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| The Illinois Alcoholism and Drug Dependence Association (IADDA) works with its
member agencies, state and Congressional leaders, and the Administration to monitor
public and private sector policies and promote action that will benefit adults and youths,
their families, and their communities in alcohol and drug use and abuse treatment and prevention.
Consumers, advocates, and legislators must all become informed and take action on pending
national and state changes to treatment and prevention funding and laws. |
| Mobilize State and Community Contacts |
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- Send (mail, fax, & e-mail) an alert to
spread your message far and wide. Urge recipients of the alert to send
it to their networks, boards, staff, coalitions, volunteers, and media
contacts. Briefly and clearly state what action you want.
- Set up and activate telephone trees to get the
message out.
- Get on the agenda for community group meetings
and statewide conferences (neighborhood associations; civic groups --
Kiwanis, Junior Leagues, etc.; professional meetings of social workers,
medical and legal professionals).
- Work with other interested individuals and organizations to raise the volume of concern.
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| Advocacy vs. Lobbying |
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- Many people are hesitant to talk with State or
Federal lawmakers for fear of crossing a line into lobbying. There is a
difference between advocacy and lobbying. Advocacy efforts are focused
on education about particular issues and their impact on individuals and
communities. Those involved in community efforts to decrease the use and
abuse of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs and increase access and
availability of treatment programs should make a habit of educating
their legislators regularly about this very important issue.
- If you have questions about your particular activity in your community, talk with your
supervisor or contact IADDA.
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| Educate Members of Congress and the President |
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- Find out who your members of Congress are.
Visit JoinTogether's online toolbox to locate your members of Congress
at http://www.jointogether.org/sa/
- Call your community's voter registrar, or
Democratic or Republican party headquarters.
- Call Capitol Hill Information and just provide your zip code.
Senate operator, 202/224-3121
House operator, 202/225-3121
FYI--The White House switchboard is 202/456-1414; the comment line:
202/456-1111; the fax:
202/456-2461; e-mail address: president@whitehouse.gov
- Visit your Representative and Senators in their
district offices.Call your Representatives' and Senators' local offices
in your area. Inform the receptionist that you are a constituent and
would like to meet to discuss supporting treatment and prevention of
alcohol, tobacco and other drug use and abuse.
- When your Members of Congress are in your
community, at an event or just back home, introduce yourself and let
them know that you are concerned about providing affordable treatment
and prevention. Good grass roots advocacy is about building strong
positive relationships with lawmakers. Meet your legislator and begin to
build a relationship BEFORE you need them to act on your behalf on an
issue, this may allow you better access when your issue is pertinent.
- Write and ask your friends and colleagues to write too. (You can always write as an individual. If you
communicate on behalf of your organization or want to use its stationery, be sure to check on and adhere
to its policies.) In your letter, tell your Members of Congress about the needs of vulnerable children
and families in your community.
Address letters as follows:
The Honorable (insert full name)
United States Senate OR U. S. House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20510
- Invite your members of Congress to visit your
organization to speak at meetings about the issues of concern and their
positions. Let them see your programs firsthand.
- Meet with your state elected officials. Discuss with them how your state would fare under proposed
changes. Educate them on the impact that the proposed changes would have on your community.
Lawmakers are not always aware of what the local impact may be under a new law. Urge them to speak
out against harmful proposals.
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| Educate State Lawmakers |
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- Find out who your members of the Illinois
General Assembly are. Visit http://www.state.il.us/state/legis/ to
locate your Representative or Senator by district address or call your
community's voter registrar, or Democratic or Republican party
headquarters.
- Visit your Representative and Senators in their
district offices. Call your Representatives' and Senators' local offices
in your area. Inform the receptionist that you are a constituent and
would like to meet to discuss supporting treatment and prevention of
alcohol, tobacco and other drug use and abuse. It is recommended that
direct contact with your State Senator or Representative take place
while they are at home in the district. While a trip to Springfield
during the session could provide good insight into the legislative
process for you and your colleagues, it is not always the best place to
meet with legislators because they are busy and may not be able to give
your issue the attention that it requires.
- When your State Senators and Representatives
are in your community, at an event or just back home, introduce yourself
and let them know that you are concerned about providing affordable
treatment and prevention. Good grass roots advocacy is about building
strong positive relationships with lawmakers.
- Meet your legislator and begin to build a
relationship BEFORE you need them to act on your behalf on an issue,
this may allow you better access when your issue is pertinent.
- Write and ask your friends and colleagues to write too. (You can always write as an individual. If you
communicate on behalf of your organization or want to use its stationery, be sure to check on and
adhere to its policies.) In your letter, tell your legislator about the needs of vulnerable children
and families in your community.
Address letters as follows:
The Honorable (insert full name),
State Representative or State
Senator
Springfield address or district office address
- Invite your legislator to visit your organization to
speak at meetings about the issues of concern and their positions. Let them see
your programs firsthand.
- Meet with your state elected officials. Discuss with
them how your state would fare under proposed changes. Educate them on the
impact that the proposed changes would have on your community. Lawmakers are not
always aware of what the local impact may be under a new law. Urge them to speak
out against harmful proposals.
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| Work with the Media |
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- Organize press conferences and briefings on treatment and prevention issues. Highlight
new studies or data documenting how your community would be affected by proposed changes.
Showcase positive reforms in your state and community and what might happen to them if
proposed policies are enacted.
- Alert the media to events that would provide
good visuals, including meetings with your Representative or Senators. Invite
media representatives to your programs.
- Write Op-eds and Letters to the
Editor of your local newspaper. Time your op-eds and letters to correspond with
a holiday, a high visibility issue, or an event that highlights treatment and/or
prevention.
- Meet with the Editorial Board of your local newspaper. Use this
meeting to turn the editors' attention to providing treatment and prevention.
- Call in to radio talk shows that are discussing treatment and prevention issues.
For more advocacy/policy information contact IADDA at 800/252-6301 or email
iadda@iadda.org.
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| Individual Advocacacy Activities |
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- The First Amendment protects your right to be an advocate.
But you must:
- Not use office letterhead nor your professional title
- Advocate with your local legislator
- Not use state or federal funds directly or indirectly to pay for advocacy activities
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