At yesterday’s “Effective Advocacy: 15 Minutes a Week” education session, attendees of the 2010 Future of Aging Services Conference learned some tips from some of AAHSA’s most effective advocates.
The moderator, Win Marshall, AAHSA’s board chair and CFO of Christian Church Homes of Northern California, started the session by sharing his vision of having every AAHSA member spend at least 15 minutes a week on advocacy-related activities (check out Contact Congress for our current issues!).
Doug Struyk, president and CEO of Christian Health Care Center and an AAHSA board member, focused on the importance of building relationships with state and federal officials. Doug said he uses every advocacy opportunity as a way to “personalize” the issue to members of his staff.
Doug is right; staff members become much more involved in fighting for increased funding in a budget when they are told how such budget changes can affect their wages! According to Doug, “planting the seeds” when preparing for advocacy activities with the staff is half of the battle.
Mike Splaine, director of advocacy programs at the Alzheimer’s Association, shared the many successes of AAHSA and the Alzheimer’s Association’s partnership in working on call-in days for the Community Living Assistance Services and Supports (CLASS) Act of 2009 that helped keep CLASS in health care reform efforts. Mike stressed the importance of becoming an expert on the issues and knowing who the key players are on each issue.
Pat Beilman, vice president of communications and public affairs for Jewish Home Lifecare, said that she prepares the materials in advance for her staff so that they are ready to advocate. She noted that re-writing some of the language (e.g. removing some of the “policy speak” and using “real words!”) helps her explain some complicated issues to her staff. Also, Pat said that thanking people is one of the most important things to do, and many people don’t take enough time to complete this important step!
Tim Blanton, executive director of the Episcopal Place, shared his insights about involving residents in advocacy activities. Tim has so many great ideas, but one that stood out was his “Advocacy Ant.” He created this advocacy mascot and puts it out in the lobby to alert his residents that it is time to advocate for an important issue.
Finally, Tama Carey, senior vice president of Diakon Lutheran Social Ministries, shared information with the group about “Advoacy Boot Camps,” the importance of involving a board in advocacy activities, and the creation of “Membership Advocacy Coordinators (MAC).”
Tama said that her state association, PANPHA, came up with the idea of MACs. Each member organization of PANPHA has designated one person in their organization to serve as a MAC. This person is the main contact for PANPHA when the call for advocacy goes out. By having a designated person, PANPHA, and its members, are organized and prepared to advocate the minute that an issue arises.
Overall, these “advocacy czars” shared tremendous ideas with the group on how to get their staff, residents, and family members involved (and excited about!) advocacy. Without advocacy at the grassroots level, AAHSA would never be able to help represent its members on Capitol Hill.
