Gearing up for Action in 2011

Happy New Year! As we look toward 2011, we face a number of challenges and unknowns. While it may be tempting to sit back and wait to see where things land in a new political landscape, the fact remains that our duty as public health professionals and partners in prevention is to proactively work toward change. Decision makers need to hear from us now more than ever about the importance of creating healthy environments for everyone – in the places they live, learn, work, play and pray.

I wanted to share a few related thoughts from my colleague Kyle Pfister, Policy Coordinator in the Tobacco Prevention and Control Program:

I know when I'm faced with a challenge, it helps me stay positive to do something about it. We work in a cyclical political landscape where many things are out of our control – but we know the process and
can prepare for parts of it. By building policy competencies into your programs year-round, you'll be able to engage in these critical public debates. Here are some policy competencies we value:

• Coalition-Building - Building and engaging a network of grasstops and grassroots supporters strengthens the voice of the public who care about continued attention to your issues. Check out NPAO’s coalition building resources!
• Media Advocacy – Media is something you can work to your advantage. Letters to the editor, building relationships with reporters, op-eds, and Editorial Board visits are all
  strategies to influence the media framing of your issues. Check out Media Advocacy tips on http://www.healthinpractice.org/.
• Policymaker Education - Legislators need to hear about your issue from your supporters via in-district meetings, forums, and public hearings. These are the people who will make the decisions, and we want them to be informed decisions. Educating a policymaker does not constitute lobbying. Here is a recap on lobbying vs. education, including some real examples.
  Just as a note, these strategies have worked for TPCP but do not substitute for the direction of your supervisor nor legal advice. This does not limit your ability to support partners in engaging in these actions.Thinking about how we sustain our work throughout the year ensures success for the long run.