7/15/19

1

How to Make Friends and Influence People:

Your Roadmap to Becoming an Advocacy Superstar

Michael Petruzzelli, MPANational Council for Behavioral Health

Who is the National Council for Behavioral Health?

2,900 organizations serving 10 million + adults, children and families affected by mental illnesses and/or addictions ...mental health and addictions organizations, health centers, and hospital systems...

7/15/19

2

Thank you to our Hill Day Partners!

Thomas Jefferson said…

“We do not have a democracy of the majority. We have a democracy of the majority who participate.”

7/15/19

3

Congressional Popularity

vs.LESS

popular

MORE popular than Congress

*(Yes, it can be done)

Influencing Congress*

7/15/19

4

Influencing Legislators’ Decisions

7/15/19

5

How influential are…?(Numbers represent % of staff responding “very influential.”)

In the past year, have you…?

7/15/19

6

“It’s obvious that supporting mental health and addiction care is a good idea – all I have to do is tell

people about it, right?”

Good ideas don’t speak for themselves

• Different audiences have different agendas• Economic impact• Managing their own

organization’s budget• Promoting a different aspect

of health• Promoting an agenda

unrelated to health• And more…

“It’s not what you say, it’s what people

hear.”

7/15/19

7

Raising honeybees in your backyard …

q Will help save a species that is being decimated by colony collapse.

q Promotes plant pollination and beautiful gardens in your neighborhood.

q Is an excellent source of delicious, homegrown, organic honey.

Which case is most persuasive to you?

Good ideas don’t speak for themselves

• Different audiences have different agendas• Economic impact• Managing their own

organization’s budget• Promoting a different aspect

of health• Promoting an agenda

unrelated to health• And more…

“It’s not what you say, it’s what people

hear.”

7/15/19

8

Politicians make decisions based on:

High-influence communication: Know your audience• What do they care about?

üFree market economics? üUniversal coverage?üFiscal sustainability?üSomething that isn’t health care?

• What are their goals? üSatisfy their base? üAvoid a 2020 primary? üAdhere to a particular ideology?

7/15/19

9

Know your audience (cont.)

• What are their pre-existing biases?üFeelings about Medicaid & Medicaid

enrollees? üPerceptions of mental illness or addiction? üPast experience (good or bad) with tax

levels or social service programs in their district?

• What constraints might they have?üPressure from party leaders? Vulnerable in

2020?

High-influence communication: Tell a story

• What constituencies resonate with them?– Business owners? Tax payers?

Law enforcement? Families? Vulnerable individuals?

• What impact is this issue having on the community?

• Speak from the heart!

7/15/19

10

“We have an enormous opportunity to educate lawmakers about mental health and addiction treatment.”

--Patrick Kennedy, NatCon16

High-influence communication: Be a resource

High-influence communication: Be specific with your ask

Don’t be afraid to be direct

7/15/19

11

What Advocacy Looks Like

What Advocacy Looks Like