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Presentation by Laurie Glaze at 2013 Texas Statewide Independent Living Conference, Take a Stand to Take a Seat, in Austin, Texas
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Advocating for
a Healthy Texas
Going viral Going viral
AdvocacyAdvocacy
What is One Voice Texas?What is One Voice Texas?
a collaborative . . .a network working
together . . .addressing health and
human services needs . . .using public policy
initiatives
AdvocatesAdvocates
FamiliesFamiliesConsumersConsumers
BoardsBoardsBusinessesBusinesses
Law Law EnforcementEnforcement
Elected OfficialsElected Officials
ProvidersProviders
FundersFunders
PrioritiesPriorities
strong prevention and early intervention programs . . .to maximize federal funding for health and human services to . . .
“Keep Texas Dollars Working in Texas”
Focus AreasFocus Areas
Basic Needs & Community CareBasic Needs & Community Care
Behavioral HealthBehavioral Health
Children and Youth ServicesChildren and Youth Services
EducationEducationHealthcareHealthcare
Why One Voice Texas Is Effective …Why One Voice Texas Is Effective …
Leverages expertise of 100s
Brings together like-minded coalitions and stakeholders to create
consistent priorities and messages
Why One Voice Texas Is Effective …Why One Voice Texas Is Effective …
Recognizes health and human services as a total system with each area
dependent on others in order to create lasting change
Why One Voice Texas Is Effective …Why One Voice Texas Is Effective …
Advocacy & Lobbying
AdAdvocacyvocacythe act of pleading or arguing
by expressing a position on an issue…
an umbrella term for activism related to a particular agenda…
expected to be non-deceptive and in good faith
Training Education
OrganizingResearch
Regulatory EffortsLobbying
ADVOCACY
Who Can Advocate?Who Can Advocate?Organizations/Businesses
AdministratorsBoard MembersDirect – Service PersonnelClients / Consumers
Organized GroupsProfessional AssociationsLabor GroupsCouncils
Constituents/Stakeholders
Effective Advocates Need:Effective Advocates Need:Knowledge of the legislative process
and rulesKnowledge of the issues and how to
identify issues which require public policy change
An understanding of when, why and how to communicate with elected officials and decision makers
LobbyingLobbying always involves always involves advocacyadvocacy, , but advocacy does not necessarily involve but advocacy does not necessarily involve
lobbying.lobbying.
Lobbying
Advocacy
Advocacy
Lobbying
IRS Regulations on IRS Regulations on Lobbying by NonprofitsLobbying by Nonprofits
Lobbying by a nonprofit is only the expenditure of money by the organization for the purpose of attempting to influence legislation
Nonprofits which receive federal funds must complete detailed forms to show federal funds are not used to lobby
Direct LobbyingDirect LobbyingCommunicationWith government officialsExpressing a view about
specific legislation and asking for a specific action
Grassroots LobbyingGrassroots Lobbying
CommunicationWith the general publicExpressing a view about
specific legislationMay include a “Call to
Action”
During Election Seasons During Election Seasons Nonprofits Nonprofits CANCAN::
Continue normal lobbying activitiesConduct nonpartisan activities such
as:◦ Candidate Visits and Forums◦ Candidate Questionnaires◦ Testimony on Party Platforms
Activities must include all legitimate candidates for an office from
all political parties
During Election Seasons During Election Seasons Nonprofits Nonprofits CANNOTCANNOT::
Endorse or oppose a candidate for elective office
Lend space, equipment, etc. to candidates or a political party
Contribute money to a political party campaign or political action committee (PAC)
Allow staff to contribute time at the expense of the organization; it must be done on their own time
A Look at Texas
DFPS
DARS
DADS
DSHS
Program/Policy ChallengesProgram/Policy ChallengesLow Taxes and Limited Government = Weak Safety NetTexas is increasing sales of services, not products~25% of budget (GR) is HHS with 85% spent on MedicaidCurrent budget did not recognize population growth or increased costs or utilization$4B shortfall (GR) in current budget for Medicaid ($12 B all funds)Low reimbursement rates make it difficult to build capacity for critical Medicaid services
Program/Policy ChallengesProgram/Policy Challenges
1,000 new people per day move to Texas
2nd in nation with under age 18 population
Near bottom of nation in per capita spending
1 of every 4 Texans is uninsured - Highest percentage in nation
Texas Legislature
The Texas LegislatureThe Texas LegislatureTwo legislative bodies:◦ Texas State Senate◦ Texas House of
RepresentativesBiennial sessions140 calendar daysSpecial Sessions -
limited to 30 calendar days
The Texas LegislatureThe Texas LegislatureTexas Senate
31 Members, ½ elected every 2 years for 4-year terms
Lt. Governor, elected every 4 years; presides over Senate
The Texas LegislatureThe Texas Legislature Texas House of
Representatives150 members, elected
every 2 yearsSpeaker of the House,
elected by House each session; presides over the House
Legislative CommitteesLegislative CommitteesMost health & human
services legislation is assigned to:
House◦ Human Services
CommitteePublic Health
CommitteeSenate◦ Health and Human
Services Committee
Developing Issues
To Create Change:To Create Change:
Identify the issues
Find/suggest solutions
Advocate for changes
Identify the IssueIdentify the IssueCan the issue bring diverse groups
together to support?Can you clearly identify the decision
makers?Is the objective achievable, even
with opposition?Is the issue easy to understand?And most importantly, does the
issue really address the problem?
