The Health Educator's Role in Advocacy and Policy: Principles, Processes, Programs, and Partnerships

Abstract

Advocacy skills are essential for the public health practitioner. Recognizing this need, two statewide public health organizations partnered for a series of advocacy trainings. Outcomes included an increased competence for such advocacy as providing expert testimony, writing position papers, forging stronger relationships with policy makers, and committing to ongoing advocacy. An increase in statewide initiatives also included a legislative scorecard, development of a model advocacy network by voting districts, advocacy policy for associations, fact sheets for legislators on pending public health issues, a new university advocacy course, and advocacy action by two associations' members to reach common goals. The trainings and subsequent initiatives provide a template for organizations and individuals to build advocacy skills and increase the role of public health professionals in setting state public health policy.

Changes in Political Astuteness Following Nurse Legislative Day

“…Participants had opportunities to attend public hearings and meet with elected officials. This content is similar to the content described for advocacy training in public health (Caira et al, 2003) and advanced practice nursing (Manning & Grosso, 2011). However, little is known about whether or not participation in legislative day activities increases political knowledge or skills in nurses who partake in experiential learning activities offered by professional associations.…”

“…Indeed, there are often partnerships among the various sectors such as academia, practice, and professional associations involved in advocacy training (Caira et al, 2003). Strategies to enhance political involvement include continuing education offered by professional organizations about policy issues, civic knowledge, and skills.…”

Health advocacy training: Why are physicians withholding life-saving care?

“…Depending on the issue, action may be necessary across the spectrum of the governance of health care, from hospital administration to professional sanctioned entities to federal government. To be effective, physicians must commit to learning about policy reform and the legislative process (Huntington 2001;Caira et al 2003). While the scope of health advocacy is broad,…”

Utilizing a Multi-level Approach to Support Advocacy Efforts in the Advancement of Health Education

“…Advocacy is not taught thoroughly in health education professional programs, and this leads to a low self-efficacy regarding advocacy, and creates misunderstandings of what advocacy is, how to go about it, what we can accomplish through advocacy, and why we must advocate.2. 13,33,34 It is time that health educators (and the profession as a whole) embrace advocacy efforts, as advocacy is vital to ensure the advancement of the profession. With regard to this issue, former Surgeon General David Satcher stated, "We must advocate; we must dare to step inside circles that are unfamiliar to us as public health leaders:'35In saying this, it is time that all health educators become involved in advocacy and advocate on behalf of health education, because that is the only way we will advance as a profession.…”