1. Obtaining Support from Local Governments

2. Government Support Securing local government support -Lends credibility to your effort. -Increases awareness of the disease process, risks, and populations involved.

3. Obtaining support from local governments Steps you can take: – Work with local partners to identify what local officials will be supportive and beneficial to your program. – Develop messages or talking points that will resonate with your local officials and explain why they should support your program. – Determine who should reach out to targeted officials. – Make initial outreach via email or phone to introduce the program and ask for support, using your talking points. – Invite officials to relevant events/meetings so they can learn first-hand about what you’re trying to accomplish and visibly show their support. – Keep officials on invitation lists and reach out regularly to keep them abreast of program progress.

4. Government Support Examples of steps taken to earn support from local government officials for Cities for Life: – Identified influential officials, legislators and community leaders. – Determined the best messenger and message to introduce the program to each official (e.g., reaching the mayor through one of the Steering Committee members). – Introduced the program and asked for his or her support in initial outreach. – Introduced the program publicly at a local City Council meeting, reaching the mayor and all councilors simultaneously in a public forum. – Held one-on-one meetings with the mayor and city councilors. – Invited officials to all Cities for Life events; included them in the Community Action Team and sent frequent updates on program progress. – Engaged officials to serve as spokespeople as appropriate.