Chapter 6: Case Studies - Society for Public Health Education
Chapter 6: Case Studies - Society for Public Health Education Chapter 6: Case Studies - Society for Public Health Education
Chapter 6 Case Studies and Examples
- Page 2 and 3: Resource The Prevention Institute h
- Page 4 and 5: Kristen Grimes’s Action Plan Kris
- Page 6 and 7: Michele Pfeilschifter’s Action Pl
- Page 8 and 9: Clients Educate Policymakers Case S
- Page 10 and 11: Recommendations • Understand the
- Page 12: Heather Vilvens Action Plan :: cont
<strong>Chapter</strong> 6<br />
<strong>Case</strong> <strong>Studies</strong> and Examples
Resource<br />
The Prevention Institute<br />
highlights examples of worthy<br />
op-eds:<br />
http://preventioninstitute.org/<br />
focus-areas/re<strong>for</strong>ming-ourhealth-system/projects.html<br />
This chapter presents a variety of case studies featuring or in collaboration with health<br />
educators who participated in the SOPHE State <strong>Health</strong> Policy Institutes. The case<br />
studies help illustrate the application of the concepts presented in prior chapters.<br />
We selected institute participants who have been actively implementing their policy<br />
education action plans so they could share lessons from their experiences. We sought<br />
to provide a variety of case studies in terms of policy goals, strategies, chronic disease<br />
prevention focus, organizational characteristics, and experiences.<br />
Policy <strong>Education</strong> from Dual Roles<br />
Kristen Grimes, MAOM, MCHES<br />
Senior Asthma Manager, Children’s <strong>Health</strong> Alliance of Wisconsin<br />
Private citizen<br />
• <strong>Case</strong> Study<br />
• Personal Story<br />
• Action Plan<br />
Innovating in Changing Times<br />
Michele Pfeilschifter, MPH<br />
Arthritis Foundation, Heartland Region<br />
• <strong>Case</strong> Study<br />
• Action Plan<br />
Clients Educate Policymakers with Personal Stories<br />
Omar Sahak, MPH, with Courtney Pearson, MPH, and Ken Horby<br />
San Francisco AIDS Foundation<br />
• <strong>Case</strong> Study<br />
• Personal Story<br />
Set the Standards Ohio<br />
Heather Vilvens, MEd, CHES<br />
Buckeye <strong>Health</strong>y Schools Alliance<br />
• <strong>Case</strong> Study<br />
• Action Plan<br />
Vitals<br />
Kristen Grimes,<br />
MAOM, MCHES<br />
• Senior Asthma Project<br />
Manager, Children’s<br />
<strong>Health</strong> Alliance of Wisconsin<br />
• Private citizen<br />
Policy Focus<br />
Tobacco prevention and<br />
control<br />
Overall Goal<br />
In<strong>for</strong>m Wisconsin policymakers<br />
about how implementing<br />
tobacco control<br />
policies will help to improve<br />
asthma management.<br />
Core Strategy<br />
Educate Wisconsin Asthma<br />
Coalition members on the<br />
importance of advocating<br />
<strong>for</strong> tobacco control policies<br />
that help to improve asthma<br />
management.<br />
PAGE 1 . CHAPTER 6<br />
CHAPTER 6 . PAGE 2
Recommendations<br />
Policy <strong>Education</strong> from Dual Roles <strong>Case</strong> Study :: continued<br />
Policy <strong>Education</strong> from Dual Roles <strong>Case</strong> Study :: continued<br />
Learn More<br />
• Develop a clear understanding<br />
of what you can<br />
and cannot do in your<br />
organizational role with<br />
regards to educating<br />
policymakers, advocating,<br />
and lobbying.<br />
• Take full advantage of<br />
your rights as a private<br />
citizen to communicate<br />
with government<br />
representatives during<br />
your personal time. Use<br />
your personal technology<br />
to call, send an email, or<br />
write a blog.<br />
• Persevere in your policy<br />
education work even if<br />
you’re initially uncom<strong>for</strong>table<br />
with the role.<br />
The more frequently<br />
you communicate with<br />
policymakers, the easier<br />
it becomes. You also<br />
become more effective<br />
as you build trust and<br />
rapport.<br />
Adapting to the Policy Landscape<br />
“Hurry up and wait,” is how Kristen characterizes WAC’s recent policy ef<strong>for</strong>ts. As featured<br />
in national media, the Wisconsin political landscape has become highly partisan.<br />
