Call to Action: Become a Health Center Advocate
The health center movement began with just two health centers in two communities over 45 years ago and has grown to encompass over 1,200 health centers providing quality, affordable health care to 20 million people in over 7,000 communities in every state and territory. Support for health centers has continued and grown through countless economic and political ups and downs because there have always been people at the grassroots who made sure policymakers always knew what health centers meant back home. In the 1980’s the Federal Health Centers program was almost undone, and were it not for a true grassroots uprising that hit Congress, we would not be talking about health centers today. That grassroots power was due to the fact that health centers are not just in, they are of their communities. Health centers ARE the grassroots and that is the power that sustains us.
Why should you become a Health Center Advocate? One person working to raise public awareness and build support for health centers can have a major impact. Many people working together can achieve exponentially greater gains. So, how can you get involved? It’s easy. Join the Alabama Advocacy Project and the National Association of Community Health Centers advocacy network and send messages to Congress. As the old saying goes, it’s the squeaky wheel that gets the grease. Policy and opinion makers depend on advocates to help them understand and recognize issues that deserve their support. Without grassroots advocacy, health centers risk losing public support for their needs.
Health Center Advocates receive e-mail updates about:
- Health Center advocacy efforts
- State and federal legislation affecting health centers
- Calls to Action to communicate with elected officials
Click here for an online registration or click here to download a registration form. Please fax completed forms to (334) 271.7069 or email to catherine@alphca.com. Please contact Catherine Watts at catherine@alphca.com or 334.271.7068 with any questions.