Advocacy Matters


As members of the health education community and as constituents, your involvement in the policy formation process is very important.

Log in and visit SOPHE's e-News U Can Use to read this week's Advocacy Matter's articles.

SOPHE has developed an Advocacy Toolkit with useful resources as well as SOPHE’s position on various issues.  To access the Advocacy Toolkit: CLICK HERE

Click here to read SOPHE's comments and testimonies.

CDC's Winnable Battles are public health priorities with large-scale impact on health and with known, effective strategies to address them. To read more, visit: www.cdc.gov/WinnableBattles/

What Does Health Care Reform Do for Prevention and Wellness?

On March 23, President Obama signed health reform legislation to provide insurance coverage to the uninsured and reform the healthcare delivery system. The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act also contains numerous provisions which create or strengthen national, state, and local wellness and prevention programs. For more details on these critically important provisions please click here. Also please note that SOPHE’s summary references bill sections; to see sections in their entirety please, click here.

SOPHE Assists in Fostering Control and Prevention Efforts Nationwide - Click here to read more!

SOPHE Supports the Decade of Action for Road Safety

Annual Health Education Advocacy Summit

As a member of the Coalition of National Health Education Organizations (CNHEO), SOPHE has taken an active role in organizing and staffing the Annual Health Education Advocacy Summit.  The Summit is comprised one to two days of meetings during which participants receive either basic or advanced-level advocacy training as well as briefings on specific legislative issues by experienced professionals.  The Summit concludes on a third day where participants utilize the skills they have acquired by conducting Congressional visits either individually or in state delegations with Federal officials in Washington, DC.  For more information and to find out which legislative issues the Summit will focus on, visit: www.healtheducationadvocate.org

RESPONSIBILITY VII: Communicate and Advocate for Health and Health Education

Competency A

Analyze and respond to current and future needs in health education
Sub-competencies:
  1. Analyze factors (e.g., social, cultural, demographic, political) that influence decision-makers

Competency B

Apply a variety of communication methods and techniques
Sub-competencies:

  1. Assess the appropriateness of language in health education messages
  2. Compare different methods of distributing educational materials
  3. Respond to public input regarding health education information
  4. Use culturally sensitive communication methods and techniques
  5. Use appropriate techniques for communicating health education information
  6. Use oral, electronic and written techniques for communicating health education information
  7. Demonstrate proficiency in communicating health information and health education needs

Competency C

Promote the health education profession individually and collectively
Sub-competencies:

  1. Develop a personal plan for professional development

Competency D

Influence health policy to promote health
Sub-competencies:

  1. Identify the significance and implications of health care providers’ messages to consumers