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2017

Virtual Advocacy Day Toolkit

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Contents

Background ..................................................................................................................................... 3

PART 1: Summit Webinar Series ................................................................................................... 4

PART 2: Call to Action................................................................................................................... 5

Virtual Advocacy Day ................................................................................................................. 5

Individual Senator/Congressperson Contact Information by State ............................................. 5

Other Key Leaders .................................................................................................................... 10

Sample Email ............................................................................................................................ 11

Sample Phone Message ........................................................................................................... 111

Sample Facebook Posts ............................................................................................................. 12

Sample Tweets .......................................................................................................................... 13

Additional Resources .................................................................................................................... 14

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Background

The Prevention and Public Health Fund, also known as the Prevention Fund or PPHF, was

established by the Affordable Care Act, and is the nation’s first mandatory funding stream

dedicated to prevention.1 The Prevention Fund is an investment in sustaining proven prevention

strategies, expanding funding streams for prevention and public health, and improving health

outcomes and quality of care. The Prevention Fund has financed a broad range of evidence-based

activities including community and clinical prevention initiatives, research and tracking, and

public health workforce and infrastructure investments.

The ACA authorized $18.75 billion for the fund between FY 2010 and FY 2022 and $2 billion

per year after that. Annual funding levels began at $500 million in FY 2010, and were meant to

rise to $2 billion per year by FY 2015.2 The mandatory nature was meant to protect the funding

stream from reduction or elimination during the annual appropriations process. Congress has

statutory authority to appropriate the Prevention Fund each year by passing legislation that

amends the ACA. As such, the Prevention Fund has been cut many times since it’s authorization

to offset federal costs. In 2012, Congress passed legislation to cut the Prevention Fund by $6.25

billion over nine years (FY 2013-FY 2021) to balance scheduled cuts to Medicare physician

payments.3 In FY 2015, sequestration cut $73 million from the Prevention Fund, leaving $927

million for prevention and public health activities.4 More recently, each of the 2017 healthcare

repeal bills have eliminated the fund altogether.

The Prevention Fund has played a critical role in helping Americans stay healthy, reducing the

risk of disease, and reducing health care costs. Quality, affordable medical care and community

prevention must work together. As the single largest investment in our nation’s health, the

Prevention Fund allows for transformative high-quality preventive care. Prevention has a proven

return on investment: Every $1 spent on prevention saves $5.60 in health spending, and every $1

spent on childhood vaccines saves $16.50 in future health care costs.4 Some 75% of all US health

care costs relate to preventable chronic conditions such as heart disease and diabetes, yet only 3

cents of every dollar are spent on prevention.4 Prevention Fund activities have been

overwhelmingly successful at addressing the costly problem of American’s health illiteracy,

preventing chronic conditions in elderly and vulnerable populations, and bending the cost curve

in the American health care system.

The United States faces significant health and fiscal challenges that could be mitigated by a

better and more reliably funded public health system. The Prevention and Public Health Fund is

a vital part of the effort to create such a system.

1 Congress of the United States of America. (2010, March 23). Patient Protection and Afforable Care Act. Retrieved from Office of the Legislative Counsel U.S. House of Representatives: https://legcounsel.house.gov/Comps/Patient%20Protection%20And%20Affordable%20Care%20Act.pdf 2 Alliance for Health Policy. (2017, August 31). The Sourcebook: Essentials of Health Policy. Retrieved from Alliance for Health Policy: http://www.allhealthpolicy.org/sourcebook/affordable-care-act/ 3American Public Health Association. (2016, January 27). Prevention and Public Health Fund Dedicated to improving our nation’s public health. Retrieved from American Public Health Association: https://www.apha.org/~/media/files/pdf/factsheets/160127_pphf.ashx 4 American Public Health Association. (2012, October 18). Public Health Infographic. Retrieved from American Public Health Association: https://www.apha.org/news-and-media/multimedia/infographics/public-health-infographic

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As budget negotiations continue we encourage both organizations and individuals to use

Facebook, Twitter, email and phone to contact the US Congress and be heard!

