Advocating to Put Policy in Place

Abstract

Advocacy is important in order to have policy that establishes best practices at the local, state, and national levels. Planning an advocacy initiative includes setting the goal, crafting the advocacy message, having a point person for coordinating communication, researching the individual or group that can make the decision to put the initiative in place and determine when that could happen, and identifying others to share interest in the advocacy goal. If and when decisions are made to establish policy or regulation, it is key for advocates to stay alert and continue to advocate for best practices.