Grassroots

How You Can Help

The Arthritis Foundation promotes government and private sector action to improve the lives of the 46 million Americans living with arthritis. But we need your help to get more government funding for arthritis research, to encourage early diagnosis and comprehensive treatment, and to improve access to quality health care for everyone with arthritis.

Arthritis Prevention, Control and Cure Act

(S. 626 / H.R. 1283)

46 million Americans have doctor-diagnosed arthritis.
Arthritis costs our country $128 billion annually; $81 billion in direct medical costs.
300,000 children have a form of juvenile arthritis including juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and scleroderma.
9,500 Americans died due to arthritis in 2003.
By the year 2030, 67 million Americans or 25% of the adult population will have arthritis.
Americans with rheumatoid arthritis die 5 to 10 years earlier than persons without arthritis.
50% of Americans with rheumatoid arthritis are forced to stop working within 10 years of diagnosis.

These are just a few of the facts about arthritis, a chronic, painful, and disabling disease. To help address this ever-growing problem, the Arthritis Prevention, Control, and Cure Act proposes to strengthen arthritis public health initiatives, which would ensure that more people are diagnosed early and avoid pain and permanent disability. While there are several new medicines available to treat the symptoms of arthritis, there is no cure. The legislation proposes to ensure that limited federal funding for arthritis research is used in the most strategic manner possible through the formation of a federal interagency coordinating committee. Finally, early diagnosis and aggressive treatment are critical for children with arthritis. Unfortunately with a severe shortage of pediatric rheumatologists, many families drive several hours to see a physician for treatment. The legislation authorizes a remedy to help address this shortage as well as a prevalence study of arthritis in children and a patient registry.

2008 Advocacy Summit

Make your voice heard on Capitol Hill

The annual Advocacy and kids' Summit brings together advocates, young and old, from across the country to meet with their Members of Congress. This year's summit will take place February 25-27, 2008. The 2008 Massachusetts Ambassador will be selected soon.

2007 Advocacy Summit

On February 26-28, 2007, hundreds of Arthritis Foundation Ambassadors from all over the United States gathered in Washington, D.C. for the 2007 Arthritis Foundation Advocacy Summit. Ambassadors spent three days meeting with members of Congress to advance the Arthritis Prevention, Control and Cure Act. Representing the Massachusetts Chapter was Suzanne Gauthier, Associate Vice Presicent of Health Education, Joe Dineen, 2007 Ambassador, Nina Dineen, 2007 Ambassador, Marcia Imbrescia, National Board of Trustees, Kevin Martin, Jr., Massachusetts Chapter Trustee, and Bill Turner, Massachusetts Chapter President.

L to R: Suzanne Gauthier, Marcia Imbrescia, Joe Dineen, Nina Dineen, Kevin Martin, Jr., and Bill Turner

2007 Massachusetts Chapter Ambassadors Joe and Nina Dineen

Massachusetts Chapter Ambassadors Joe and Nina Dineen meet with a member of Senator John Kerry's staff to discuss the APCCA. Joining them is Marcia Imbrescia of the National Board of Trustees.

Massachusetts Chapter Trustee, Kevin Martin greets a staff member for Senator John Kerry.

Advocacy Captains Wanted!

Advocacy Captains are people who take more of a leadership role in their communities by organizing local volunteers to do local office meetings with the legislator, to recruit advocates at other community, and to place phone calls to advocates in their area who don't have email, but want to participate in Action Alerts. If you would like more information about becoming an Advocacy Captain, contact Suzanne Gauthier at 617-244-1800, Ext. 122.

Make your voice heard today!

Visit our Advocacy Section for tools you need to become informed about the issues and to make your voice heard. You will find issue "backgrounders," Arthritis Foundation position statements, as well as links to other Web sites that may be helpful.

Become An Advocate -- Join the Arthritis Foundation Advocacy Network

Arthritis Advocacy Priorities -- Read about the issues

Contact Congress -- Quickly locate your legislators and send a message