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Everyday Advocacy,Advocacy Everyday!
What YOU can do to promote Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology Awareness – everyday
Sherry Curtiss, M.A. CCC-SLP, BRS-SJeri Bates, VP, COO, Speechcenter, Inc.
Why we are here with you, today…
The Role of the Professional Affairs Committee,
but…
Tweet This…
Representative David R. LewisDistrict 53, Harnett County
(lifelong stutterer
National Economy Banks/Mortgage Companies Failed
Causing Panic Joblessness
◦ More people on unemployment, Medicaid, federal assistance programs
◦ Less people contributing to federal taxes, payroll taxes, Medicare, Social Security
◦ 12 Million Unemployed Move toward fiscal conservatism,
reduced spending Balanced budget required,
borrowing allowed.
State Economy Joblessness Decrease in NC industry,
manufacturing and agriculture (particularly tobacco)
State tax plan from the 1950s based upon a manufacturing and agricultural economy. We are now a service-oriented economy.
Reduced payroll taxes, sales taxes, gasoline taxes, etc.
Requirement to ‘balance the budget’ without borrowing.
What in the world happened?
How NCSHLA responded:
ACTION PLAN OBSTACLES
Mobilize SLPs / Auds Provide information, education and
strategic actions necessary Encourage responsiveness and
distribution of critical info via ASHA and NCSHLA.
Engage PR Professional to write and distribute Press Release to all media outlets
Engage Attorney to research viability of program elimination under Federal law
Rally in Raleigh and Town Hall Meetings
THOUSANDS of phone calls, visits, meetings and emails!
Accessibility to licensed SLPs/Auds Disbelief, lack of understanding Staggered awareness among
licensed clinical staff “Healthcare is immune” Misunderstanding that ‘this only
affects people who bill Medicaid’ Lack of awareness among related
professionals, community leaders and elected legislators of ‘what we do’
Senator Debbie A. Clary (Rep)District 46, Cleveland, Rutherford
What was ‘on the line’?
Who/What was
really in jeopardy?
SLPs from every work setting represented the largest group in attendance at the Together NC Rally held outside the legislative building.
Rally In Raleigh, June 15, 2009
Private Practitioners – stood to lose primary funding source for children Birth – 21 years and related programs (CDSA, public school, etc.) that rely upon them.
University Programs – where is the need to educate and graduate students when funding is not available?
Healthcare Settings – hospital, SNF, ALF – stood to lose all services for Medicaid-eligible adults.
CLIENTS – Medicaid-eligible children and adults stood to lose access to critically needed SLP services in all settings where alternative funding wasn’t available.
COMMUNITIES – primary education suffers, early intervention is negated, communities become less attractive throughout NC because of reduced access to services.
STATE OF NC – thousands of licensed SLPs would have been compelled to leave NC, taking their employed spouses/partners with them, to states with more friendly recognition of the critical services that we provide. This would have compounded the reduced taxes that helped put us in this situation?!
JOBS in all settings – there are a finite # of positions in our state; once they are filled, the professionals must look outside our state for employment.
EVERYTHING and EVERYONE
in the profession, in our communities, in NC
Private Practitioners
Everyday Advocacy,Advocacy Everyday!
What can you do in your community to educate, inform and create understanding of and respect for your
profession and the services you provide?
Waiting outside House Chamber
INTERACTIONS WITH:
Physicians and physician office staff School personnel Hospital and SNF administrators and discharge
planners Families, parents, caregivers Related healthcare professionals Social Workers, DSS, Nurses Daycare directors and staff CDSA directors, supervisors and staff
Everyday Opportunities – take them!
Rally In Raleigh, Speaker’s SessionThis session was followed by a march into the Legislative Building where SLPs waited to meet
Representatives.
State Advocacy◦ Get to know your Legislators!
House Representatives, Senators and the Governor are elected by you to represent you!
◦ Public Service Announcements – local radio, television and newspapers
◦ Chamber of Commerce Groups◦ Mayors◦ Community Healthcare Groups
National Advocacy◦ Get to know your Federal
Representatives and Senators! They can only represent you if they know you and understand your contributions to NC.
◦ Follow the ASHA grassroots advocacy actions online and understand that what happens at the national level will come to NC soon! It DOES matter what is going on!
Larger Audiences
Representative Don DavisPrivate SLP Providers from Eastern NC
COMMIT: Devote one hour each month to advocacy (over and
above your everyday moments)◦ Send postcards to physicians, referral sources, Daycare directors,
teachers, related professionals.◦ Call the local talk radio station and ask about doing a Public
Service Announcement or about being on-air as a healthcare provider.
◦ Call the local television station, develop a contact, and see about getting a therapy session taped and aired outlining the benefits of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology.
◦ Send a personal letter to your Legislative Representatives reminding them that you matter to them and that they are elected to represent you – tell them what you do, where and how. Let them ‘LIVE’ the benefits of SLP and Aud therapy through your written word. Imagine the response NEXT TIME you call. Check their website on www.ncleg.net to see what they are doing and comment on what you notice.
EVERY Month Should Be….Better Speech and Hearing Month!
Get involved in local Chamber of Commerce Healthcare group.
www.craigslist.com (educate and post free ad) www.asha.org (grassroots advocacy) www.ncshla.org (membership & connections) Sponsor free screening events – call the radio
stations to advertise for free EVERYDAY ADVOCACY ADVOCACY EVERYDAY!
Other ways to educate/inform:
The Final Exercises…
Putting thoughts into actions!!
Take Aways and Personal Commitments!?
Prevention vs. Intervention