For a unified message, please use the following hashtag throughout the day on your social media

platforms: #ProtectPrevention

PART 1: Summit Webinar Series

A Bipartisan Vision for Advancing Community Prevention: Communicating Stories and

Successes to Influence Local and National Change

Wednesday, September 20, 2017 | 2:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. EDT

This year’s priority advocacy issue for the Advocacy Summit is prevention in public health

policy. Over the last decade, deep financial cuts to prevention and public health have

posed threats to our communities’ basic health and social needs. Now more than ever, it is

crucial to work together to elevate and communicate community prevention successes that

advance health equity as a critical imperative. This webinar will ground participants in

approaches that support healthy and equitable communities, and highlight opportunities to

advance comprehensive prevention efforts through policy change. Participants will learn about

effective communication approaches for engaging local and federal stakeholders, and discuss

strategies for effective story telling that will continue building momentum for prevention and

public health initiatives.

View the recording

Advocacy 101- Preparing for the 2017 Advocacy Summit

Thursday, September 28, 2017 | 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. EDT

The focus of this year’s public health advocacy agenda is prevention in health policy. This

particular webinar focuses on core advocacy skills that students, faculty members, and all public

health professionals can use to advocate for public health priorities at the state and local level.

This webinar will provide faculty and student members very “action oriented” steps so that they

are not merely learning about policy advocacy strategies, but acquiring specific guidance and

examples of how policy changes can be initiated in their own work. It will provide examples of

how participants can inspire their peers to action and get decision-makers to change policy.

View the recording

Applying Lessons Learned from the 2017 Advocacy Summit

Monday, October 30, 2017 | 2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. EDT

The theme of this year’s Advocacy Summit is Equipping and Empowering Advocates for Public

Health, with a keen focus on the issue of prevention in health policy. This webinar will reflect on

the tools, tactics, and skills students, faculty members, and all public health professionals gained

during the Summit, and how they can use those skills on a local and state level. The purpose of

this webinar is for participants to be able to apply the lessons learned to advance health

education.

Register

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PART 2: Call to Action

Virtual Advocacy Day

Monday, October 23rd is SOPHE's Virtual Advocacy Day. This weekend, more than 100 of your

public health colleagues will come to Capitol Hill to network and learn new advocacy skills at

the 19th Annual Advocacy Summit. There is much work to do to further strengthen chronic

disease prevention and health promotion funding and programs. As SOPHE continues to

advocate for prevention, we invite you to join your public health colleagues on the Hill by

participating in our Virtual Advocacy Day to #ProtectPrevention.

JOIN the #ProtectPrevention Virtual Advocacy Day 2017 Thunderclap campaign.

Thunderclap helps amplify social media messages by connecting partners and friends to share

the same message at the same time through social media platforms.

Legislator Outreach

Fill elected officials' news feeds with demands to support the Prevention and Public Health Fund

and protect it from any proposed cuts.

We ask that you take to Facebook, Twitter, email and phone to let Congress know how important

the Prevention Fund is to you. We urge you to contact your Congressional representation and

flood their news feeds by tweeting at them, posting on their Facebook pages, sending emails and

calling their offices as a unified #ProtectPrevention voice. We have provided contact

information, including social media, below for key offices. Also, a list of sample Facebook posts,

tweets, emails and phone message have been provided.

Individual Senator Contact Information by State

Call and/or email your two Senators. Click here to look up your Senators’ contact information or

call the U.S. Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121 and the operator will connect you directly to

the Senate office you request.

Individual House Contact Information by State

Call and/or email your Congressperson. Click here to look up your Congressperson's contact

information or call the U.S. Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121 and the operator will connect

you directly to the House office you request.

