Public Health Action Campaign

 
This summer, APHA is mobilizing support to educate legislators and candidates running for office about the need to include public health in the health reform debate and to generate interest in prevention and support for the public health infrastructure. During the months of July and August, we are asking APHA members and affiliates to schedule meetings with their legislators in their district offices, participate in town hall meetings hosted by their legislators, and seek opportunities to ask questions to candidates, both incumbents and challengers, running for office at the local, state and federal levels.

Find district offices, town hall meetings and other events

• Questions to ask candidates running for local, state and national office. Help start conversations about public health!
• Top Ten Rules of Advocacy: an essential resource before speaking or meeting with policy makers.
• Hill visit do's and don'ts. These general rules also apply to district office meetings.
• Ready to schedule a meeting? Here are tips on making a visit to your member of Congress and a sample letter requesting a meeting.
• Tips for speaking at a town or public meeting.

Fact Sheets on APHA's Priorities: Educate yourself on APHA's legislative priorities for this year, speak from them when you meet with your legislators, and leave behind copies with your legislators.  

• State Fact Sheets on key public health statistics in your state
• Public Health: What is it?
• Snapshot of the Uninsured in America
• CDC Coalition Fiscal Year 2009 Budget Request
• Friends of HRSA Fiscal Year 2009 Budget Request
• Mental Health Parity 
• FDA Regulation of Tobacco Products
• Climate Change is a Public Health Issue
• APHA's 2007 Annual Congressional Vote Record  See how your elected officials voted on APHA's priorities last year.
• Stay up to date on legislative news with APHA's monthly Legislative Update newsletter
• Links to additional resources

Can't make a visit? Support APHA's advocacy efforts by sending action alerts to Capitol Hill offices through CapWiz.

Media advocacy: Highlight public health issues in national and local media. Send a letter to the editor of a newspaper, magazine, television station, radio station, or other news service.

• Tips for writing a letter to the editor
• Send a letter to the editor on the public health infrastructure
• Send a letter to the editor on funding for disease prevention programs
• Letter to the editor on access to care (coming soon)

WE NEED YOUR FEEDBACK! Please complete this follow-up report.

For additional advocacy tips and tools visit our Advocacy Tips page!

For more information on this campaign, please contact APHA's Government Relations Staff at (202) 777-2513 or nicky.bassford@apha.org.