Community Partners and Advocacy Topics

HOW TO CHOOSE AN ADVOCACY TOPIC: 

There are many issues that affect children's health and sometimes it is difficult to choose which issue to advocate about. Here are a few steps to get you started: 

1. Think about a personal or patient experience when a systemic issue or policy negatively or positively impacted health and/or well-being of children

2. Think about your future career goals and your likely future patient population. Are there health policy issues that impact this particular population? 

3. Review the 2021 MIAAP Blueprint for Children for state focused policy agenda/focus https://www.miaap.org/blueprint

4. Check out the website of a local community partner organization or an organization associated with a patient population you work with now or plan to work with

5. Explore the AAP advocacy webpage and the national Blueprint for Children (https://www.aap.org/en/advocacy/)

6. Review the Healthy People 2030 Objectives related to Children's Health that may need advocacy https://health.gov/healthypeople/objectives-and-data/browse-objectives/children

7. Talk to your attendings in clinic about what child health issues are affecting their patients most or that they have advocated/are advocating about

8. Review Mott Advocacy Page https://www.mottchildren.org/about-us/mott-advocacy

9. Email Dr. Naughton or Dr. McLaughlin if you are stuck

Community Partners to consider

Food Insecurity - Food Gatherers

Youth Justice Reform - Michigan Center for Youth Justice

Reproductive Rights - Planned Parenthood

Early Childhood Education - Early On/WISD

Early Literacy - Reach Out and Read

Specialty Specific Organization examples

Epilepsy Foundation of Michigan