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Advocacy work that you do in your own community is essential to creating positive change.
Learn how to be a successful advocate outside of our nation's capital with these tips in working effectively for public policy changes.
Need some tips on how to initiate and build a relationship with those who represent you? Find out how to build effective rapport and recognition.
The best way to become an effective advocate is to build strong relationships with all three people who represent you in Washington, DC, and with their staff who cover health issues. You want them to recognize your name and to trust the messages you deliver.
That means you should contact them every month or two, by email or phone, or news mailed to the local office or posted on social media.
Members of Congress expect to hear from their constituents on issues they are passionate about, so don’t hesitate. Visit Congress.gov to find the names and contact information of your members of Congress.
Sometimes your messages will ask for something specific (e.g., lobbying on a vote or co-sponsorship), but other times your advocacy should be about education, passing along information, ideas and stories you think will be helpful.
When you receive an advocacy action alert from ASTRO, please act promptly by sending emails as requested, and personalize them with specifics relating to your experience and expertise, rather than sending the sample message without changes.
Here are some additional ways that you can influence your members of Congress:
Write letters-to-the-editor about issues. Members of Congress always read the letters in their hometown newspapers. Editors like letters that respond to something that appeared recently in the paper. Keep your letter concise, approximately 150 words. Most newspapers prefer email submissions. Include your full name, address, phone number and email.
Go to town hall meetings that your members of Congress hold and ask questions about health care issues. Or make an appointment to meet with your member of Congress in the local office. Don’t forget the state and county fairs that politicians frequent on weekends and during the August Congressional recess. Talk about the potential impact locally of proposed legislation (positive or negative), or tell about the ways that funding shortfalls have hurt the local service deliverers.
Invite your members of Congress to visit your organization. If one accepts, you can show off your work, but also ask some direct questions about what they are doing in Congress that supports your work.
Build relationships with Congressional staff who work in the state or local district offices. They represent the member of Congress at local meetings and events, and serve as caseworkers to help constituents with federal programs and benefits. Invite them to regular meetings and events on your calendar, and let them know how you can help them serve the community. Then when the Senator or Representative needs to know how legislation might affect constituents, local staff will know who to turn to for input.
Share information and ideas with others in your community who care about health care issues, perhaps starting or contributing to disseminating information through social media channels.
Remember, you are building a relationship that may last for years. That puts you in a valued position! A member of Congress who trusts you may seek out your help or opinion. Keep the lines of communication open and well-used.
