Getting Ready ForSchool Health Day at the Capitol

Alice Ricks & Salina MendozaCalifornia School Health Centers Association

Objectives

1. Identify our goals for School Health Day.2. Distinguish between advocacy and

lobbying, and describe the advocacy and lobbying aspects of School Health Day.

3. Internalize and begin to personalize the message and ask for School Health Day.

4. Understand School Health Day logistics.5. Share next steps for getting ready!

Why School Health Day at the Capitol

• Educate legislators about importance of school health services in improving student health and academic outcomes.

• Demonstrate value of school health services in legislators’ districts, as well as strength of school health movement.

• Explain to legislators how they can support and sustain school health services.

• Hear what legislators think about all this!

Why School Health Day at the Capitol

Past Successes!20032009

countless legislative visitsdozens of site visits

youth advocates in action

Advocacy vs. Lobbying

Advocacy Lobbyingeducating the public urging the public

to ask legislators to take a specific position on a specific bill

organizing the public asking a legislator to takea specific position on a specific bill

holding a rally

getting to know legislators

educating legislators, including at public hearings

conducting research and sharing your findings

Advocacy & LobbyingSchool Health Day at the Capitol

•Lots of Advocacy…–explaining school health services–describing their benefits–sharing your success stories–sharing your challenges–talking, generally, about what legislators can do

•A Little Bit of Lobbying…–urging positions on bills–providing handouts urging positions on bills

Why School Health Day at the Capitol

Questions?

The MessageSchool Health Day at the Capitol

•Health Impacts Learning.

•School Health Works.

The AskSchool Health Day at the Capitol

•Support the Health Care Safety Net–maintain FQHC reimbursement rates–protect Medi-Cal, Healthy Families

•Support Schools–maximize K-12 funding–vote for AJR 24, in support of the federal student-school nurse ratio act

The AskSchool Health Day at the Capitol

•Advance School Health through HCR–integrate school health services into patient-centered medical home model–define school-based health centers as essential community providers–include schools and school-based health centers in the Navigator program for outreach/enrollment

Legislative Visit GuidelinesSchool Health Day at the Capitol

•Open and Tell a Story

•Explain School Health Services

•Share More Information (district profile)

•Ask for Support and Close

The Message

Questions?Ideas?

What Will You Say?

LogisticsSchool Health Day at the Capitol

•Teams and Assignments

•Morning Preparation

•Visits to Offices

•Lunch and Wrap-Up

Teams and Assignments

Addresses + Team Size+ Team Diversity + Legislator Availability = Crazy Spreadsheet + Complex Logic Problem + Dozens of Advocacy Teams+ Hundreds of Voices for Student Health

Morning Preparation

Holiday Inn Capitol Plaza

8:00 arrive, register, get breakfast8:30 get to know your team8:40 hear policy updates, tips for advocacy, and SSPI Torlakson9:40 prepare with your team10:20 make your way to the Capitol11:00 visits start (staggered schedule)

Visits to Offices

•One Visit (plus optional packet drop-offs)

•Scheduled between 11am and 2pm

•Legislator or Staffer

•Map of the Capitol

Lunch and Wrap-Up

•Share your Experience and Celebrate

•Capitol Cafeteria–basement of old building–reserved room for School Health Day–open 11am – 2pm–$10 lunch coupon

•Evaluation Forms and Feedback Forms

Logistics

Questions?

Next Steps

•Practice explaining what you do…

•Come up with your stories…

•Practice telling them to your friends…

•Get excited to speak up at the Capitol…

Concluding Thoughts

Reflections?Tips?