In coordination with public health advocates, Kristen temporarily sidelined some WAC<br />
priorities because the current state legislature is unlikely to act on tobacco issues. The<br />
public health community is also waiting <strong>for</strong> courts to rule on another tobacco issue.<br />
To advance other aspects of WAC’s policy agenda, Kristen:<br />
• Briefed state Medicaid officials on health plan coverage <strong>for</strong> asthma care as part of<br />
WAC’s ef<strong>for</strong>ts to improve Medicaid coverage of comprehensive asthma care.<br />
• Strengthened WAC’s ties to the Wisconsin Tobacco Prevention and Control Program<br />
with regular contact and connections to WAC members.<br />
Her outreach as a private citizen—which she encourages WAC members to do—is<br />
building policymakers’ awareness about the threat of new tobacco products in their<br />
districts. This groundwork will be useful once the policy landscape improves.<br />
Lessons Learned<br />
• Coalition members may be reluctant to become active in policy education. Some<br />
have misconceptions about what they are allowed to do. Others have very busy<br />
schedules.<br />
»»<br />
Give them a range of options to participate, from a quick call to an in-person<br />
meeting.<br />
»»<br />
Make it as easy <strong>for</strong> them as possible. Train them. Give them handouts.<br />
»»<br />
Prioritize when and how you ask them to act.<br />
• Relationships are everything. Once you have an established relationship with a<br />
policymaker or policy partner, they are more likely to be open to your messages.<br />
• Many health promotion policy tools and resources already exist. Use or adapt what<br />
is already available.<br />
Kristen’s Personal Story <strong>for</strong> Educating Policymakers<br />
Prior to her state legislator’s town hall meeting, Kristen spent 15 minutes visiting four<br />
nearby convenience stores. There, she observed easily accessible candy-flavored tobacco<br />
and bought some to show as part of her story.<br />
Kristen’s story quickly captured the legislator’s attention. “My name is Kristen Grimes,<br />
and I’m a constituent. I’m also a mom, a Daisy troop leader, and an active member in<br />
this community. I’m here to talk about this [showed the products].”<br />
The legislator and other attendees saw what looked like candy. Kristen surprised them<br />
by saying, “These aren’t candy, but rather tobacco flavored to taste and smell like<br />
candy.” She explained how the items were not candy made to look like a cigarette or<br />
shaped like a cigar, but instead contained tobacco and had packaging designed to appeal<br />
to children.<br />
“Kids also think these are candy. If they go into any of the four convenience stores<br />
near here where I got these this morning, kids would see them on the shelves. They are<br />
cheap. This one [showing] was a $1.39. Wisconsin taxes these types of products less<br />
than cigarettes.” Kristen passed the products to the legislator and other attendees.<br />
“As your constituent, I’m here to ask <strong>for</strong> your leadership to equalize taxes in Wisconsin<br />
<strong>for</strong> all tobacco products.”<br />
This story, complete with props, resulted in the legislator asking Kristen questions and<br />
directing her staff to get more in<strong>for</strong>mation from Kristen. After the discussion, Kristen<br />
submitted written comments with facts and figures.<br />
Children’s <strong>Health</strong> Alliance of<br />
Wisconsin:<br />
http://www.chawisconsin.org<br />
PAGE 3 . CHAPTER 6<br />
CHAPTER 6 . PAGE 4
Kristen Grimes’s Action Plan<br />
Kristen Grimes’s Action Plan :: continued<br />
PAGE 5 . CHAPTER 6<br />
CHAPTER 6 . PAGE 6
Vitals<br />
Michele Pfeilschifter, MPH<br />
Vice President of <strong>Health</strong><br />
Promotion and Advocacy<br />
Arthritis Foundation, Heartland<br />
Region<br />
Policy Focus<br />
• Chronic disease prevention<br />
• Arthritis<br />
Overall Goal<br />
By May 2010, policymakers<br />
in the Illinois/Heartland<br />
Region will be in<strong>for</strong>med of<br />
the benefits of chronic disease<br />
prevention and health promotion<br />
policies (specific topics<br />
