Advocacy: A Vital Role for CSB Board Members. October 31, 2013

Transcription

1 Advocacy: A Vital Role for CSB Board Members October 31, 2013

2 Your effective Board Responding to community needs with quality services Keeping constant focus on mission/outcomes Immediate challenges/opportunities How can advocacy efforts maximize opportunities for best outcomes Advocacy strategies tried and true 2

3 Committed, informed Board members willing to communicate need and advocate Dedicated staff managing/providing quality services Strong City support Good consumer health and life outcomes Consistent improvement of systems and services Community thinks highly of the Board! 3

4 Robust crisis services Housing Employment Recovery and Independence Coordination with other agencies, including public safety Consumers avoid entanglements with law enforcement Consumers access to treatment rather than incarceration 4

5 Successful and productive life in the community for youth, adults and families: recovery, independence, and resiliency! Clinical services for stability Basic Supports such as housing Employment Social networks, interactions, participation Whatever it takes to minimize the disease or condition in a person s life! 5

6 Person-centeredness in all aspects Targeted Case Management-core of care coordination and follow through Self-Management Supports -recoveryfocused services Peer Support Life supports that are adjusted as required Full or supported independence 6

7 The Mission and the outcomes should remain in constant focus Challenges and opportunities can be viewed as strategies to accomplish the outcomes IF Everything is viewed as an opportunity to advance the outcomes. 7

8 A unified CSB voice to the Administration, to the General Assembly, to DBHDS, DMAS, the Coalition for Virginians with Mental Disabilities, VOCAL, NAMI-VA, The Arc-VA, SAARA and other related groups and agencies. Builds relationships with legislators and Administration, frames public policy, and advocates for resources and positive legislation and policy for CSB services. Actively impacts state legislation and coordinates for federal advocacy 8

9 But local advocacy is what makes the real difference! Many individuals and groups conveying the same message In every possible venue From every perspective Using every event and opportunity to deliver the message Without unduly annoying decision-makers! 9

10 November Gubernatorial and House of Delegates Election=significant but unknown change Economic pressures continue-congress stalled in resolving revenue/spending Sequestration impacts Virginia in many ways Medicaid Reform with BHSA Magellan, Commonwealth Coordinated Care Project, stepped-up Program Integrity 10

11 Possible Medicaid Expansion Health Marketplace Implementation Continuing DOJ Settlement Agreement Implementation Additional Case Management Requirements Training Center Closures START Gaps 11

12 Funding gaps in critical programs such as Part C/Early Intervention, Substance Use Disorder Services Youth Alcohol and Drug Use/Violence Workforce Shortages Increasingly complex administrative issues, including data exchange issues Regulatory tightening w/o consideration of operational implications 12

13 Youth and adults with psychiatric, developmental, and substance use disorders populate every locality in Virginia. They need services regardless of insurance or Medicaid coverage. State legislators must understand needs of constituents before they can address those needs. Local officials must know constituent needs so they can advocate as well. Every funding stream is important to CSBs. 13

14 YOU provide the foundation for state advocacy! YOU are leaders with no vested interest! YOU live where decision-makers live and YOU have access! YOU have the grasp on local constituent needsmore meaningful to local legislators than large state numbers! YOUR local advocacy can have emotional engagement: real success stories, real stories of need! 14

15 Now: Learn about VACSB Budget Priorities and how they fit with your local needs. Now-December: Lead with Success!! Use local information and priorities with VACSB Public Policy Brochure for advocacy: all candidates, local government, local and state elected officials, local media, others. This is the best time!!! Ask them to advocate with the Governor for inclusion in his budget. December: Governor s Budget Released. 15

16 Early January: Regional Budget Hearings take place-only time for your public comment on the Budget. VACSB sends guidance. January-February: Advocate for specific budget amendments called Items. February: Legislative budget is proposed January-March: Be alert for VACSB requests for action on budget. Specific directions will always be provided. 16

17 Present brief, honest information. Allow that others may have a differing view. Engage official(s) at a personal level and at an emotional level, whenever possible. Examples and stories help! Be patient with a lack of understanding or concern. Your role is to educate. 17

18 Lead with Success but also accurately inform decision makers of the needs of citizens with clear, honest materials (prepared by staff?), based on local assessment. Determine that on-going contacts and personal meetings with targeted officials will be needed-please do not wait for the General Assembly session! Thank you follow-up for personal meetings with hand-written notes works best. Follow-up contacts at regular intervals with success stories or compelling information. 18

19 Determine who in a delegation to target for extra effort as a champion or leader You may need more than one champion/leader Determine who will be the main contact person for the elected official(s) Get to know the background of that official and the Aide-very important! Meet with both official and Aide 19

20 Build the delegation leadership but educate all members of the delegation! For local official advocacy, use the local needs and requests For General Assembly members, use the statewide priorities Do not forget the aides!!!! Invite them to attend meetings, opening, gatherings Take photos and send them the photos! 20

21 Call the district office of the official and followup with additional calls if no response. Communicate about a specific time for meeting. You can count on access as a constituent, as a local appointed official, as a parent, etc. Be prepared to meet in the office, at a coffee shop, or a place of business depending upon what the person does. Know that you will have limited attention time, regardless of how much time you secure. 21

22 Decide upon one or two main points you want to make. What is your take-away? Too much dilutes the message so test your material for it. Use brief, pointed, supportive examples, such as a story of need regarding ID Waiver slots or children needing services, based on their constituency. Listen to the person for his/her interests and concerns. If possible, try to weave their concerns into your message. For example: Concern about taxes can be addressed with information about the cost of high end supports, such as hospitalization. 22

23 Intend to develop relationship so that you become the ambassador for the CSB and the advocacy need. Always ask the official to do something about the need and recommend what to do. Use consistent communication and continuing contact as a primary advocacy strategy. CONSISTENT is the operative word-local need with a unified statewide message. 23

24 Trusted relationship develops and continues. As ambassador, you are a key to information source and expertise within the CSB. Champions you develop help change perceptions of other officials. Active support by all officials is the desired outcome. 24

25 Same strategies work with local, state and federal legislators. Partnership with local advocacy groups essential to convey a unified message. Board members and local advocates can meet together with decision-makers. PERSISTENCE, PATIENCE, POLITENESS WORK! 25

26 Some trepidation? What you have heard about an official? Not enough knowledge? Flexibility to go with the flow? Will I make a difference? Will it be the right difference? You don t have a personal story or do not want to share it? Other? 26

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28 This is not your only shot! Be polite no matter what occurs. Be persistent and let it be known you will be! Know, in advance, that whatever you do will make a difference! You don t have to know everything! Know that follow-up can rectify any lack of or inaccurate information and provides a vehicle for more contact. 28

29 Mary Ann Bergeron, Executive Director Will Frank, Public Policy Manager subscribe to the VACSB Legislative Update -distributed weekly during the General Assembly session. 29