Other Key Leaders

Members of the Senate Appropriations Labor, Health and Human Services, Education,

and Related Agencies Subcommittee

Chairman: Roy Blunt (R - MO)

Phone: (202) 224-5721

Email: http://www.blunt.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/contact-form?p=contact-roy

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SenatorBlunt

Twitter: @RoyBlunt

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Ranking Member: Patty Murray (D-WA)

Phone: (202) 224-2621

Email: http://www.murray.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/contactme

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pattymurray

Twitter: @PattyMurray

Jerry Moran (R-KS)

Phone: (202) 224-6521

Email: http://www.moran.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/e-mail-jerry

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jerrymoran

Twitter: @JerryMoran

Richard Shelby (R-AL)

Phone: (202) 224-5744

Email: http://www.shelby.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/emailsenatorshelby

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RichardShelby

Twitter: @SenShelby

Thad Cochran (R-MS)

Phone: (202) 224-5054

Email: http://www.cochran.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/email-me

Twitter: @SenThadCochran

Lamar Alexander (R-TN)

Phone: (202) 224-4944

Email: http://www.alexander.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?p=Email

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/senatorlamaralexander

Twitter: @senAlexander

Lindsey Graham (R-SC)

Phone: (202) 224-5972

Email: http://www.lgraham.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/e-mail-senator-graham

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/USSenatorLindseyGraham

Twitter: @GrahamBlog

James Lankford (R-OK)

Phone: (202) 224-5754

Email: https://www.lankford.senate.gov/contact/email

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SenatorLankford

Twitter: @SenatorLankford

John Kennedy (R-LA)

Phone: (202) 224-4623

Email: https://www.kennedy.senate.gov/content/contact-senator

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JohnKennedyLouisiana/

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Twitter: @SenJohnKennedy

Marco Rubio(R-FL) Phone: (202) 224-4774

Email: https://www.rubio.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/contact

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SenatorMarcoRubio

Twitter: @SenRubioPress

Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV)

Phone: (202) 224-6472

Email: http://www.capito.senate.gov/contact/hear-from-shelley

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/senshelley

Twitter: @sencapito

Richard Durbin (D - IL)

Phone: (202) 224-2152

Email: www.durbin.senate.gov/contact/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SenatorDurbin

Twitter: @SenatorDurbin

Jack Reed (D-RI)

Phone: (202) 224-4642

Email: https://www.reed.senate.gov/contact/email

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SenJackReed

Twitter: @SenJackReed

Joe Manchin (D-WV)

Phone: (202) 224-3954

Email: https://www.manchin.senate.gov/contact-joe/email-joe

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JoeManchinIII

Twitter: @Sen_JoeManchin

Jeanne Shaheen (R-NH)

Phone: (202) 224-2841

Email: http://www.shaheen.senate.gov/contact/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SenatorShaheen

Twitter: @SenatorShaheen

Jeff Merkley (R-OR)

Phone: (202) 224-3753

Email: http://www.merkley.senate.gov/contact/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jeffmerkley

Twitter: @SenJeffMerkley

Brian Schatz (D-HI)

Phone: (202) 224-4654

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Email: http://www.schatz.senate.gov/contact

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SenBrianSchatz

Twitter: @SenBrianSchatz

Tammy Baldwin (D-WI)

Phone: (202) 224-5653

Email: http://www.baldwin.senate.gov/contact

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/senatortammybaldwin

Twitter: @SenatorBaldwin

Chris Murphy (D-CT)

Phone: (202) 224-4041

Email: https://www.murphy.senate.gov/contact/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ChrisMurphyCT/

Twitter: @SenMurphyOffice

Members of the House Appropriations Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and

Related Agencies Subcommittee

Chairman: Tom Cole (R-OK)

Phone: (202) 225-6165

Email: https://coleforms.house.gov/contact/default.aspx

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TomColeOK04

Twitter: @TomColeOK04

Ranking Member: Rosa DeLauro (D-CT)

Phone: (202) 225-3661

Email: https://forms.house.gov/delauro/webforms/contact_form_email.shtml

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CongresswomanRosaDeLauro

Twitter: @rosadelauro

Mike Simpson (R-ID)

Phone: (202) 225-5531

Email: http://simpson.house.gov/contact/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Mike-Simpson/96007744606

Twitter: @CongMikeSimpson

Steve Womack (R-AR)

Phone: (202) 225-4301

Email: http://womack.house.gov/contact/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RepSteveWomack

Twitter: @rep_stevewomack

Chuck Fleischmann (R-TN)

Phone: (202) 225-3271

Email: https://fleischmann.house.gov/contact-me

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Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/repchuck

Twitter: @repchuck

Andy Harris (R-MD)

Phone: (202) 225-5311

Email: https://harris.house.gov/contact-me/email-me

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AndyHarrisMD

Twitter: @repandyharrismd

Martha Roby (R-AL)