to be determined at trainings)<br />
that will directly impact<br />
constituents.<br />
Core Strategy<br />
Educate key partners on<br />
issues surrounding chronic<br />
disease prevention issues and<br />
empower them to establish<br />
relationships with policymakers.<br />
Innovating in Changing Times<br />
A <strong>Case</strong> Study Featuring Michele Pfeilschifter, SOPHE <strong>Health</strong> Promotion<br />
Policy Expert<br />
Always striving to improve her expertise, Michele Pfeilschifter applied <strong>for</strong> the inaugural<br />
SOPHE State <strong>Health</strong> Policy Institute as a professional development opportunity. She<br />
elected to apply her skills in two ways.<br />
• In her leadership role on the Illinois SOPHE (ISOPHE) board of directors, Michele<br />
trained other members how to educate policymakers.<br />
• For the Arthritis Foundation, where she serves as vice president of health promotion<br />
and advocacy, Michele applied what she learned in the institute to deepen<br />
policymakers’ understanding of arthritis prevention.<br />
Initial Plan and Strategies<br />
Michele’s action plan spanned both organizations. The ISOPHE strategy was straight<strong>for</strong>ward:<br />
Hold an in-person training on educating state health policymakers about<br />
evidence-based chronic disease prevention policies. The board scheduled the training to<br />
follow its morning meeting, which made it convenient <strong>for</strong> all. To attract a broad audience,<br />
the training applied to the prevention of any type of chronic disease.<br />
In her second year as an institute participant, Michele implemented the other parts of<br />
her action plan. A core strategy was training individuals to educate their state legislators<br />
on evidence-based arthritis policies. To maximize participation by arthritis<br />
patients and experts, Michele conducted the first training via conference call. The<br />
in-person training was part of the then-annual Arthritis Action Day in Springfield, Ill.<br />
She also created policy folders <strong>for</strong> participants and legislators.<br />
Innovating in Changing Times <strong>Case</strong> Study :: continued<br />
Transitions<br />
As our current recession deepened, state legislatures began cutting budgets. In this context,<br />
few new policy proposals advanced. Michele also found herself in a different organizational<br />
context when the Arthritis Foundation decided to restructure. It created the<br />
Heartland Region from the Illinois and five other Arthritis Foundation state chapters.<br />
Michele adapted her policy education strategy <strong>for</strong> the new context. Instead of the resource-intensive<br />
annual action day, she planned regional <strong>for</strong>ums that brought together<br />
legislators with constituents.<br />
To get the <strong>for</strong>ums on solid footing, Michele needed a legislative champion. Her creative<br />
approach to networking was attending a health fair in the northern suburbs of Chicago<br />
where she eventually met one of the staff organizers. This legislative staff member has<br />
become an active partner <strong>for</strong> the regional <strong>for</strong>ums. He arranges many of the logistical<br />
details and effectively promotes legislators’ attendance. Michele finds arthritis experts<br />
to speak and rallies Arthritis Foundation members to attend.<br />
Progress Toward Policy Goal<br />
Michele readily met her immediate goals <strong>for</strong> training both arthritis experts and<br />
patients. Her adapted strategies have kept arthritis in the <strong>for</strong>efront of policymakers’<br />
attention.<br />
Lessons Learned<br />
• The regional <strong>for</strong>ums provide legislators with a valuable service (i.e., a venue to<br />
interact with constituents). Offering a service differentiates your group from other<br />
advocates who only ask <strong>for</strong> legislators’ help.<br />
• Opportunities abound to expand your professional horizons. Regularly research<br />
ways to participate in training or become involved in educating policymakers, such<br />
as through your state SOPHE chapter or a public health coalition.<br />
