DISCLOSURE: THIS SPEAKER HAS NO CONFLICTS OF INTEREST, COMMERCIAL SUPPORT, OR OFF LABEL USE TO DISCLOSE. WHY GET INVOLVED?

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1 MENTAL HEALTH ADVOCACY SIMPLIFIED: DISCLOSURE: THIS SPEAKER HAS NO CONFLICTS OF INTEREST, COMMERCIAL SUPPORT, OR OFF LABEL USE TO DISCLOSE. LEARNING OBJECTIVE: Discuss an understanding of how mental health nurses can have a political impact at the state and local level to: SUE WHITTY, PSYCH/MENTAL HEALTH ARNP. *Clarify mental health information & needs *Influence legislators and legislation *Change Public Policy NURSING PROCESS FITS PUBLIC POLICY : 1. Observing 2. Assessing 3. Educating & Presenting Facts 4. Evaluating and Problem Solving The same techniques we use to help our patients help us change health care policy. WHY GET INVOLVED? Nurses have vast knowledge about their health care specialty Knowledge + Dialogue = Influence Relationships = Influence MENTAL HEALTH LEGISLATION INFLUENCES: Access to care Practice boundaries Client options CHANGES CAN HAPPEN QUICKLY THIS DECADE, IOWA HAS: Created Mental Health Regions Defined core services Expanded Medicaid Expanded nursing role w/ Involuntary commitment Declaration of death Stabilized advanced practice role BUT, ALSO, THIS DECADE HAS: Introduced managed care (MCO s) to Iowa Closed Facilities & Programs Reduced Family Planning Funding Increased psychiatric workforce funding without equal emphasis on nursing workforce NATIONALLY, CHANGES HAVE: Passed the Murphy Bill HR 2646, Helping Families in Mental Health Crisis Act Increased health care access and potentially modifying this access Increased advanced practice nureses ability to order DME Sue Whitty, RN, MA, PMH ARNP 1

2 NEVER IN A MILLION YEARS THAT S WHAT I SAID, BUT Legislators need information They cannot be knowledgeable about every bill Nurses are the most trusted profession Nurses represent the patient We are EXPERTS! NURSES ARE EQUIPPED To get involved with policy making It only LOOKS like a foreign language subcommitttee * committee * funnel * lobbyist declaration * chamber * amendment * code IOWA LEGISLATIVE WEBSITE: To search for site: Type in Iowa legislature FEDERAL LEGISLATIVE WEBSITE: 22source%22:%22legislation%22} To Search for Site: Type in federal legislation 2016 IOWA LEGISLATION HOME PAGE LOOKS LIKE THIS: ASSESSMENT: Read the whole bill carefully Highlight key areas and language Locate problem areas Know what you want to change & why Suggest new language with rationale FINDING YOUR LEGISLATOR: WHO IS INTERESTED? It is important to find out who is monitoring, supporting or opposing a bill. Click on Lobbyist Declarations to find this information. Some are undecided this means they are monitoring Follow the money.. DECLARATIONS FOR SF 365: Sue Whitty, RN, MA, PMH ARNP 2

3 NAMI WAS 1 ST TO REGISTER FOR MH LEVY BILL: RESULTS OF SUBCOMMITTEE OR COMMITTEE MEETINGS: ADDRESSING A BILL: WHERE ARE BILLS DISCUSSED? Subcommittee and Committee Meetings Check the schedule Attend meetings PROVIDING FEEDBACK: At Subcommittee Meeting Register on bill or phone legislators assigned to subcommittee (3-5 people) Provide testimony at meeting--often, 24 hr. notice Lobbyists speak for clients PROVIDING FEEDBACK: At Committee Meeting , mail or direct conversation to full committee Provide lobbyist with information to share strategically Sit in on committee meeting as show of force PROVIDING FEEDBACK: Before Chamber Votes: Watch Floor Calendar schedule Organize mass communication or action alerts to connect with all legislators Constituents have the most influence LEGISLATORS NEED: Accurate Info Data/Facts Common Sense Grounding A Story A Purpose A Vision TO BE ELECTED HOW TO COMMUNICATE WITH LEGISLATORS: Legislators want to hear from you is often the best way This starts dialogue Or..visit Des Moines or Washington DC Sue Whitty, RN, MA, PMH ARNP 3