Phone: (202) 224-3424

Email: https://roby.house.gov/contact-me

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Representative.Martha.Roby

Twitter: @repmartharoby

Jaime Herrera Beutler (R-WA)

Phone: (202) 225-3536

Email: https://herrerabeutler.house.gov/contact/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/herrerabeutler

Twitter: @HerreraBeutler

John Moolenaar (R-MI)

Phone: (202) 225-3561

Email: https://moolenaar.house.gov/contact/email

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RepMoolenaar

Twitter: @RepMoolenaar

Lucille Royball-Allard (D-CA)

Phone: (202) 225-1766

Email: http://roybal-allard.house.gov/contact/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RepRoybalAllard

Twitter: @reproybalallard

Barbara Lee (D-CA)

Phone: (202) 225-2661

Email: https://barbaralee.house.gov/contact/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RepBarbaraLee

Twitter: @repbarbaralee

Mark Pocan (D-WI)

Phone: (202) 225-2906

Email: https://pocan.house.gov/contact

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/repmarkpocan

Twitter: @repmarkpocan

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Katherine Clark (D-MA)

Phone: (202) 225-2836

Email: https://katherineclark.house.gov/index.cfm/email-me

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CongresswomanClark

Twitter: @ RepKClark

Additional Key Offices

Richard Blumenthal (D-CT)

Phone: (202) 224-2823

Email: https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/contact

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SenBlumenthal

Twitter: @SenBlumenthal

Al Franken (D-MN)

Phone: (202) 224-5641

Email: https://www.franken.senate.gov/?p=email_al

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Sen.Franken

Twitter: @AlFranken

John McCain (R-AZ)

Phone: (202) 224-2235

Email: https://www.mccain.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/contact-form

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/johnmccain

Twitter: @SenJohnMcCain

Susan Collins (R-ME)

Phone: (202) 224-2523

Email: https://www.collins.senate.gov/contact

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/susancollins

Twitter: @SenatorCollins

Lisa Murkowski (R-AL)

Phone: (202)-224-6665

Email: https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/contact/email

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SenLisaMurkowski/

Twitter: @lisamurkowski

Rand Paul (R-KY)

Phone: (202) 224-4343

Email: https://www.paul.senate.gov/connect/email-rand

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SenatorRandPaul

Twitter: @RandPaul

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Sample Email

Click here to send an action alert to your Congressional representatives.

Dear [Senator],

As a constituent and member of the Society for Public Health Education (SOPHE), I am writing

to ensure that the Prevention & Public Health Fund (PPHF), established by the Affordable Care

Act, is not eliminated.

Rates of chronic disease in America have reached staggering levels, and the continued support of

PPHF is critical to many of our citizens. Racially and ethnically minority groups, low-income

Americans, and our tribal communities are disproportionately burdened by chronic disease.

Chronic disease is now responsible for seven out of 10 deaths and equates to approximately 86

percent of health care costs.

Programs that currently receive funding from PPHF address obesity, diabetes, smoking

cessation, cancer screenings, access to vaccinations, and access to healthy food. Since its

inception, the Prevention Fund has provided over $6 billion in resources to address specific

health needs at both the state and community level to all 50 states, the District of Columbia, two

American Indian Tribes and eight U.S. territories. Supported by PPHF are several extremely

important chronic disease prevention initiatives:

• The Chronic Disease Self-Management program supports help older adults and adults

with disabilities from underserved areas and populations to better manage their chronic

conditions.

• The Diabetes Prevention program implements diabetes prevention and control strategies

within state and local organizations that address primary prevention.

• The Office of Smoking and Health is a program awarded to CDC and raises awareness of

the effects of tobacco use and exposure to secondhand smoke in areas of higher

prevalence of tobacco use.

• Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health (REACH) is a community-focused

program to improve linkages between the health care system and minority communities

with unique social, economic, and cultural circumstances.

• The Lead Poisoning Prevention Program targets surveillance capacity at the state and city

level to prevent childhood lead poisoning.

I strongly urge you and other members of Congress to continue the robust prevention funding

and chronic disease prevention programs that are currently in place.

