande Valley Issues: children’s health, quality child care, family economic security Activities: Policy, Research, Public Education, Advocacy
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Question How do we create policy change to address a community issue?
3 Question How do we create policy change to address a community issue?
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Key Questions Who can make the decision to change policy?
4 Key Questions Who can make the decision to change policy? What/who will influence their decision? Do they understand the issue? Are they well-informed? Why should they care? Does it affect their district? Who is for it? Against it? Who profits from the issue? Who wins/who loses? Who cares about the issue?
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Key Questions Who are your logical allies?
5 Who are your logical allies? What data/research is available on the issue? How well is the community informed? Is there a core constituency? Is the issue well defined? Is there agreement on the issue? What is the call to action? What is the success? Is this a temporary or on-going issue?
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Goal Develop a consensus on the issue (an understanding and agreement)
6 Goal Develop a consensus on the issue (an understanding and agreement) General Public Constituencies Decision Makers
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First Steps Take an inventory
7 First Steps Take an inventory Convene core constituency and create a group Define the issue Determine the call to action Write a statement and/or principles
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Next Steps Create a way to support the issue
8 Create a way to support the issue Sign-on forms Endorsements Resolutions Create a coalition of supporters Identify key leadership for the issue Determine what data is available/needed Agree on key messages Develop a strategy
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Develop Tools Press list List Serve Printed materials
9 Develop Tools Press list List Serve Printed materials Legislative packets Mailing List of community leaders Distribution lists Web site Research Spokespersons Response mechanism Regular meetings
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Identify Venues/ Opportunities
10 Identify Venues/ Opportunities Press Releases Press Events Public hearings Public meetings Editorial board meetings
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Identify Venues/ Opportunities
11 Identify Venues/ Opportunities Opinion Editorials Speeches to organizations Meetings with legislators Meetings with organization leadership Training of new leadership
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12 Expand 85% Rule
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All politics are local:
13 Elected Officials All politics are local: How will the issue affect their district? Their constituents must let them know they care Visits: local and state support Local data
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Examples of Advocacy 911 Commission Travis County Hospital District
14 Examples of Advocacy 911 Commission Released sections of report Traveling U.S. to build support Travis County Hospital District Judge called the issue Task Force appointed Call to action determined Oral Health Listening sessions: Issues defined Core constituencies identified
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Campaign to Restore CHIP
15 Determined call to action restore CHIP eligibility and benefits Created sign-on form & resolutions Created Coaltion to Restore CHIP 233 organizations; 2500 individuals Demonstrates broad based support
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Campaign to Restore CHIP
16 Campaign to Restore CHIP Expanded support & endorsements Business organizations, elected officials Identified local coordinators Developed Key Contacts for Campaign 40 most interested constituencies (on-going) Regular conference calls & meetings
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Campaign to Restore CHIP
17 Identified sub-issues Local impact of CHIP cuts Hospital district deficit Tax rate Increased cost of ER vs. preventive Impact on families Loss of federal funds Benefits loss Dental Vision Asset test
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Campaign to Restore CHIP
18 Created tools Family story form List serve Research CHIP Family Survey Project Survey of dental providers Comparison to other states City of Mission Study Public Education Press Releases Speeches
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Campaign to Restore CHIP
19 Campaign to Restore CHIP Agenda for Sept – December Local coordinators in additional cities Additional sign-ons CHIP Congress in Nov 5 Children’s Sabbath: Texas Healthy Child Weekend for CHIP: Enroll.Renew.Restore. Legislative packets and visit Policy briefing letters to opinion makers & decision makers Press
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