Advocacy
The PA AAP Advocacy Committee tracks legislation relevant to children’s health care and related issues, provides testimony on bills, and updates the Executive Board on the state budget process and the specific ways in which it may impact children’s health care. The Committee works in collaboration with other AAP subcommittees and groups who are invested in children’s health care. The goals of the Committee are to consider issues of importance to the children of Pennsylvania that have been affected by local, state, and national legislative action; to research and discuss such issues as they are brought to the attention of the Committee by its members, Chapter members, and others; and to recommend appropriate actions to the Executive Committee after such study and discussion. All members are welcome to join this committee. Bills that the Chapter is supporting/opposing will be posted on the web site and shared with members.
PA AAP Legislative Policy Support Form
PA AAP Legislative Policy Support Form
PA AAP Advocacy Day in Harrisburg
Each year the Chapter sponsors an Advocacy Day in Harrisburg. This annual day provides PA AAP members and staff the opportunity to come together as advocates for the community of children we serve across PA.
During this annual event, pediatric residents, fellows, and medical students from across PA decide on a specific health issue and decide on one or several bills to educate Representatives on and advise them as whether to support or oppose. During this program, they learn about the bills from pediatric advocates, participate in lobbying workshops and meet with their legislators to advocate for bills that affect children and families.
Each year the Chapter sponsors an Advocacy Day in Harrisburg. This annual day provides PA AAP members and staff the opportunity to come together as advocates for the community of children we serve across PA.
During this annual event, pediatric residents, fellows, and medical students from across PA decide on a specific health issue and decide on one or several bills to educate Representatives on and advise them as whether to support or oppose. During this program, they learn about the bills from pediatric advocates, participate in lobbying workshops and meet with their legislators to advocate for bills that affect children and families.
Why Advocate?
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Advocacy provides a mechanism to create long-term solutions for issues encountered every day by pediatricians and the children and families they serve.
Throughout its history, the Pennsylvania Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics has advocated for child health and its members. We have a strong Legislative Committee which works with the Executive Board and the Chapter’s Lobbyist, John Nikoloff, on forwarding the Chapter’s health policy priorities in Harrisburg and in the community. Individual members are invited to join in the advocacy efforts of both the Chapter and National AAP. Members can represent PA AAP and leverage the voice of 2300 members to speak on behalf of children at statewide coalitions and participate in policy development. |
Your voice matters!
As a pediatrician, you are probably advocating every day on an individual and community level for the benefit of your patients. Not all pediatricians want to advocate on the legislative level but many who have become involved in state and federal advocacy find that it energizes their clinical work. There are many systemic barriers to health and care for the children we treat and voicing our concerns can help our patients. Pediatricians are experts in child health and while we can hire expert lobbyists and consultants on the legislative process, nobody can tell stories of kids like pediatricians can. Pediatricians are trusted members of the community and bring a unique understanding of the health implications of policy actions on the populations they serve. |
How to advocate?
- Register for the AAP Legislative Conference in Washington DC here
- You’ll learn about the pressing issues and given tips on how to advocate on Capitol Hill or Harrisburg.
- Become a PA AAP Advocacy Champion and begin to reach out to your representatives, click here [ LINK TO CONACT FORM] to sign up.
- Attend an PAAAP Advocacy Committee meeting. Contact spierpoint@paaap.org for more information.
- Reach out to the Chapter for support of a child health focused bill, click [DOCUMENT TO COME] to access the form.
- Attend the a PA AAP Advocacy Day in Harrisburg that will focus entirely on legislative advocacy. Sign me up to be notified of this upcoming event. [ LINK TO CONTACT US]
- Use social media to speak out for child health. Tweet, blog, or join a pediatrician Facebook group to raise awareness on issues like vaccine safety, firearm safety, early education, or children with special healthcare needs.
- Popular Twitter hashtags for child health are #tweetiatrician and #putkids1st
- As a Pennsylvania pediatrician and a PA AAP member tag us @pa_aap and use these hasthags:
- #PApediatriciansspeakout
- #PAtweetiatrician
- #PutKids1stPA
Get Started
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AAP Advocacy Resources |