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Advocacy Toolkit for Advocacy Toolkit for Caregiving Coalitions Caregiving Coalitions

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Page 1: Advocacy Toolkit for Caregiving Coalitions. Advocacy- Why Now? State Budgets State Budgets Federal Budgets Federal Budgets 65.7 Million Family Caregivers

Advocacy Toolkit for Caregiving Advocacy Toolkit for Caregiving CoalitionsCoalitions

Page 2: Advocacy Toolkit for Caregiving Coalitions. Advocacy- Why Now? State Budgets State Budgets Federal Budgets Federal Budgets 65.7 Million Family Caregivers

Advocacy- Why Now?Advocacy- Why Now?

State BudgetsState Budgets Federal BudgetsFederal Budgets 65.7 Million Family Caregivers in 65.7 Million Family Caregivers in

need of resourcesneed of resources Improving State ResourcesImproving State Resources

Page 3: Advocacy Toolkit for Caregiving Coalitions. Advocacy- Why Now? State Budgets State Budgets Federal Budgets Federal Budgets 65.7 Million Family Caregivers

Identify State LeadersIdentify State Leaders Start by visiting: Start by visiting: www.congress.orgwww.congress.org to locate your state to locate your state

legislatorslegislators

Visit your leaders website and find out what Visit your leaders website and find out what committees they are a part of. Target your leaders committees they are a part of. Target your leaders that have an interest in aging/family issues. The Key that have an interest in aging/family issues. The Key is to find the leaders who may influence change and is to find the leaders who may influence change and are able to work with you on an advocacy campaign. are able to work with you on an advocacy campaign.

Remember that telephone calls are usually taken by Remember that telephone calls are usually taken by a staff member, not the member of Congress. Ask to a staff member, not the member of Congress. Ask to speak with the aide who handles the issue about speak with the aide who handles the issue about which you wish to comment which you wish to comment

Page 4: Advocacy Toolkit for Caregiving Coalitions. Advocacy- Why Now? State Budgets State Budgets Federal Budgets Federal Budgets 65.7 Million Family Caregivers

Advocacy CycleAdvocacy Cycle

Identify issue or problemIdentify issue or problem Research cause and effectResearch cause and effect Plan goals, objectives, indicators, Plan goals, objectives, indicators,

methods, activities, and timelinemethods, activities, and timeline ActAct Monitor and Evaluate actions and Monitor and Evaluate actions and

resultsresults

Page 5: Advocacy Toolkit for Caregiving Coalitions. Advocacy- Why Now? State Budgets State Budgets Federal Budgets Federal Budgets 65.7 Million Family Caregivers

Know the LeadersKnow the Leaders Create a list of legislators who care about these Create a list of legislators who care about these

issues, especially those on key committees that issues, especially those on key committees that focus on aging, disability and caregiver issuesfocus on aging, disability and caregiver issues

Search the state legislation for policy makers who Search the state legislation for policy makers who have created, supported or voted on caregiving, have created, supported or voted on caregiving, aging and disability issuesaging and disability issues

Begin developing relationships with those members Begin developing relationships with those members and their key staff. Set up meetings, email the staff and their key staff. Set up meetings, email the staff with helpful information and keep in contact with with helpful information and keep in contact with themthem

Become their resource!Become their resource!

Page 6: Advocacy Toolkit for Caregiving Coalitions. Advocacy- Why Now? State Budgets State Budgets Federal Budgets Federal Budgets 65.7 Million Family Caregivers

Know the ProcessKnow the Process Learn how the budget process in your state works– Learn how the budget process in your state works–

many states produce a document on the process, but many states produce a document on the process, but you can talk to other people who have been through you can talk to other people who have been through the budget advocacy process before. the budget advocacy process before.

