Introduction To CHC Advocacy- Staff Training Sample

Health Center AdvocacyHealth Center AdvocacyGetting InvolvedGetting Involved

Amanda Pears Amanda Pears

National Association of National Association of Community Health CentersCommunity Health Centers

The History of Community Health Centers:The History of Community Health Centers:In the BeginningIn the Beginning

1965- Community members in Boston, Massachusetts 1965- Community members in Boston, Massachusetts and Mound Bayou, Mississippi recognize the unmet and Mound Bayou, Mississippi recognize the unmet needs of the poor and underserved in their needs of the poor and underserved in their communities and work to establish the nations first communities and work to establish the nations first two Community Health Centers (CHC’s). The original two Community Health Centers (CHC’s). The original health centers were funded under demonstration health centers were funded under demonstration authority by federal Office of Economic Opportunity authority by federal Office of Economic Opportunity (OEO), the lead agency in the War on Poverty efforts (OEO), the lead agency in the War on Poverty efforts of the Johnson Administration.of the Johnson Administration.

1975- Recognizing the strength, value and success of 1975- Recognizing the strength, value and success of Community Health Centers, the Health Center Community Health Centers, the Health Center Program is officially established under section 330 of Program is officially established under section 330 of the Public Health Service Act (PHSA). The new the Public Health Service Act (PHSA). The new program provides targeted funding to medically program provides targeted funding to medically underserved/high impact areas; sets minimum service underserved/high impact areas; sets minimum service and consumer majority policy Board requirements. and consumer majority policy Board requirements.

What Makes CHC’s DifferentWhat Makes CHC’s DifferentCommunity Health Centers are owned and Community Health Centers are owned and operated by their communities:operated by their communities:– The Health Center Program is the only healthcare The Health Center Program is the only healthcare

delivery system in the nation that maintains a 51% delivery system in the nation that maintains a 51% patient majority consumer board- to ensure the TRUE patient majority consumer board- to ensure the TRUE NEEDS of the community are being represented and NEEDS of the community are being represented and cared for!cared for!

CHC’s will ALWAYS provide healthcare to anyone CHC’s will ALWAYS provide healthcare to anyone and everyone, regardless of their ability to pay.and everyone, regardless of their ability to pay.

CHC’s often provide multiple healthcare services CHC’s often provide multiple healthcare services from their sites in order to provide greatest from their sites in order to provide greatest access to care for all patients and ensure all access to care for all patients and ensure all healthcare needs are accounted for- one stop healthcare needs are accounted for- one stop shopping for healthcare.shopping for healthcare.

What is Advocacy?What is Advocacy?

Giving voice on behalf of another.Giving voice on behalf of another.Acting in support of a belief or policy.Acting in support of a belief or policy.The support of recommendation of a The support of recommendation of a policy.policy.

What Else?!?What Else?!?– Making your voice heard.Making your voice heard.– Standing up for what you believe in.Standing up for what you believe in.– Helping others who don’t know how to make Helping others who don’t know how to make

their voice heard.their voice heard.– Getting involved.Getting involved.– Giving back.Giving back.

Why is Advocacy Important?Why is Advocacy Important?

If not you, then who else?If not you, then who else?Healthcare is for Healthcare is for everyone!everyone!Keep the lights on- job security.Keep the lights on- job security.Who knows your community better than Who knows your community better than you?you?STOPSTOP being a bi-stander. being a bi-stander.The people we serve are in the greatest The people we serve are in the greatest need but receive the least recognition.need but receive the least recognition.Accountability- holding your decision Accountability- holding your decision makers accountable.makers accountable.Working together- meeting the needs of Working together- meeting the needs of the community.the community.

The Success of AdvocacyThe Success of AdvocacyAchievements and SuccessAchievements and Success

Health Center funding- New Jersey receives Health Center funding- New Jersey receives $45million+ annually because of health center $45million+ annually because of health center advocacy.advocacy.

Expanded services and facilities, as well as Expanded services and facilities, as well as benefits for health center employees- Health benefits for health center employees- Health Centers all over the nation receive support and Centers all over the nation receive support and assistance for expansion, because of health assistance for expansion, because of health center advocacy.center advocacy.

Serving more patients- HC’s across the nation are Serving more patients- HC’s across the nation are serving nearly 16 million patients from 5,000 serving nearly 16 million patients from 5,000 sites, because of health center advocacy.sites, because of health center advocacy.

Advocacy Saved Big Bird!Advocacy Saved Big Bird!

Health Center AdvocacyHealth Center AdvocacyWhat Can You Do?What Can You Do?

