Grassroots advocacy is working together at the local level to act in support or on behalf of a cause, idea, or policy. In the health center world grassroots advocacy involves taking action at the local level and nationally to support policies and initiatives that support your health center and the patients it serves. Getting involved in grassroots advocacy is easy and can include anything from joining the APHCA advocacy network so that you can send messages to your member of Congress about important health center issues, attending health center events in celebration of National Health Center Week, or writing a letter to the editor of your local paper expressing the importance of supporting health centers.
Develop Your Voice
Grassroots advocacy is about developing your voice and joining together on behalf of health centers, so that you can have an impact on the important policies and initiatives that affect your health center and the Health Center Program. Effective grassroots advocacy has two requirements; ACTION and COMMITMENT. In advocacy, your level of commitment is directly related to your ability to have an impact.
Why is advocacy so important?
The bottom line on health center advocacy is that the success and future of health centers very much depends on the strength and success of our grassroots advocacy. Health center grassroots advocacy is the megaphone for all the vital services and unique model of care provided by health centers. Policy and opinion makers depend on advocates to help them understand and recognize issues that deserve their support. Without grassroots advocacy health centers take the risk of less recognition and wavering support simply because of a lack of awareness.
Advocacy provides a strong and unified voice for health centers to make policymakers, the media, and the public aware of the outstanding work and care provided by health centers. Recognizing that health centers are vital to our communities and the patients they serve, it is imperative that we develop our grassroots advocacy network to educate and engage others in support of the Health Center Program to ensure growth and success.
What do I have to do to be a health center advocate?
Being a health center advocate is easy! Here are a few easy steps:
1. Sign up on the health center APHCA advocacy network to stay updated on important health center issues and send messages to your state and federal officials regarding policies that could impact the health center in your community.
2. Talk to your health center advocacy team leader about getting more involved with advocacy at the health center in your community- attend health center events, help raise awareness about health centers in the community, and ask others to become health center advocates.
3. Write letters to the editor of your local paper expressing your support for health centers and how vital your health center is to the community.
For more ideas on how you can get involved in health center advocacy contact Kat Rodman, APHCA Communications and Outreach Coordinator.
Advocacy Tools
To be most effective in health center advocacy you have to understand the rules and be prepared for whatever comes your way. To assist with the development of your health center advocacy plan NACHC has compiled a list of helpful legal guidelines and advocacy tools to help answer questions and ensure your advocacy efforts are a success.
The Legal Side Of Health Center Advocacy:
The first step to getting involved and developing advocacy efforts at your health center is to understand the guidelines and legalities that could effect your advocacy plans. There are very few advocacy activities that health centers cannot engage in, but it is vitally important to understand the few restrictions that exist.
1. Health Center Lobbying – Fact Sheet - A quick one-pager of advocacy do’s and don’ts regarding health center advocacy and lobbying.
2. Legal Guidelines For Health Center Advocacy - Legal FAQ’s on health center advocacy, an expanded description of what’s allowed and what’s not in the health center advocacy world.
Guidelines For Voter Registration Drives
Perhaps one of the best ways to engage in grassroots advocacy and empower those in your community is by organizing and holding voter registration drives. Voting is one of the most powerful actions a person can take on behalf of what is important in their life. While health centers cannot take part in partisan political activities, organizing and holding voter registration drives is completely free and legal. Health Centers around the nation have begun annual voter registration drives to empower their patients and community and to promote the most effective advocacy tool available, casting your vote.
Tips For Making Your Voice Heard
Knowing how to get the attention you need and ensure your message is understood is one of the most important parts of grassroots advocacy. We’ve asked the experts to put together their list of easy steps to make your voice heard amongst the chatter of so many others…
Tips for Communicating With Elected Officials
Whether it’s writing a letter, sending an email, making a phone call, or meeting in person, communicating with your elected officials can be intimidating. What ever the method, ensure your message is clear and understood by developing a clear plan and united voice…
Tips On Holding Media Events & Press Conferences
Developing a plan for how your health center will seek media coverage and what your message will be is one of the most critical components to holding a successful media event or press conference. With the right planning and execution media events and press conferences can distinguish your health center and community in a sea of other needs and issues.
Holding A Successful Meeting With A Newspaper Editorial Board
An editorial meeting—whether it is with an editorial board or a single editorial writer—is a unique opportunity for advocates to present their viewpoints on issues to the press and broadcast media. Unlike hard news, editorials present opinions. Advocates can take advantage of editorial meetings to turn the media's attention to the success of health centers and the urgent needs of America's medically underserved.