Track key committees—when they are meeting, what Track key committees—when they are meeting, what their agendas are, who are the staff of the their agendas are, who are the staff of the committees (get to know them)committees (get to know them)

When you identify an issue, think about at what When you identify an issue, think about at what points you can effect the legislative processpoints you can effect the legislative process

Identify other groups that are possible partners or Identify other groups that are possible partners or coalition members and that are potentially more coalition members and that are potentially more seasoned in this workseasoned in this work

Page 7: Advocacy Toolkit for Caregiving Coalitions. Advocacy- Why Now? State Budgets State Budgets Federal Budgets Federal Budgets 65.7 Million Family Caregivers

Track the LegislationTrack the Legislation Following the legislative process for your advocacy Following the legislative process for your advocacy

and to keep your members informed is a key processand to keep your members informed is a key process

Create a grid or structured form to track relevant Create a grid or structured form to track relevant legislation. This grid could include the name and legislation. This grid could include the name and number of the bill, sponsors, summary of legislation, number of the bill, sponsors, summary of legislation, where it is in the policy process and who is where it is in the policy process and who is supporting or opposing the measuresupporting or opposing the measure

Page 8: Advocacy Toolkit for Caregiving Coalitions. Advocacy- Why Now? State Budgets State Budgets Federal Budgets Federal Budgets 65.7 Million Family Caregivers

Prioritize IssuesPrioritize Issues Create a list of priorities for your coalition. This will Create a list of priorities for your coalition. This will

make tracking and managing the advocacy process make tracking and managing the advocacy process much easiermuch easier

Prioritizing is also helpful for the policy makers when Prioritizing is also helpful for the policy makers when you meet with them. You will want to have a clear you meet with them. You will want to have a clear message to present so you do not overwhelm them message to present so you do not overwhelm them with a wish list of hundreds of asks. Create 1-5 asks with a wish list of hundreds of asks. Create 1-5 asks that the coalition can agree upon and have those on that the coalition can agree upon and have those on all your material during the campaignall your material during the campaign

Page 9: Advocacy Toolkit for Caregiving Coalitions. Advocacy- Why Now? State Budgets State Budgets Federal Budgets Federal Budgets 65.7 Million Family Caregivers

Create JustificationCreate Justification Especially when your coalition is working on budget Especially when your coalition is working on budget

advocacy efforts, a justification or clear impact advocacy efforts, a justification or clear impact statement about your budgetary ask is critical to statement about your budgetary ask is critical to policy makers paying attention. Legislators are policy makers paying attention. Legislators are looking for a bang for their buck as well as for looking for a bang for their buck as well as for programs that make a big impact. Create one programs that make a big impact. Create one document that articulates the impact that specific document that articulates the impact that specific programs will makeprograms will make

Page 10: Advocacy Toolkit for Caregiving Coalitions. Advocacy- Why Now? State Budgets State Budgets Federal Budgets Federal Budgets 65.7 Million Family Caregivers

Tracking State BudgetsTracking State Budgets The State budget process will vary by State. Typically the The State budget process will vary by State. Typically the

Governor’s office will submit the State budget by the first of the Governor’s office will submit the State budget by the first of the year and then the State Legislature will act on it usually by June. year and then the State Legislature will act on it usually by June.

The National Council on State Legislature is a great resource to find The National Council on State Legislature is a great resource to find information in regards to your State budget process: information in regards to your State budget process: http://www.ncsl.org/Default.aspx?TabID=756&tabs=951,61,132#132 http://www.ncsl.org/Default.aspx?TabID=756&tabs=951,61,132#132

The Kaiser Family Foundation has a whole website devoted to state The Kaiser Family Foundation has a whole website devoted to state budgets and recent budget cuts.  It is interactive website that you budgets and recent budget cuts.  It is interactive website that you can click on the state your interested in get the latest information can click on the state your interested in get the latest information on what's happening in that state with regard to Medicaid cuts, or on what's happening in that state with regard to Medicaid cuts, or education spending. Etc… http://www.statehealthfacts.org education spending. Etc… http://www.statehealthfacts.org

It is important for the Coalition to note that even if programs are It is important for the Coalition to note that even if programs are de-funded or eliminated all together, remember to advocate for the de-funded or eliminated all together, remember to advocate for the policy to remain in place. Coalitions need to be sure that the policy to remain in place. Coalitions need to be sure that the language is still in even if there is no funding because the funding language is still in even if there is no funding because the funding can always come back. can always come back.

