PATIENT ADVOCACY PROGRAM
GOAL
The primary goal is to educate patient advocates on how to effectively participate in the legislative process empowering them to interact with elected officials and media contacts in a confident manner in order to advocate for:
  1. Sustainability and viability of community health centers
  2. Increased access to and funding for primary, preventive health services
  3. Increased awareness by policy makers on the challenges low-income families face when accessing health care
  4. Improved patient – clinic relationship
  5. Increased patient understanding of the challenges and limitations clinics face and how proposed budget cuts impact health centers, therefore affecting their health.
  6. Increased patient participation in future advocacy/media activities.

PROGRAM DETAILS
Patient Advocates (PAs) are recruited from member community health centers and meet on the last Tuesday of every month at Community Health Partnership in San Jose.  At the meetings, PAs receive Advocacy 101 Training on different topics and discuss current health issues and advocacy activities.  Training topics include:
  1. Community Clinic 101: Get to know your health center
  2. How a bill becomes a law
  3. State budget process
  4. How to talk to legislators
  5. Public Speaking/Media Training

2008 ACTIVITIES
In addition to our monthly meetings, PAs will engage in visits with public officials and the media.  They will also participate in the following activities:

  1. April 2nd – California Primary Care Association “Day at the Capitol” Legislative Visits Bus Ride (Sacramento)
  2. April 25th - Community Health Partnership Annual Legislative Breakfast
  3. August 14th – Community Clinic Appreciation Week Activities (Santa Clara County)

For more information or to become a Patient Advocate please contact: Guadalupe Arango, Health Policy Analyst
by email or by calling 408-556-6605 ext. 213.
 

© Community Health Partnership 2008