Legislative Advocacy 101
By: Brenda Ritson MD,
Emily Rothbaum MD,
Meg Sullivan MD,
Dodi Meyer MD &
Anne Armstrong-Coben MD
Outline
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History of Curriculum
Goals
Intro to Leg Advocacy
YOUR Responsibilities
Resources
http://northstargallery.com/americainheritage/washington/wash94web.j
History

Fall 2007
 Comm Peds Residents:
– Brenda Ritson, Emily Rothbaum, and Meg Sullivan
Helped faculty revise 2nd Yr Comm Peds block
Legislative Advocacy component
 5 Session Curriculum developed
 2009 curriculum redesign – 3 sessions
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Objectives
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To teach Residents HOW to effectively
develop and disseminate an advocacy
message.
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To increase resident and faculty
AWARENESS of advocacy issues and
opportunities.
Goals
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Expose residents to current legislative efforts, issues,
and needs surrounding children's health.
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Teach techniques for researching current legislative
issues that pertain to children’s health .
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Provide a forum for residents to share their work on
current issues, legislation, and advocacy efforts with
medical students, residents, and attendings.
Overarching Goals
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To foster awareness about legislative
advocacy among residents and the CHONY
community.
WHILE
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Empowering CHONY pediatricians to be
active advocates for children’s health issues,
both now and in the future.
Legislative Advocacy 101
What is Advocacy?
“Act of pleading for, supporting or
recommending…” – Websters
Dictionary.
 From the Latin advocare: “to call to
one’s aid”
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What is Advocacy to US?
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“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
The Three “A’s” of Advocacy
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Awareness
– Your own, friends, family, colleagues, legislators.
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Advancement
– By getting involved, you can help advance a
movement or effect a policy change.
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Action
– Make contacts, write letters, call or visit your
elected officials, support an organization.
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
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_-_
Examples of Leg. Advocacy
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Mandating window bars in apartments with
children (NYC)
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Helmet Laws (State)
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S-CHIP (Federal)
The Legislative “Process”
Sloooooooooow …
 Varies for different Legislative bodies
 Know when your voice will be heard
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– Proposal of a bill
– Public Hearings on the issue
– Lobbying individual legislators
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And Intervene!
http://www.racewire.org/archives/bill,%20law.jpg
How does a Bill become a Law?
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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)
Who are your Representatives?
http://www.cartoonstock.com/lowres/gja0345l.jpg
Summary of This Block
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
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Session I
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Advocacy 101
– Today …
• Intro to the Legislative Process
• Start thinking about Hot Topic
Session II
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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
Session II-III
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Create your “Hot” Topic Presentation
– Powerpoint?
– Samples available
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
Optional
 10-15
minutes
 Start:
Letter writing campaign,
 Petition signing, or
 Post an invitation to an upcoming
policy briefing meeting or other
advocacy activity
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Extras …
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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
How to Choose your “Hot” Topic?
http://www.epilepsyfoundation.org/images/kidsspeakup.jp
Sample Presentations Given
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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”?
Sample Other “Hot” Topics
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Obesity
– Vending Machines
– Trans Fat
– School Meals
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Skater Helmets
 Plan B
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CMS Regulations
 SCHIP Reauthorization
 MediKids
 Title VII Health
Professions Programs
– Reducing Resident
Funding
Resources
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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://familiesusa.org/tell-us-yourstory.html
http://www.evilthrives.com/images/no_evil.gif
Summary
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It’s easy to be an advocate.
Your Tasks
Learn!
 Pick a Hot Topic and Research it
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– E-mail it to me by Monday
Write a Letter to your Rep
 Give a Noon Presentation
 Become an Advocate!
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Questions?
The End