What is the most effective way to communicate with my legislator?
How do I prepare for testifying at a legislative hearing?
How does the legislative process work and what can I do to impact it?
Take a trip through the educational Hospitals Education & Advocacy Team (HEAT) Grassroots Handbook so you can learn the fundamentals of grassroots advocacy and how to become a positive force for change.
The HEAT Grassroots Handbook was created to inform and educate HEAT members on positively impacting the legislative process on behalf of their hospitals and communities. If you are not a HEAT member but would like to join the program and receive your complete copy of the Grassroots Handbook, please contact Jenny Boese at 608-268-1816 or jboese@wha.org. Members of WHA's grassroots advocacy program, HEAT, can receive a complimentary copy of this publication by also contacting Jenny Boese.
Chapter 1: Communicating with your elected official
This chapter includes tips on addressing correspondence to legislators, what to say and how to say it, a sample outline for your letter, tips on calling your legislator, tips on meeting with your legislator and more. Click here to read an excerpt . . .
Chapter 2: Building relationships with elected officials
This chapter includes tips on getting to know legislators and their staffs, tips on hosting legislators at your hospital, and tips on interacting with legislators. Click here to read an excerpt . . .
Chapter 3: Utilizing the media
This chapter includes tips on writing a letter to the editor and interacting with the media. Click here to read an excerpt . . .
Chapter 4: How a bill becomes a law and how you positively influence the process
This chapter includes information on the entire legislative process - from introduction to enactment - with practical grassroots tips on how you can be involved at each stage. Click here to read an excerpt . . .
Chapter 5: Testifying at a legislative hearing
This chapter includes the fundamental dos and don'ts of testifying at a legislative hearing with tips on how to prepare and present your testimony. Click here to read an excerpt . . .
Take a trip through the educational Hospitals Education & Advocacy Team (HEAT) Grassroots Handbook so you can learn the fundamentals of grassroots advocacy and how to become a positive force for change.