INSIGHT & INSPIRATION FROM APHA’S 2012 MIDYEAR MEETING

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36 Survive All In This Friends Prevention, Strategies & Thrive Together For Health Opportunity & Equity for Health Speak Up for Public Health The ability to advocate effectively doesn’t come naturally; like many things in public health, first you have to build the capacity. Lora Wier, director of Montana’s Teton County Health Department, told meeting attendees about the experience of the Montana Public Health Association in becoming a force for public health. It began in 2004, when the governor appointed a new director to lead the state’s health department. At the time, Weir was serving as president of the state association and received a call asking for its position on the appointment. She said she didn’t really know what to say. But then she thought: If anybody should have a position, it should be us. In response, the association contacted the governor’s office and met with staff (she said the association was concerned the appointment wasn’t a good fit for the health department). It was the association’s first foray into advocacy and policy. From there, capacity continued to grow. The association assembled a committee dedicated to advocacy and policy and got active during the 2007 state legislative session — we did what we could with limited experience, Wier said. They also tried to engage association members and along the way, learned a lot about their capabilities and barriers. Wier said members didn’t know how to advocate and were insecure about trying. In turn, the Montana association began offering advocacy education during all of their annual meetings. Feeling good about its state-level work, the association moved to the federal level. And as they got more active, they became more visible in Montana, attracting new partners and strengthening their role as a voice for public health and prevention. When it came time to take part in APHA’s 2011 Public Health ACTion (PHACT) grassroots advocacy campaign, they were ready. Along with their organizational partners, the Montana association sent out letters to the editor; had guest opinion columns published in four of the state’s seven major daily newspapers; had four congressional district meetings; and organized a public health call-in day, asking its members to call their national representatives and show their support for the ACA’s Prevention and Public Health Fund.
37 Survive All In This Friends Prevention, Strategies & Thrive Together For Health Opportunity & Equity for Health Offering advocacy education at every opportunity was the biggest lesson learned during the campaign, Wier said. Provide potential advocates with prepared talking points, tips and information — make it easy for them, she suggested. “Don’t assume someone else will act. We are the grassroots, we are the boots on the ground. Make it easy to act — I can’t stress that enough,” Wier said. “If you don’t speak up for public health, who’s going to speak up for public health?” From session 3002, Successful Advocacy: The How, What and Where, June 28 Attendees at APHA’s <strong>2012</strong> Midyear Meeting react to the news that the Affordable Care Act is constitutional and will be upheld.
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INSIGHT & INSPIRATION FROM APHA’S 2012 MIDYEAR MEETING

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