Recommendations<br />
• Find the right champion.<br />
Sometimes the best<br />
champion is a legislative<br />
staff member.<br />
• Consider alternatives<br />
to a major state capitol<br />
day. For example, find<br />
an event already being<br />
sponsored by a coalition<br />
and ask to become a<br />
partner.<br />
Learn More<br />
Arthritis Foundation, Heartland<br />
Region:<br />
http://www.arthritis.org/<br />
illinois/<br />
Illinois SOPHE <strong>Chapter</strong>:<br />
http://sophe.sophe.org/<br />
chapter_home.aspCom_<br />
Code=C-19-COMM<br />
PAGE 7 . CHAPTER 6<br />
CHAPTER 6 . PAGE 8
Michele Pfeilschifter’s Action Plan<br />
Michele Pfeilschifter’s Action Plan :: continued<br />
PAGE 9 . CHAPTER 6<br />
CHAPTER 6 . PAGE 10
Michele Pfeilschifter’s Action Plan :: continued<br />
Clients Educate Policymakers with<br />
Personal Stories<br />
A <strong>Case</strong> Study of the San Francisco AIDS Foundation (SFAF)<br />
With contributions by:<br />
Omar Sahak, SOPHE <strong>Health</strong> Promotion Policy Expert<br />
Courtney Mulhern-Pearson, Director of State and Local Affairs, SFAF<br />
Ken Hornby, SFAF Client and Volunteer<br />
The HIV/AIDS grassroots movement is a powerful example of how local activists can<br />
impact health policy. From the early years of the AIDS epidemic to the present, community<br />
advocates have built policy support <strong>for</strong> prevention, treatment, and other types<br />
of care.<br />
The San Francisco AIDS Foundation (SFAF), a 501(c)(3) organization, has long<br />
nurtured this tradition of grassroots activism. Specifically, SFAF engages clients and<br />
volunteers in sharing their personal stories as an integral part of the foundation’s policy<br />
and media communications strategies. In addition, SFAF is one of the leading providers<br />
of HIV/AIDS testing, prevention, and care in the city. The organization also collaborates<br />
with research, clinical, and public health partners, government agencies, donors,<br />
volunteers, and other stakeholders to confront HIV in communities that are the most<br />
vulnerable to the disease.<br />
Overview of Policy Goals and Strategy<br />
SFAF’s strategic plan provides the overall framework <strong>for</strong> its policy agenda. Two current<br />
policy goals are:<br />
• Reduce new HIV infections in San Francisco by 50 percent by ensuring federal,<br />
state, and local policies support a climate hospitable to effective HIV prevention.<br />
• Ensure access to proper care <strong>for</strong> all HIV-positive San Franciscans by eliminating<br />
institutional and policy obstacles to treatment and care.<br />
Vitals<br />
Policy Focus<br />
HIV/AIDS<br />
Overall Goal<br />
Reduce new HIV/AIDS<br />
infections, in part by advancing<br />
policies and institutional<br />
changes that remove obstacles<br />
to effective prevention, treatment,<br />
and care.<br />
Core Strategy<br />
In collaboration with clientvolunteers,<br />
educate policymakers,<br />
the media, and the<br />
public about the benefits<br />
of programs and services<br />
that improve the health of<br />
people with HIV and AIDS<br />
and reduce the likelihood of<br />
transmission.<br />
PAGE 11 . CHAPTER 6<br />
CHAPTER 6 . PAGE 12
Clients Educate Policymakers <strong>Case</strong> Study :: continued<br />
The core strategy to achieve these goals is educating policymakers, the media, and the<br />
public through the personal stories of client-volunteers (see Vitals sidebar). SFAF staff<br />
work in close partnership with grassroots advocates to ensure that policymakers and<br />
other audiences hear firsthand how programs and services <strong>for</strong> people living with HIV/<br />
AIDS make a difference in their lives and how proposed changes would affect them.<br />
Staff then provide policymakers with supporting facts and policy analysis to put the<br />
stories into a larger context. Together, staff and client-volunteers have educated city,<br />
state, and federal legislators about effective HIV/AIDS interventions.<br />
Legislators and journalists frequently mention that they value personal stories about<br />