Page 11: Advocacy Toolkit for Caregiving Coalitions. Advocacy- Why Now? State Budgets State Budgets Federal Budgets Federal Budgets 65.7 Million Family Caregivers

Raise AwarenessRaise Awareness Although legislators might be your key decision Although legislators might be your key decision

makers, keeping a broad view of who you are trying makers, keeping a broad view of who you are trying to influence is key. Other groups you might be able to influence is key. Other groups you might be able to influence with your legislative advocacy include: to influence with your legislative advocacy include: Potential new members of your coalitionPotential new members of your coalition MediaMedia General PublicGeneral Public Possible FundersPossible Funders

Page 12: Advocacy Toolkit for Caregiving Coalitions. Advocacy- Why Now? State Budgets State Budgets Federal Budgets Federal Budgets 65.7 Million Family Caregivers

ResourcesResources

Caregiving in the U.S. 2009 Caregiving in the U.S. 2009 www.caregiving.org www.caregiving.org

Caregiver Coalition Advocacy GuideCaregiver Coalition Advocacy Guidehttp://www.caregiver.org/caregiver/jsp/content/pdfs/2009-http://www.caregiver.org/caregiver/jsp/content/pdfs/2009-Primer%20State%20Advocacy.pdf Primer%20State%20Advocacy.pdf

AARP, Across the States 2006: Profiles of Long-Term Care AARP, Across the States 2006: Profiles of Long-Term Care and Independent Living and Independent Living http://www.aarp.org/research/ppi/ltc/Other/articles/across_the_stathttp://www.aarp.org/research/ppi/ltc/Other/articles/across_the_states_2006__profiles_of_long-term_care_and_independent_living.htmles_2006__profiles_of_long-term_care_and_independent_living.html

Making the Case: Saving Your State’s Caregiver Support Programshttp://www.caregiver.org/caregiver/jsp/content/pdfs/2009-http://www.caregiver.org/caregiver/jsp/content/pdfs/2009-Primer%20State%20Advocacy.pdf Primer%20State%20Advocacy.pdf

Page 13: Advocacy Toolkit for Caregiving Coalitions. Advocacy- Why Now? State Budgets State Budgets Federal Budgets Federal Budgets 65.7 Million Family Caregivers

Strategy ChartStrategy ChartGoals Organizational

ConsiderationsConstituentsAlliesOpponents

Targets Tactics

Long Term:

State Caregiver Respite Plan is fully funded and operational

Intermediate TermLegislation

supporting respite is passed

Short Term:Identify influential

legislative sponsor

Secure resources needed for campaign-in-kind donation of lobbyist or government relations staff of coalition partner

What do we want to get out of the campaign

Fund expenses, gain influence in districts, develop grassroots campaign

ConstituentsCoalition partnersHealth systemsAlliesProfessional

AssociationsAcademic

InstitutionsOpponentsOther collaborative

efforts

MayorGovernorState legislatorsCity Council

Media campaign to increase awareness

Engaging human resource managers association

Letter writing campaign to legislators

Legislative visit day

Source: Midwest Academy, 28 E. Jackson Blvd, #605, Chicago, IL 60604

Page 14: Advocacy Toolkit for Caregiving Coalitions. Advocacy- Why Now? State Budgets State Budgets Federal Budgets Federal Budgets 65.7 Million Family Caregivers

Solutions SheetSolutions Sheet Each State Coalition should develop a Each State Coalition should develop a solutions sheet solutions sheet to to

develop for their advocacy campaign. Choosing the top develop for their advocacy campaign. Choosing the top priorities/programs that your coalition wants to advocate priorities/programs that your coalition wants to advocate for and providing solutions on how to make it happen. for and providing solutions on how to make it happen.

For Example: Keeping State Caregiver Respite Plan fully For Example: Keeping State Caregiver Respite Plan fully fundedfunded