Sincerely,

[Your name], [Your city]

Sample Phone Message

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Sample Message 1:

Hi, my name is [your name] and I am calling from [your city, state]. I am calling to express my

support for full funding for the Prevention and Public Health Fund. I expect our Congress to

work in a bipartisan manner to make the American health care system stronger, including

strengthening programs focused on prevention funded by the Prevention and Public Health Fund.

This funding stream can save thousands of lives and billions of dollars in healthcare costs over

the next five years. I strongly oppose any legislation that would rescind funding for this critical

source of funding. Thank you for your time.

Sample Message 2:

Hi, my name is [your name] and I am calling from [your city, state]. I am calling to express my

support for the Prevention and Public Health Fund. The Prevention and Public Health Fund is

America's mandatory funding stream that invests in keeping Americans healthy and preventing

costly chronic conditions. This program improves the health of thousands of Americans coping

with chronic illness. This especially true for our low-income Americans and our communities of

color. I encourage [Senator/Representative] to urge [his/her] colleagues to protect the lives of

thousands and protect the Prevention and Public Health Fund. Thank you for your time.

Sample Facebook Posts

Please post directly on your Senator’s or Congressperson’s Facebook page. Make sure to include

#ProtectPrevention in your posts.

Rates of chronic disease in America have reached staggering levels. Congress, we urge you to

work in a bipartisan manner to make the American health care system stronger and to save lives.

That includes strengthening prevention programs funded by the Prevention and Public Health

Fund. PPHF can save thousands of lives and billions of dollars in healthcare costs over the next

five years. #ProtectPrevention

The health care expenditures that result from caring for those with chronic health conditions

account for 86 percent of our nation’s health care spending. It is therefore virtually impossible to

envision how efforts to control health care spending can be successful if we do not first invest in

evidence-based, population-wide interventions to prevent the incidence of chronic disease.

#ProtectPrevention

The burden of chronic disease is not equally shared, but rather disproportionately felt by racial

and ethnical minority groups, low-income Americans, and our tribal communities. Very effective

programs funded by the Prevention and Public Health Fund (PPHF) are available to improve the

health of our citizens and communities. PPHF enables these programs to save thousands of lives

and billions of dollars in healthcare expenditures. #ProtectPrevention

The Prevention and Public Health Fund has the potential to improve health outcomes and reduce

costs. #ProtectPrevention

The Prevention Fund has played a critical role in helping Americans stay healthy by reducing the

risk of disease and reducing health care costs. Quality, affordable medical care and community

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prevention must work together. As the single largest investment in our nation’s health, the

Prevention Fund allows for transformative high-quality preventive care. #ProtectPrevention

We know that the PPHF has changed thousands of lives. Why would we stop supporting it?

#ProtectPrevention

Sample Tweets

Tweet at Senators and Congresspersons by using their Twitter handle. Also, please use

#ProtectPrevention in your tweets. If the Twitter handle is at the beginning of the tweet, you

must place a “.” as the first character of the tweet will not show up as public. Click here for a list

of all US Senator Twitter accounts.

.[@SenatorTwitterHandle] Ensure continued financial support for #PPHF to help eliminate

chronic illness for Americans. #ProtectPrevention

.[@SenatorTwitterHandle] #PPHF provides 100% of the funding for the childhood lead

prevention program. #ProtectPrevention

.[@SenatorTwitterHandle] Prevention Fund activities help prevent chronic conditions. Congress,

please #ProtectPrevention!

.[@SenatorTwitterHandle] The Prevention and Public Health Fund keeps critical safety net

programs alive. Congress, please #ProtectPrevention!

.[@SenatorTwitterHandle] Chronic disease in America has reached staggering levels. Help our

citizens help themselves. #ProtectPrevention

.[@SenatorTwitterHandle] Prevention has a proven return on investment! Congress, please

#ProtectPrevention!

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Additional Advocacy Resources

Special Report: How Healthy is your Congressional District?

Prevention and Public Health Fund State Snapshots

A Funding Crisis for Public Health and Safety: State-by-State Public Health Funding and Key

Health Facts, 2017

Special Analysis: Prevention and Public Health Fund State Allocations