how HIV/AIDS programs have a real impact in the community. Because of this effect,<br />
SFAF has nurtured a small pool of client-volunteers to participate in policy education<br />
activities. The foundation also published a guide, Every Voice Counts: A Grassroots<br />
Advocacy Manual <strong>for</strong> the HIV/AIDS Community.<br />
Ken’s Story (Example of SFAF Policy Communications)<br />
Over the years, Ken Hornby, an SFAF client, has become a strong advocate <strong>for</strong> programs<br />
and services <strong>for</strong> people living with HIV/AIDS. SFAF’s policy team recruited him<br />
as a well-spoken client and volunteer who was interested in sharing his personal story<br />
with government officials. One recent opportunity was a Cali<strong>for</strong>nia Senate committee<br />
hearing when legislators were discussing a proposal from the governor to institute costsharing<br />
in the AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP).<br />
Ken and SFAF staff decided to set a constructive, not a confrontational, tone with the<br />
committee members to appeal to them as allies. As Ken describes in his own words, “If<br />
you’re confrontational, they’re not going to listen, and I learned that a long time ago.”<br />
Clients Educate Policymakers <strong>Case</strong> Study :: continued<br />
Ken had written a speech the night be<strong>for</strong>e, but after talking with SFAF staff, he understood<br />
that it would be more beneficial to shift his focus. Now he would relate the<br />
committee’s decisions to the broader context of what it is like <strong>for</strong> an individual living<br />
on a lower income to be faced with further cuts to his or her services at a time when the<br />
cost of living was rising substantially.<br />
Ken first introduced himself to the committee, “My name is Kenneth Hornby, and I<br />
am a constituent, consumer, volunteer in my community, and a recent member of the<br />
San Francisco HIV <strong>Health</strong> Services Planning Council.”<br />
He then explained, “I make $844 a month, and after I pay <strong>for</strong> rent, utilities, groceries,<br />
laundry, cleaning supplies, and maybe some clothes, I might be left with $100 or less<br />
at the end of the month. But I can’t spend it, because I might have an emergency, get<br />
the flu, or will have to get medication. Since the price of everything is going up and our<br />
services are being cut, I may not be able to even af<strong>for</strong>d that. Any further cuts would be<br />
devastating to everyone who is low income, and we are going to have to make choices<br />
between food and medicine, a roof and medicine. These serious issues are really what<br />
it comes down to when you’re talking about someone who is making $10,000 a year.<br />
I personally know that if ADAP wasn’t there, I wouldn’t be able to af<strong>for</strong>d my medications,<br />
and where would I come up with the rest of the money”<br />
Ken asked committee members to help him—and other Cali<strong>for</strong>nians living with HIV/<br />
AIDS—by “thinking long and hard about the impact your decisions will have. Though<br />
cuts need to be made somewhere, try and minimize them as much as possible, because<br />
it really comes down to life and death <strong>for</strong> a lot of people. After living with HIV <strong>for</strong> 32<br />
years, and being as healthy as I am, I’m a good visual example of the positive impact all<br />
of these services can have.”<br />
Recommendations<br />
• Always structure the<br />
policy education opportunity<br />
as voluntary.<br />
• Integrate grassroots advocates<br />
into your policy<br />
education and communications<br />
strategies.<br />
• Prepare the advocates to<br />
succeed with training,<br />
assistance with talking<br />
points, and background<br />
in<strong>for</strong>mation about the<br />
event.<br />
Learn More<br />
San Francisco AIDS Foundation:<br />
http://www.sfaf.org<br />
Every Voice Counts: A Grassroots<br />
Advocacy Manual <strong>for</strong><br />
the HIV/AIDS Community<br />
(SFAF). To request a copy,<br />
send an email to<br />
CPearson@sfaf.org<br />
PAGE 13 . CHAPTER 6<br />
CHAPTER 6 . PAGE 14
