ADVOCATING FOR INCLUSION POLITICIANS AS PARTNERS IN HEALTH PROFESSIONS DIVERSITY
WILLIAM GARNER, DrPH, FACHE Assistant Professor of Public Health Department of Life and Health Sciences
Disclaimer The views and opinions expressed in this presentation are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the official policy or position of the University of North Texas System or its subsidiary universities.
Overview Advocacy is important to furthering the goals of health professions diversity. Political support is vital to gaining a place at the table and sustained support for health professions.
Overview Elected officials and their staffs need to hear from you but remember to be strategic in your communication. Do not underestimate the value of voting, giving, and writing as key parts of your advocacy strategy.
Outline What is advocacy? Why advocate? Understanding the politics. Identifying the key players. Working with partners. Communicating your policy goals. Evaluating the results. Measuring the progress.
Outline What is advocacy? Why advocate? Understanding the politics. Identifying the key players. Working with partners. Communicating your policy goals. Evaluating the results. Measuring the progress.
MESSAGE MESS E INITI TIATOR RECI RECIPI PIENT ENT Advocacy is communication.
Advocacy is influence.
Please do not scream!
Please do not scream!
Advocacy
Advocacy CLEAR CONCISE CONCRETE CORRECT COHERENT COMPLETE COURTEOUS
Outline What is advocacy? Why advocate? Understanding the politics. Identifying the key players. Working with partners. Communicating your policy goals. Evaluating the results. Measuring the progress.
Why Advocate? Because the current policy environment warrants it. Because all perspectives have not been heard or some have been overlooked in the decision-making process. Because you can communicate a unique perspective in a clear, concise, concrete, correct, coherent, complete, and courteous manner.
Advocacy is your right.
If you’re not at the table you’re probably on the menu! -- US Senator Mike Enzi (R-WY) Advocacy is your seat.
Outline What is advocacy? Why advocate? Understanding the politics. Identifying the key players. Working with partners. Communicating your policy goals. Evaluating the results. Measuring the progress.
Political Reality “Elections have consequences.” – President Barack Obama
Political Reality The political landscape in Washington, D.C. is subject to change every two years.
Political Reality
Political Landscape Trump is President. Trump is Republican. Republicans control Congress (e.g., House and Senate). Republicans tend to favor small government.
Political Landscape America First – The President’s FY18 Request • Trump signaled his intention to eliminate programs that are “duplicative or have limited impact on public health and well- being.” • His FY2018 budget proposed $403 million in cuts that would have discontinued funding for diversity training programs and other health professions and nursing training programs.
Political Landscape An American Budget – The President’s FY19 Request • Structural changes in GME funding. • Zero funding for 14 Title VII health professions and Title VIII nursing workforce programs (-$451 million). • Flat funding for the National Center for Health Workforce Analysis ($5 million) and the Nurse Corps Scholarship and Loan Repayment programs ($83 million).
Budget Process FEBRUARY – APRIL FEBRUARY Congress holds hearings President sends and constituent meetings. budget to Congress. MAY – JUNE JULY – AUGUST Congress prepares Congress passes appropriations bills. spending bills. SEPTEMBER Budget sent to President for signature. OCTOBER New fiscal year starts.
Outline What is advocacy? Why advocate? Understanding the politics. Identifying the key players. Working with partners. Communicating your policy goals. Evaluating the results. Measuring the progress.
Know your people!
Key Players House Committee on Energy and Commerce House Committee on Appropriations Senate Committee on Health, Education Labor and Pensions Senate Committee on Appropriations
Outline What is advocacy? Why advocate? Understanding the politics. Identifying the key players. Working with partners. Communicating your policy goals. Evaluating the results. Measuring the progress.
Congressional Partners Congressional Black Caucus Congressional Black Caucus Health Braintrust Congressional Hispanic Caucus Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus
Congressional Partners Congressional Academic Medicine Caucus Congressional Public Health Caucus Congressional Caucus on Primary Care Members of Congress with health professions degrees
External Partners [ Disparities ] American Diabetes Association American Lung Association Families USA Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies
External Partners [ Disparities ] National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) National Council of La Raza (NCLR) National Medical Association National Urban League Policy Institute
External Partners [ Professions ] American Medical Association American Academy of Family Physicians American College of Radiology American Dental Association American College of Emergency Physicians
External Partners [ Professions ] American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons American Congress of Obstetricians & Gynecologists American College of Cardiology American Academy of Dermatology Association American Nurses Association
Outline What is advocacy? Why advocate? Understanding the politics. Identifying the key players. Working with partners. Communicating your policy goals. Evaluating the results. Measuring the progress.
Communication Strategy Select advocacy targets . Decide if and how to partner . Agree on appropriate communication tactics . Translate your message into the language of your targets.
Communication Tactics Media Events Newsletter Staff Support Constituent Letters to Letters Petitions Meetings the Editor Posters Coalition Support Voting Policymaker Fact Sheets Editorial Support Campaign Contributions Sign-on Letters Policy Newspaper Phone Rally or Bike Ride Study Advertising Calls Dear Colleague Letters Town Hall Meeting Social Media
Communication Tactics Media Events Newsletter Staff Support Constituent Letters to Letters Petitions Meetings the Editor Posters Coalition Support Voting Policymaker Fact Sheets Editorial Support Campaign Contributions Sign-on Letters Policy Newspaper Phone Rally or Bike Ride Study Advertising Calls Dear Colleague Letters Town Hall Meeting Social Media
Action Plan PURPOSE PLAYER(S) MESSAGE METHOD RESULT RESPONSE
Outline What is advocacy? Why advocate? Understanding the politics. Identifying the key players. Working with partners. Communicating your policy goals. Evaluating the results. Measuring the progress.
Evaluation (Pre-term) What challenges can we expect? How can we overcome them? When should we re-evaluate?
Evaluation (Midterm) What have we achieved so far? What needs to be adjusted?
Evaluation (Post-term) What went right? What went wrong? What do we need to do from now on?
Example America First – The President’s FY2018 Request Program Million Training for Diversity -$83 Training in Primary Care Medicine -$39 Oral Health Training -$36 Area Health Education Centers -$30 Public Health and Preventive Medicine -$21
Example Consolidated Appropriations Act, FY2018 Program Million Training for Diversity +$5 Training in Primary Care Medicine +$10 Oral Health Training +$4 Area Health Education Centers +$8 Public Health and Preventive Medicine +$0
Outline What is advocacy? Why advocate? Understanding the politics. Identifying the key players. Working with partners. Communicating your policy goals. Evaluating the results. Measuring the progress.
Example An American Budget – The President’s FY2019 Request Program Million Training for Diversity -$83 Training in Primary Care Medicine -$39 Oral Health Training -$36 Area Health Education Centers -$30 Public Health and Preventive Medicine -$21
Example Predications for FY2019 Appropriations Program Million Training for Diversity +$0 Training in Primary Care Medicine +$0 Oral Health Training +$0 Area Health Education Centers +$0 Public Health and Preventive Medicine +$0
FY2018 Budget Trump and McCarthy look to cut billions from the FY2018 budget deal they just passed due pressure from conservative voters and groups. Under the 1974 Budget Act, a rescission resolution could pass the Congress, by a simple majority vote, within 45 days. It is unclear which programs will be cut or when the House would vote, although some are likely to come from the FY2019 budget request.
Summary Clarify your purpose . Know your people . Learn the process . Communicate your points . Measure your progress .
Summary Be clear. Be concise. Be concrete. Be correct.
Summary Be coherent. Be complete. Be courteous.
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