AdvocacyKurt Eggebrecht

Appleton Health Department

Advocate for policy change to better your community's health

How to influence policy from a proactive vs. reactive perspective

Compare different advocacy/education strategies

How not to get fired

Three Key Questions

What do you want?

Why do you want it?

Who has the power to give it too you?

Three case scenarios

Outdoor Wood Boilers

100 % Smoke Free Indoor Air

Backyard Chickens

How are local ordinances' drafted?

Elected officials submit a resolution

Staff recommended (often based on updates)

Most often a combination…resolution with direction for staff to draft language

Advocacy/Education StrategiesKnow your elected officials- nurture your

relationships-Who are informal leaders within the elected body?-Why do they serve?-Who influences them?-What are their pet areas of interest?-Who is up for election?-Where do they work? -Where did they grow up? -Others?

Advocacy/Education strategiesPick your battles wisely

Find appropriate meeting location

Clearly articulate /Create the need and desired outcome

Identify and communicate the potential barriers to success

Wood Boiler

Wood Boiler

HistoryCommunity Assessment

Three key questionsNeeded to act quickly as

vendors were setting up shop

Experience in MenashaOne company already

using this heat sourceNot much experience or

research

What do I want?…ban from using in the City

Why do I want it?....... Clean air , asthma rates in children, prevent neighborhood disputes

Who has the power to give it to me?....Common Council by passing local ordinance

Education StrategyCommon Council Support

Risks?Identify championSet up meeting and provide

written documentation to support your “Why” , “How”, and what are the perceived barriers? Where would you begin?

Suggest resolution wording to include language should be drafted by Health Officer/Health Department

What if you pick non-supporter?

Strength of those apposed to action

Wood Boiler AdvocacyResult Reinforcement

OpportunitiesWorked into existing

Fire Prevention and Protection Ordinance resulting in Fire Chief support ( key influencer)

Past unanimouslyMinimized vendor push

back by proactively passing quickly

Later Studies and newspaper articles from other communities

Local Alderperson newsletter/brochures

Questions?

100 % Smoke Free Indoor Air

HistoryCommunity Assessment

Three key questionsOrganized a local

tobacco control coalition in 2000

Experience success with low hanging fruit…cars/buildings/youth access/cessation opportunities/

Other parts of the Country have implemented

What do I want?…clean indoor air in the City

Why do I want it?....... Chronic disease, asthma rates in children, increase revenues

Who has the power to give it to me?....Common Council by passing local ordinance

Education StrategyCommon Council Support

Risks?Identify championSet up meeting and provide

written documentation to support your “Why” , “How”, and what are the perceived barriers? Where would you begin?

Suggest resolution wording to include language should be drafted by Health Officer/Health Department

What if you pick non-supporter?

Strength of those apposed to action

100 % Smoke Free Indoor AirResultWell written ordinance

without loopholesResulted in tie vote on

Council floor after months of debate

Created a great deal of community discussion and divisiveness

Media split - biased coverage

Coalition strainedDirect legislation

alternative provided opportunity for majority to have a voice

Battle got personalNew alliances were

formedSophistication of

resources brought to the effort

Reinforcement Opportunities

New establishment wait list

Hospitality workers survey

# of closed establishments compared to surrounding communities

After third referendum Elected officials speak publically in support

Articles related to successful implementation counters misinformation from TLW

5 years later State passes Smoke Free Indoor Air

Questions?

Backyard Chickens

HistoryCommunity Assessment

Three key questionsOrganized a local

backyard chicken group called “PEEPS”

Experienced success with Council member support

Sustainability and Green Issues a priority for Mayor’s Office

Just passed a contentious Bee Keeper Ordinance

What do I want?…everyone to get along

Why do I want it? Sustainable Food Source.....yet this will be a staff time sucker ( animal control, CD, licensing )

Who has the power to give it to me?....Common Council by passing local ordinance

Common Predators in Appleton

Common Predators in Appleton

Education StrategyCommon Council Support

Risks?Recently elected Council

Members very supportive Set up meeting and provide

written documentation to support your “Why” , “How”, and what are the perceived barriers? Where would you begin?

Suggest resolution wording to include language should be drafted by Health Officer/Health Department

What if you work against your staff’s concerns?

Strength of those for and apposed to action

How will Media judge you short term and long term?

Backyard ChickensResultWell written ordinance with a

requirement of neighborhood consent.

Resulted in defeat vote on Council floor after months of debate and deletion of neighborhood consent

Created a great deal of community discussion and some divisiveness on Council

Media split - biased coverage

By Council rules… one year before issue can be discussed

Reinforcement Opportunities

Educate Board of Health and Common Council on CD resulting from handling backyard chickens

Continue to nurture relationship with PEEPS group

Questions?

Advocate for policy change to better your community's health Three Key QuestionsWhat do you want?

Why do you want it?

Who has the power to give it too you?

Know your elected officials- nurture your relationships