Clients Educate Policymakers <strong>Case</strong> Study :: continued<br />
As they listened to Ken, committee members appeared to remain neutral and later<br />
thanked him <strong>for</strong> his testimony. Ken understood that they had heard such stories be<strong>for</strong>e,<br />
yet he knew the importance of showing legislators the real impact of their decisions, no<br />
matter how unpleasant. Ken plans to follow up with legislators as he is learning more<br />
about the public sector as a member of the San Francisco HIV <strong>Health</strong> Services Planning<br />
Council.<br />
SFAF staff testified after Ken. They presented data about how ADAP serves San Franciscans,<br />
findings from research studies, and the foundation’s analysis of the implications<br />
of ADAP changes <strong>for</strong> the HIV/AIDS community.<br />
Ken’s personal story was part of a larger SFAF campaign to educate policymakers about<br />
ADAP. SFAF also facilitated coverage of ADAP proposals in television, print, and<br />
social media. Many of these media stories have featured Ken.<br />
Progress Toward Policy Goal<br />
State lawmakers are still debating ADAP options, but SFAF is optimistic that they have<br />
a better understanding of how the program is an essential component in assuring effective<br />
treatment.<br />
Lessons Learned<br />
• Program beneficiaries have powerful stories and may be looking <strong>for</strong> volunteer opportunities<br />
to give back to the community.<br />
• Grassroots advocacy is one way to empower individuals to be involved in their<br />
health and health care.<br />
• Collaboration is the best approach. Structure the policy education events to benefit<br />
both you and the client-volunteer. Provide any support they need to enter the situation<br />
with confidence, and seek their input on your points.<br />
Set the Standards Ohio<br />
A <strong>Case</strong> Study Featuring Heather Vilvens, SOPHE <strong>Health</strong> Promotion<br />
Policy Expert<br />
When the Buckeye <strong>Health</strong>y Schools Alliance (BHSA) set its sights on promoting<br />
the adoption of the National <strong>Health</strong> <strong>Education</strong> Standards in Ohio, Heather Vilvens,<br />
BHSA Executive Director, decided to apply <strong>for</strong> the SOPHE State <strong>Health</strong> Policy Institute.<br />
Heather had never talked to a legislator and wanted to learn the nuts and bolts of<br />
how to effectively educate policymakers.<br />
Background: The National <strong>Health</strong> <strong>Education</strong> Standards outline what children need to<br />
learn to keep them healthy.<br />
Not Repeating the Past<br />
Defining an issue is a critical component in any policy initiative, and the framing must<br />
focus on the public health benefits. When planning how to frame an issue, take into<br />
account the history of relevant policy initiatives in the past. In Ohio, more than 10<br />
years ago, some groups attempted to convey the public health benefits that adopting<br />
National <strong>Health</strong> <strong>Education</strong> Standards could have on Ohio’s children. At that time,<br />
other groups in Ohio mischaracterized the standards as mandating comprehensive sex<br />
education. In that context, legislators and some potential advocates refrained from supporting<br />
the initiative.<br />
A decade later, as ef<strong>for</strong>ts re-ignited to have Ohio adopt the national standards, it was<br />
critical to Heather and BHSA partners to apply lessons from the previous campaign. A<br />
central lesson is not only to ensure that legislators and potential supporters understand<br />
that health education standards provide a framework <strong>for</strong> learning and that they do not<br />
mandate the teaching of specific topics, such as sex education, and but also to explain<br />
how the standards can support child health and wellbeing. Equally important was to<br />
explain how the standards can empower educators and children to support child health<br />
and wellbeing. This was an essential first step in ensuring a strong foundation <strong>for</strong> the<br />
policy education campaign.<br />
Vitals<br />
Heather Vilvens, MEd,<br />
CHES<br />
