NR 506 Week 4 Discussion, Challenges in Lobbying

Challenges in Lobbying Strategies NAME Chamberlain College of Nursing NR506: Healthcare Policy DATE Week 4: Challenges in Lobbying Strategies Discuss the best approach for communicating with your local legislator or policymaker in your policy-priority issue. What is your rationale for this approach? Dr. Sargent and classmates Legislators have recognized the evolving role of the nurse in the healthcare system as we are on the frontline and first contact for many patients seeking help and education. Legislators or policymakers are more likely to support positions that their constituents feel strongly about. Thus, nurses need to embrace their roles as leaders in the healthcare system and in the political arena and use it to influence and be the voice of the public and advocate for initiatives. In last week’s discussion thread, I mentioned that effective communication with a legislator can be conducted through various forms of media. A legislator can be contacted via email, letters, telephone calls, in-person meetings, or even tweets. However, there is no better way to display a passion for an issue then by taking the time to have a face-to-face meeting with your legislator. To implement a policy regarding mental health illness and advocate for budget-neutral solutions I will be contacting Congressman David Joyce, who represents the 14th district of Ohio. To make an immediate impact regarding my policy priority I will contact Congressman Joyce by scheduling an appointment through his website in advance. If I’m able to meet face to face with the Congressman in his Twinsburg office I should familiarize myself with his stance on the issue of mental health issues and current legislation in place to ensure that I’m prepared for the meeting and have answers or supporting information to address any opposing concerns he may have (Connecticut Youth Services Association [CYSA], 2016). My current legislator is an advocate for improving support services and access to treatment for individuals with mental health issues. He is also a supporter of the Helping Families in Mental Health Crisis Act of 2016 (H.R. 2646) to increase options for those struggling with mental health illnesses. My rationale for having a face to face meeting is that as I present my proposal he will be able to see my genuine concern as a medical professional. Legislators are extremely busy and have little patience for lengthy meetings, thus meetings should be short and to the point. According to the Office of Government Relations (n.d), an informative one-pager with easy-to-digest information can serve as both a visual aide and a good "leave-behind ". If I’m not able to meet with the Congressman I could consider meeting with the lead aid. Meeting with the lead aid on my issue can be productive. Parlaying the first meeting with an aid can build into a long-term relationship with that office and with the legislator. If I’m unable to meet the Congressman in person, then a telephone conversation would be the next best method to communicate. I should identify myself, my address and any affiliation with an organization related to my priority policy (Collaborative Center for Justice, 2012). Next, state why I’m calling. Identify the issue and bill I wish to address (Collaborative Center for Justice, 2012). My priority policy is identifying the need to increase awareness about mental health illness specifically in the African-American communities and advocate for budget-neutral solutions including refocused social awareness campaigns, mental health treatment outreach initiatives, youth mental health education, and the presence of child psychologists at public schools to both provide initial treatment for students who experience mental illnesses and act as a liaison between students, guardians, teachers, and external mental health resources. Congressman Joyce voted for the Helping Families in Mental Health Crisis Act of 2016, which was approved by the House of Representatives and is currently under review to be considered for Senate approval. This bill could potentially enhance mental health treatment quality considerably, it fails to address issues preventing effective treatment of mental illness. I should keep my remarks short and focused. At the end of the meeting or telephone call, I should thank the Congressman for his time and for considering my views even if he disagrees with me. Finally, I should follow-up with a brief thank you letter and any follow up information I may have promised to the policymaker and the staff who were instrumental in assisting me, and keep up the relationship with the office over time (Office of Government Relations, n.d.). Nurses, collectively have the power to change healthcare policy as it is today, yet many do not follow through on their interest (Taylor, 2016). We have the power to get changes made in healthcare that is necessary for the public to maintain a healthy lifestyle. To do this, we must be passionate about our beliefs and advocate for those who may otherwise not be able to. References Connecticut Youth Services Association. (2016). Visiting/Writing legislators. Retrieved from Office of Government Relations. (n.d). Speak out! A guide to being heard and agreed with in the policymaking process. Retrieved from Taylor, M. R. (2016). Impact of Advocacy Initiatives on Nurses' Motivation to Sustain Momentum in Public Policy Advocacy. Journal of Professional Nursing, 32(3), 235-245. doi:10.1016/urs.2015.10.010 Student Question to my post: Do you know what you plan to do if your meeting does not go well? Bingley Response: Robert and Jake, Thank you for your insights. If my meeting doesn’t go I do have a plan B. First, I have to say that I’ve researched a lot of tips to prepare for my meeting or phone call with the congressman. I understand that legislators are busy and that I need to present my information clearly and concisely, without longwinded explanations. Thus, I plan to create one or two-page overview of my main points with facts and evidence. This will reinforce the in-person presentation. Second, I’ve learned to be firm in my position but don’t argue with the legislator if he disagrees with my proposition. I should listen carefully and identify issues of concern or differences of opinion. I should try to understand the other side of the story and be prepared to respond without attacking. Besides, I may need his support on future issues. It takes time to research and prepare for a meeting with a legislator, nonetheless, we are doing ours basically in 6 weeks. If my meeting doesn’t go well, I can always research for more evidence-based practice and develop a partnership with a special interest group or coalition such as the National Alliance on Mental Illness and the Northeast Ohio Black Health Coalition. Joining a coalition allows me to increase my impact on mental health disparities, disseminate information, and present my priority policy again later to Congressman Joyce. Policymakers value and respect diverse coalitions of different stakeholders within the community, so partnering with others can improve my strength and credibility. Carole B. Professor Question: Discuss the importance of researching your policymaker. Share the importance of understanding the cultural, religious, and social beliefs of a policymaker. Please share the research that you have done on your particular policymaker and the considerations that you have taken with your visit and presentation of your policy priority. Bingley Response: Professor Sargent and classmates, Do not make assumptions about legislators and their views. Simply researching basic information about the policymaker, reading their bio provided on their website, can give us a sense of their personal and professional experience and to identify opportunities to make a personal connection. For example, after being directed to locate my district congressman or congresswoman regarding my priority policy, I was able to do some research and I learned Congressman David Joyce was the congressman for the 14th district where I reside. The first thing that shows up is Congressman Joyce’s website is his bio. The Congressman is also involved in social media, such as Facebook and Twitter. Unfortunately, I do not have an account to either social media outlets. By learning who Congressman Joyce is as a person will allow me to create a brief greeting or introduction, thus building a rapport. Next, the advocate should continue to review the website and identify issues that are important to the policymaker. Identifying ways, the priority issue might coincide with the legislators will help the advocate develop a message and select a story that links both priorities. For example, I learned that Congressman Joyce supports mental health initiatives and voted for the Helping Families in Mental Health Crisis Act of 2016, which was approved by the House of Representatives. This bill can enhance mental health treatment but fails to address the issues preventing effective treatment of mental illness. My plan is to discuss solutions that will not cause a tax increase for funding. Researching the position of the legislator or policy maker in advance of the meeting prepares the individual advocating to anticipate questions and concerns. Reference Advocacy and Communications Solutions. (2015). Key tips for meeting with policymakers. Retrieved on November 16, 2017, from Often times constituents meet with their local policymakers with a specific request in mind. If you do not have a specific "ask" for the policymaker, let them know that the purpose of your visit is to cultivate a relationship in hopes of future collaboration and support around an important public health issue or program and ask them to consider you as a resource when they need additional expertise or feedback on public health-related issues.