Statewide Advocacy Initiative Overview

This document is a resource for chapter leads to assist in the creation of an advocacy plan for each state’s respective issue. As we begin to implement a new framework, we want to provide a resource to help guide your advocacy planning. This document will reflect the policy priority that each state selects as a group.   This will help ensure that our chapter leads are on all on the same page and that the following steps are clear. 

As you work through this planning stage, you will want to consider your target dates. Because there are many variables throughout the advocacy process, deadlines will be flexible. You will set a target date for completion and track progress. 

If your initiative is dependent on outside factors such as legislative sessions, continue to track the next steps. This requires planning flexibility and persistence toward the goal. Just because it didn’t happen now, doesn’t mean that success can’t be achieved in the future. Each attempt is important and gains momentum toward the end goal. 

As you choose your target date, consider outside factors, factors you can control such as event planning, community outreach, meeting schedules, and stakeholder availability to set realistic and achievable target dates. 

Once this planning exercise is complete, the information will be uploaded to salesforce for advocacy tracking. If you need support in this process, Ben Durgan is available and ready to answer any questions and support your advocacy efforts. 

Policy Issues

1. Recovery Housing
2. Good Samaritan Laws
3. Insurance Coverage for SUD Preventative Care

The Advocacy Process: Step By Step Guide

Stage 1: Research & Identify Issues: Chapters should be looking at several different options to work on.  Should be looking at different issues facing your communities that YPR could focus on and bring value to.

Stage 2: Conduct Community Resource Mapping: Identifying gaps in resources throughout your community.  Whether that be Narcan training, treatment centers, or other addiction-related services.  Really should be focusing on the resources that are most needed in your community

Stage 3: Conduct Community Outreach: Begin speaking with and engaging outside stakeholders about potential initiatives and gauge interest in potential collaborations

Stage 4: Mobilize Community Stakeholders: Gather support (hard or soft) from community organizations and other external partners for the initiative and begin the advocacy & messaging strategy

Stage 5: Advocacy In Action: Begin directly executing your advocacy plan or strategy (i.e. lobbying elected officials, holding Narcan training, speaking at government meetings, etc.).  This is the execution of the initiative itself

Stage 6: Evaluate: Post-Initiative evaluation.  Evaluation can be data/information or based on the final outcome (i.e. how many people attended Narcan training, or did the legislation pass or fail)

Advocacy Planning Template