• Executive Director,<br />
Buckeye <strong>Health</strong>y Schools<br />
Alliance<br />
Policy Focus<br />
Childhood obesity, specifically<br />
the National <strong>Health</strong><br />
<strong>Education</strong> Standards<br />
Overall Goal<br />
By June 2012, policymakers<br />
in Ohio will be in<strong>for</strong>med<br />
of the economic impact<br />
of childhood obesity and<br />
understand how adopting the<br />
National <strong>Health</strong> <strong>Education</strong><br />
Standards as state standards<br />
can be an evidence-based<br />
policy that can contribute to<br />
the reduction and/or prevention<br />
of childhood obesity.<br />
Core Strategy<br />
Educate key stakeholders on<br />
the benefits of and need <strong>for</strong><br />
adopting state standards <strong>for</strong><br />
health education.<br />
PAGE 15 . CHAPTER 6<br />
CHAPTER 6 . PAGE 16
Recommendations<br />
• Understand the policy<br />
environment about your<br />
issue as part of your<br />
planning process.<br />
• Find a mentor who will<br />
provide guidance and<br />
encouragement.<br />
• Don’t let fear hold you<br />
back. Get training and<br />
learn what you can do.<br />
With experience comes<br />
confidence.<br />
Learn More<br />
Buckeye <strong>Health</strong>y Schools Alliance<br />
(BHSA):<br />
http://bhsaliance.org<br />
Set the Standards Ohio<br />
(BHSA):<br />
http://www.setthestandards.<br />
wordpress.com<br />
National <strong>Health</strong> <strong>Education</strong><br />
Standards (CDC):<br />
http://www.cdc.gov/<br />
<strong>Health</strong>yYouth/SHER/standards/index.htm<br />
Set the Standards <strong>Case</strong> Study :: continued<br />
Strategies and Implementation<br />
Heather and key BHSA partners made time to:<br />
• Carefully build a broad, strong grassroots coalition that actively supports the<br />
standards.<br />
• Search <strong>for</strong> effective legislative champions who have the passion and leadership<br />
skills to shepherd the standards through the policy development process.<br />
Heather’s action plan has the complementary strategies of educating partners about the<br />
standards and training them on how to effectively communicate with policymakers,<br />
the media, and other stakeholders. Also, BHSA developed a new “Set the Standards<br />
Ohio” website so partners and other interested parties can readily access in<strong>for</strong>mation<br />
about the standards (see Learn More in sidebar).<br />
Progress Toward Policy Goal<br />
BHSA started with a small group of core supporters. Together the BHSA core backers<br />
reached out to well-respected stakeholders to encourage participation. They reached<br />
out to the state PTA, dietitians, optometrists, environmental health, child and youth<br />
advocates, and voluntary health associations with an interest in child health.<br />
As Heather and BHSA partners cultivate additional support, they decided to temporarily<br />
postpone a full launch of the media relations strategy. However, BHSA is moving<br />
<strong>for</strong>ward with other aspects of the action plan. For example, individual and organizations<br />
that have already endorsed Set the Standards Ohio are organizing in-district<br />
meetings with potential champions.<br />
Set the Standards :: continued<br />
Lessons Learned<br />
• Action plans should factor in plenty of time <strong>for</strong> potential supporters to vet your<br />
policy issue. Many organizations’ policy review process moves slowly.<br />
• Partnerships have been an essential ingredient. Other stakeholders have integrated<br />
the standards adoption goal into their policy agendas. They have provided invaluable<br />
in-kind assistance to BHSA and have helped engage additional audiences.<br />
• As public health professionals, we can and should use our voices to educate policymakers<br />
about evidence-based policies<br />
PAGE 17 . CHAPTER 6<br />
CHAPTER 6 . PAGE 18
Heather Vilvens Action Plan<br />
Heather Vilvens Action Plan :: continued<br />
PAGE 19 . CHAPTER 6<br />
CHAPTER 6 . PAGE 20
Heather Vilvens Action Plan :: continued<br />
Heather Vilvens Action Plan :: continued<br />
PAGE 21 . CHAPTER 6<br />
CHAPTER 6 . PAGE 22