4 VISITING THE CAPITOL IOWA CAPITOL Take minimal items you will be holding or wearing what you take in Enter on GROUND LEVEL south side of building west side of building Proceed through security Similar to airport GROUND LEVEL Tour Desk is at center of building Cafeteria located here Steps to FIRST and SECOND Levels FIRST LEVEL GALLERY (OBSERVE FROM ABOVE) Whispering Gallery quiet voices only IF LEGISLATOR IS NOT AVAILABLE: Check out Committee Meetings eetings Listen & Observe WE ARE THE VOICE OF NURSING TAKE IT ALL IN GOVERNMENT IS FOR THE PEOPLE Learn & observe Ask questions Remember you are representing nursing WE ARE THE VOICE OF NURSING Be Open to Talk with Aides: Particularly important at Federal level Aides may be the legislator s spouse, daughter or son Aides write the newsletters Aides answer s and letters Aides keep EVERYTHING organized AFTER YOU LEAVE, AIDES: Tell the legislators about you Explain your needs/interest/focus Let the legislator know how well you communicated And.if they were impressed AIDES INFLUENCE OUTCOMES Sue Whitty, RN, MA, PMH ARNP 4

5 GETTING TO KNOW YOUR LEGISLATOR: If you can t visit the Capitol, meet them at home as a constituent. Most have newsletters. Join their list serve. Note: Most legislators leave the Capitol on Thursdays and arrive Monday. GETTING TO KNOW YOUR LEGISLATOR: Many hold Saturday forums. Look for when and where held. Most are open to interfacing on Fridays or Saturdays. Offer to do research and get background info for the legislator. Some legislation has a direct impact on local health care. Point this out. Why should they care? You want the legislator to: Feel motivated to act. Understand how your issue fits into the big picture. Remember your story and know why it matters. THANK YOU S ARE IMPORTANT STREAMLINING YOUR MESSAGE STRATEGY Send legislators thank you notes Tell them what you learned Answer their questions A card or letter will have special meaning Communicating your public policy message succinctly = impact. From the 2014 American Nurses Association Institute STREAMLINING YOUR MESSAGE: It is important to stating your case clearly Less is more Don t over explain details Stories make a difference and are what people remember Consistency + Repetition = IMPACT Deliver the message by controlling the agenda Find a way to get back to YOUR message If you repeat your message, don t do it the exact same way THERE IS AN ART TO REPETITION: Deliver the message in a slightly different way based on context. Acknowledge (their point) + bridge (to yours) + repeat a key fact + share connection to your sparkler Sue Whitty, RN, MA, PMH ARNP 5

6 REMEMBER: You are the expert Be yourself and be courteous Be clear, brief and accurate Direct the conversation--you are charge REMEMBER: You are never off the record and negative messages have legs ELEVATOR SPEECH: Use a SOUND BITE or MANTRA Example of a sound bite: Safe Staffing Save Lives This becomes the platform for everything you say Whenever you redirect the conversation, use the sound bite: It all comes back to my main point, Safe Staffing Save Lives ELEVATOR SPEECH: Key message (sound bite) Key Facts + Sparkler (an anecdote or personal story) SMALL GROUP ACTIVITY DIRECTIONS Each table will identify a mental health bill to focus on. Review specific bill & discuss talking points Practice streamlined message to use with legislators Use phones/tablets to research info SMALL GROUP ACTIVITY DIRECTIONS As a small group at each table, write 3-4 talking points related to specific bill Soundbite Key Facts Sparkler INTERACTION AFTER EACH GROUP IS DONE WE WILL SHARE ELEVATOR SPEECHES WITH LARGE GROUP COMEPARE APPROACHES WHERE DOES LEGISLATION COME FROM? MAKE A DIFFERENCE: FROM APATHY to.. ACTION All legislation starts as an idea Maybe the idea will be yours Or maybe you will change the focus of a bill HAVE A VOICE! DON T GIVE UP YOUR INFLUENCE Takes time, effort, and practice! All of us have a role in health care policy. Sue Whitty, RN, MA, PMH ARNP 6

7 Kathleen D. Sanford, DBA, RN, CENP, FACHE. Overview and Summary: Nurse Advocates: Past, Present, and Future arketplace/anaperiodicals/ojin/tableofcontents/v ol /no1-jan-2012/nurse-advocates-past- Present-and-Future.html Stanton, Peter, Russo, Lori, Haebler, Janet. Message Development for Legislators, Regulators and the Media. American Nurses Advocacy Institute; Washington DC. 10/6/14. Sue Whitty, RN, MA, PMH ARNP 7