Grassroots

 

Arthritis Foundation Northern California Chapter Advocacy Volunteers: Deborah Jackson, Jeremy Calhoun, Kim Thompson,Garner Kelly and PJ Handeland

Become an Arthritis Advocate

Add your voice to the Arthritis Advocates.  Discover how powerful one voice can be, especially when added to a growing chorus.   Find out how you can influence public policy to improve public health for people with arthritis and to increase the amount of government funds dedicated to arthritis research  Help the Arthritis Foundation accomplish its mission:  to improve the lives through leadership in the prevention, control and cure of arthritis and related diseases. 

Yes, help the Arthritis Foundation improve lives, and as you do, you will discover how the joy and satisfaction of helping others will improve your life too. 

To find out more about becoming an Arthritis Advocate, contact Deborah Jackson by e-mail or by phone at  800.464.6240.

Lend Your Voice to the Arthritis Foundation's Advocacy Efforts
In Public Policy Arena

 

Public Health, Public Policy, and Research are the three main arenas where the Arthritis Foundation concentrates its efforts.  In fact, of these three, Public Policy is pivotal since decisions in this arena can have enormous effects on Public Health and Research.  Because of this, the Arthritis Foundation has undertaken an ambitious year-round advocacy program that keeps a full court press on our elected representatives.  The Arthritis Foundation wants to assure that the interests of people with arthritis are addressed in pertinent legislation and in government agency goals.

Volunteers are the backbone of the Arthritis Foundation's advocacy program.  The Arthritis Foundation maintains three staff in Washington, DC who monitor legislation related to arthritis, but three people alone cannot achieve the Arthritis Foundation's advocacy goals.  The help of a national corps of advocacy volunteers is needed to accomplish this. 

Northern California Chapter has An Outstanding Advocacy Committee

The Arthritis Foundation, Northern California Chapter is proud to report that it has fielded one of the most dynamic Arthritis Advocacy Committees in the nation.  Led by Frank Huerta, the Chapter's Vice-Chair for Public Policy, this committee has a long track record of both local and national advocacy successes and is making a difference at both the federal and state levels of government. 

Northern California Legislators Join in Unanimous Support for Congress's
Arthritis Prevention, Control, and Cure Act

The most important piece of arthritis legislation to be presented in Congress in 40 years is the Arthritis Prevention, Control, and Cure Act.   Across the country, Arthritis Foundation advocacy volunteers have been working diligently to persuade their legislators to support this Act by signing on as co-sponsors.  Here in Northern California, members of our advocacy committee visited, called, cajoled, sent letters, and e-mailed legislators about the Act.  Some legislators quickly recognized the significance of the Act and immediately became co-sponsors.  Others took more time, but our advocates were dogged in their efforts and eventually saw complete success.  As of Fall 2006, all Northern California legislators in both the House of Representatives and the Senate have agreed to co-sponsor the Arthritis Prevention, Control, and Cure Act.  Our Chapter also points with great pride to local Congresswoman, the Honorable Anna Eshoo, who is an original sponsor of the Act.

Sacramento Is Also Focus of Arthritis Foundation Public Policy Efforts

The Northern California Chapter works in tandem with other Arthritis Foundation chapters in California to influence legislation in Sacramento in favor of people with arthritis.  The State Department of Health Services currently is working closely with California chapters to increase the reach of the Arthritis Foundation Life Improvement Series which includes the Arthritis Foundation Exercise Program, the Arthritis Foundation Aquatic Program, and the Arthritis Foundation Self Help Program.  The goal is to expand these programs into underserved California communities.

Some Advocates Meet Often and Others Are Arm-Chair Advocates, But All Are Effective

Arthritis Foundation Advocates can be as active as they would like.  The Advocacy Committee meets once a month, but attendance is not mandatory.  Many advocates participate in the annual Arthritis Foundation Advocacy Summit in Washington, DC  where they visit their legislators' offices in person and network in our nation's Capitol.  Many also do the same with California legislators during the Arthritis Foundation's Advocacy Committee's once-a-year trip to Sacramento.  Occasionally, there are opportunities for Arthritis Advocates to offer direct input/testimony to government agencies and committees.

Many Arthritis Advocates are very effective as arm-chair advocates.  They add their voices to those of the more active advocates by writing emailing, and/or phoning their legislators to express their needs and desires where arthritis is concerned.  They keep arthritis public policy matters in front of the public through letters to the editor and in casual conversations with friends, family, and colleagues.