Action = Effective AdvocacyAction = Effective Advocacy

Effective advocacy has two requirements: Action Effective advocacy has two requirements: Action and Commitmentand Commitment

Empower Yourself Through AdvocacyEmpower Yourself Through Advocacy

Your level of commitment is directly related to your ability Your level of commitment is directly related to your ability to make an impact.to make an impact.

You You MUST MUST demonstrate personal commitment to your demonstrate personal commitment to your issues if you expect to receive the support and issues if you expect to receive the support and commitment of your officials and community members.commitment of your officials and community members.


Easy Steps:Easy Steps:

1.1. Commit to Advocacy-Commit to Advocacy- advocacy is not a spectator advocacy is not a spectator sport, get involved and stay involved.sport, get involved and stay involved.

2.2. Stay Informed- Stay Informed- Ask for updates at staff and Ask for updates at staff and community meetings, read updates from NACHC, PCA community meetings, read updates from NACHC, PCA and the Health Center.and the Health Center.

3.3. Calls and Emails- Calls and Emails- When you receive an action alert When you receive an action alert respond then and there. respond then and there. YOUR MESSAGE COUNTS!YOUR MESSAGE COUNTS!

4.4. Tell Others- Tell Others- How many people know how you’re How many people know how you’re involved with the health center and why it’s involved with the health center and why it’s important? Tell others and ask them to get involved important? Tell others and ask them to get involved and support the Health Center.and support the Health Center.

5.5. Attend Health Center Events- Attend Health Center Events- Show your support Show your support in person and bring your friends!in person and bring your friends!


Easy StepsEasy Steps

6. 6. Build Relationships- Build Relationships- policymakers, community policymakers, community leaders, business owners, churches, other healthcare leaders, business owners, churches, other healthcare providers, one and all!providers, one and all!

7. 7. Vote Strong- Vote Strong- Help with voter registration drives and Help with voter registration drives and vote for candidates who support the health center.vote for candidates who support the health center.

8. 8. Make it Personal- Make it Personal- Tell your story and ask others to Tell your story and ask others to share their story as well. Work with your HC Advocacy share their story as well. Work with your HC Advocacy Coordinator/Advocacy Committee.Coordinator/Advocacy Committee.

9. 9. Show Appreciation- Show Appreciation- When someone shows support or When someone shows support or gets involved with HC advocacy, say THANK YOU!gets involved with HC advocacy, say THANK YOU!

10. 10. Believe to Succeed!Believe to Succeed!

Empowering Yourself Through AdvocacyEmpowering Yourself Through AdvocacyThe Role of the Health Center AdvocateThe Role of the Health Center Advocate

You Are:You Are:

The Educator:The Educator: educate others about educate others about what the health center does for its what the health center does for its patients and for the community.patients and for the community.

The Resource: The Resource: When speaking to When speaking to officials, community members, or anyone officials, community members, or anyone who is ‘new’ to the health center, offer who is ‘new’ to the health center, offer yourself as a resource for information- yourself as a resource for information- someone they can call when they have a someone they can call when they have a question, need clarification or help.question, need clarification or help.


You Are:You Are:

The Constituent: The Constituent: Your voice and perspective Your voice and perspective counts! Remember that your officials represent counts! Remember that your officials represent you and your interests as a citizen- as well as you and your interests as a citizen- as well as everyone involved with the HC.everyone involved with the HC.

The Link:The Link: Provide officials, community members, Provide officials, community members, and other organizations and businesses a link to and other organizations and businesses a link to the HC. Let people know how many patients are the HC. Let people know how many patients are served at the HC. Invite them to the HC to meet served at the HC. Invite them to the HC to meet with staff and patients, to understand the HC with with staff and patients, to understand the HC with their own eyes.their own eyes.


You Are:You Are:

The Expert: The Expert: You may not have every You may not have every number or figure, but when you speak number or figure, but when you speak about your own experiences about your own experiences YOUYOU are an are an expert in your field!expert in your field!

Personalize the issue, real accounts and testimonials Personalize the issue, real accounts and testimonials can mean immeasurably more than numbers and can mean immeasurably more than numbers and figures.figures.

Don’t be afraid if you don’t have all the answers- It’s Don’t be afraid if you don’t have all the answers- It’s ALWAYSALWAYS better to refer them to someone who has better to refer them to someone who has the right information than to give the wrong answer.the right information than to give the wrong answer.

“…“…The difference The difference between what we do and between what we do and what we are capable of what we are capable of doing would suffice to doing would suffice to

solve most of the world’s solve most of the world’s problems.”problems.”

-Mohandas Gandhi-Mohandas Gandhi

Health & Medicine

Introduction To CHC Advocacy- Staff Training Sample