ResearchResearchWho else in the community is
working on this issue?How can we work together?Is there an organizational or social
way to solve the problem other than a change at the policy level?
Who might be opposed to the issue and why?
ConnectConnectWho cares about this problem?Who has the power to change the
public policy?Who is a decision maker?What steps need to be taken to
influence the decision maker to make the change?
Educate the publicBecome a useful resource (data &
stories)
More than
_________Texans have some form of diagnosable mental health
disorder.
Texas ranks
_________in the nation in per capita spending on mental health
services.
Approximately
_________people with mental illness in Harris County have critical
unmet housing needs.
Harris County
_________is the largest provider of
mental health services in the state.
To Create Change:To Create Change:Identify the problems
Find/suggest solutions
Advocate for changes
Behavioral Health
Initiative
HousingHousingEducationEducation
FundingFunding
CollaborationCollaboration
Access to Care Access to Care
AdvocacyAdvocacy
FOCUS
Community-based servicesCommunity-based services
Alternatives to Alternatives to IncarcerationIncarceration
Increase the number of stakeholders currently engaged in mental healthpublic policy
Office of Mayor Annise ParkerBlue Ribbon Task Force
Council on Children and FamiliesHousing and Community Development
Corporation for Supportive HousingOffice of County Judge EmmettOffice of Legislative Relations
Alliance for Economic InclusionTexans Care for ChildrenMHMRA of Harris County
Houston Independent School DistrictTexas Reach
Harris County CPSMental Health America of Greater Houston
Healthcare for the HomelessCoalition for the Homeless
Legacy Community Health Services Various NAMI affiliates
Identify, analyze, and prioritize mental health policy issues
Provide support to member organizations that lack in-house expertise on mental health policy issues
Develop and advocate for local and state mental health policy recommendations that address the areas of need that are important to stakeholders
To To CreateCreate Change: Change:
Identify the problems
Find/suggest solutions
Advocate for changes
Advocates who attempt to fix everything run the
risk of changing nothing in the process.
Effective Communication
Turn right at North Loop Fwy W 0.1 mi
Take the ramp on the left onto I-610 W 0.4 mi.Take the exit onto I-610 S 8.6 mi
Take exit 4B to merge onto S Post Oak Rd 3.9 mi
Turn left at W Orem Dr 2.1 mi
Turn right at Buffalo Speedway 0.6 mi
Your preference?Your preference?
Know yourself
Know your audience
Know your message
Know your channels
Social/economic/educational experience
What Makes You
You
Birth Order
Personality Type and
Temperament
Learning Style
Phase of Life
Spiritual Development
Culture
Gender
Generational Concerns
Know yourself
Know your audience
Know your message
Know your channels
What Makes
Them Them
Birth Order
Personality Type and Temperament
Learning Style Phase of Life
Spiritual Development
Culture
Gender
Generational Concerns
Social/economic/educational experience
Texas Legislature
Committee
Advocates
Know yourself
Know your audience
Know your message
Know your channels
62
For every dollar spent on prevention you save $7 in
intervention services
63
Know yourself
Know your audience
Know your message
Know your channels
House
Senate
Committee
Staff
Advocate
Stories Statistics Shots & Scenes
Something To Do
Songs Something To Think About
Something To Talk About
Public TestimonyPersonal Visits
LettersPhone Calls
Emails
White
Paper
Press rel
ease
Website
Stories Statistics Shots & Scenes
SomethingTo Do
Songs Something To Think About
Something To Talk About
67
140 characters
EmailEmail Not the most effective method of communicating with legislators Try not to send a letter as an attachment Use only when time is of the essence Identify the message’s subject in the “Subject” line, e.g., House Bill 2 Do not “stuff” a legislator’s inbox – messages will be ignored
Contact your rep or member of the appropriate committee
Provide personal info
Briefly explain your perspective. Use facts and anecdotes. Use bill number.
Don’t copy and paste the same email message “stuffing” the email box
Never doubt that a small Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful group of thoughtful committed citizens committed citizens
can change the world. can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing Indeed, it is the only thing
that ever has.that ever has.
Margaret MeadMargaret Mead
Laurie Glaze, LMSWExecutive Director5120 Woodway Drive, Suite 6000Houston, Texas 77056713.333.2232 (phone)[email protected]
Karen CampbellCommunications832.474.9008 [email protected]
