INCREASING POLICY EFFORTS AMONG C S G O C O S O GRESEARCHERS AND PRACTITIONERS

Carol E. Thornton, MPAChair, Safe States Policy Committee

Mission of the Safe States AllianceMission of the Safe States Alliance

To strengthen the practice ofTo strengthen the practice of injury and violence j y

prevention

Membership ProfilepOrganization Type (N=524)

2%1%

10%Federal government agency

Hospital or other health care organizationLocal health department

10%1%

6%48%

Other state, tribal, or local governmental agencyOther private/nonprofit organizationOth6%

9%

Other

School or university

State health department

13% Tribal health department

20 for 20 Anniversary Surveys:PolicyPolicyResponses by Organization Type (N=238)

1.67% 2.09% 0.42% State health department

11.72%

Local health department

Hospital or other health 

9.21%

7.11%care organizationSchool or university

Other57.32%

10%

9.21%

Federal government agencyNo organization listedNo organization listed

Tribal health department 

Survey TopicsSurvey Topics

Funding SourcesFunding SourcesActions on Advocacy AlertsL l f E tLevels of EngagementTypes of Policy ActivitiesRelationships with OfficialsState Policy IssuesState Policy IssuesTraining Needs

Funding SourcesImportance of federally funded programs supported by Safe StatesImportance of federally funded programs supported by Safe States Alliance (N=239)

86%

100%

86%

58%60%

80%

51% 51%

38%43%

39%40%

60%

11%

3% 6% 7%11%

0%

20%

Core VIPP PHHS Block Grant Prevention and Public Health Fund

MCH Block Grant

Very Important Somewhat Important Not at all importanty p p p

Other Funding SourcesOther Funding SourcesViolence Against Women Act (VAWA) funding, including funding for the Rape Prevention and Education (RPE) program (n=20)The National Violent Death Reporting System (NVDRS) (n=18)U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) funding (n=16)U S epa t e t o a spo tat o ( O ) u d g ( 6)Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) funding, including funding for traumatic brain injury (TBI), Emergency Medical Services for Children (EMSC), and public health training ( ), p g(n=10)Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), including funding for Garrett Lee Smith Memorial Act ( ), g gsuicide prevention grants (n=6)Research grants from CDC and NIH for injury research (n=6)

Advocacy AlertsAdvocacy Alerts

Safe States Weighs in, President Obama & Vice President Biden Release Recommendations Related to Gun Violence

Advocacy AlertsAdvocacy Alerts

Reasons for taking action on an Advocacy Alert

Reasons for NOT taking action on an Advocacy Alert

Importance, relevance, and/or timeliness f h ( )

Inability or limited ability to advocate due l ( )of the issue or topic (n=56) to employer restrictions  (n=36)

Passion for and/or interest in the issue (n=14)

Lack of time (n=28)

F l h l i l d i i k N j b S f S ( 8) Felt that legislators or decision‐makers should be informed (n=8)

New to job or Safe States (n=8)

Ease of taking action (n=7) Did not see them (n=7) Prevent funding cuts (n=6) Not of interest (n=6) Fit with the policy platform/goals of an 

employer/organization (n=2) Prefer to take action only on local or state‐

level issues (n=3)

Levels of Engagementg gWillingness to engage as an individual (N=227)

Yes No I don't know

94%

84%80%

100%

48%

36%

48%

40%

60%

36%

11%

34%

6%

17% 15%20%

40%

3% 3% 6%

0%Educate Advocate Engage in media 

advocacyLobby

Levels of EngagementWilli t t ti f th i i tiWillingness to engage as a representative of their organization (N=227)

Yes No I don't know

92%

67%

79%80%

100%

67%

52%

40%

60%

31%

7%

23%

5%11%

16% 13%20%

40%

7%3% 5%

0%Educate Advocate Engage in media 

advocacyLobby

Types of Policy ActivitiesTypes of Policy ActivitiesPolicy‐related activities in which  N %yrespondents would participate (N=208)Encourage partners to share information with  150 72%representativesEmail your representative(s) 126 61%

Call your representative(s) 61 29%

Meet with your representative(s) 47 23%y p ( )

Participate in Hill Visits 35 17%

Relationships with OfficialsRelationships with Officials

Thirty-five members (16%) indicated that they had an existing relationship with at least one state and/or federal official or an administrative official.

State Policy IssuesState Policy Issues

Motor vehicle issues (including seat beltsMotor vehicle issues (including seat belts, distracted driving, graduated drivers licensing (GDL) ignition interlockslicensing (GDL), ignition interlocks, helmets, and child passenger safety);Gun control/safety; andGun control/safety; andPrescription drug abuse and prescription d it idrug monitoring programs.

Training NeedsTraining Needs

How to differentiate between education, ,advocacy, and lobbying;How to effectively develop messages andHow to effectively develop messages and communicate information/data to legislative staff and decision-makers;legislative staff and decision makers;

Training NeedsTraining Needs

Understanding the different types of g yppolicies that can be used to prevent injuries and when they should be used;j y ;Legislative basics;How to rally the public for a cause andHow to rally the public for a cause and better engage partners as advocates.

Differences from SAVIR SurveyDifferences from SAVIR Survey

Asked about specific funding sources andAsked about specific funding sources and state policy issuesDid not ask about membership in otherDid not ask about membership in other organizations or about previous experience with advocacyexperience with advocacy

Online ResourcesOnline Resources

The Safe States website provides member-The Safe States website provides memberonly resources, as well as a variety of educational resources for the publiceducational resources for the public, including our: Congressional Outreach Guide Congressional Outreach Guide 2013 Policy Agenda

Social Media as a Policy ToolSocial Media as a Policy Tool

QuestionsQuestions