Advocacy

Let Your Voice Be Heard ...
          through the MICHIGAN ARTHRITIS ADVOCACY NETWORK

- What is it? A network of 400+ people in Michigan, and thousands more across the U.S., who view arthritis as a critical issue that needs more awareness before state and federal legislators. One voice is a whisper...thousands of voices create a ROAR. Take part in this historical move to push passage of the Arthritis Prevention, Control and Cure Act now before Congress. This is the first arthritis legislation in 30 years!

- Why is it important? Together, we can make things happen. We can change the way arthritis is viewed. We know it's not just minor aches and pains! A recent CDC state survey reported that there are 2,409,000 adults with doctor-diagnosed arthritis, and many more with chronic joint symptons. There are an estimated 7,000 Michigan children living with arthritis, too. We need to get the Arthritis Act passed in 2006!

- What happens when I join? You'll receive an E-newsletter, Arthritis Agenda, with important information and updates on pending legistlation and stories about Arthritis Foundation advocacy activities in the states. And, most importantly you and your fellow volunteers will receive special Action Alerts. These alerts come out only when something important is happening and we need to rally together and communicate with Congress.

- How can I join? It's simple! It's painless! It's free! It works!

I'm Not Sure I'm Ready to Be an Advocate.

You probably didn't realize that you are an advocate already. Simply by supporting a cause, you are an advocate. That's the easy part. But the word "advocate" can be scary. Many people think that to be an advocate, you have to be powerful and important. This is true, and the most powerful and important person our leaders want to hear from is YOU! An advocate can be 5, or 105. Some of our most powerful advocates are the smallest people!

For the citizens they represent, your issues and concerns that are affecting your daily life (and/or your child's) are the most important issues that your legislators will want to know about. Your legislators' job is to work on your behalf, listening to your concerns and then helping to make a difference. We need to let legislators know that arthritis in adults and children is not minor aches and pains; it is a serious disease facing America today (with growing numbers) and we need the help of our leaders to make things happen to change that. In JUST 10 minutes, you can make a difference!

How Do I Do That?

You don't have to travel all the way to Washington, D.C., to make a difference and be heard. You can join people in all 50 states who have signed on to be part of the Arthritis Advocacy Network. We're more than 10,000 strong!

Click here  to see the Kids Get Arthritis Too 2007 Special Advocacy Edition.

     Click here to discover JUST 10.

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I Don't Know Who My Legislators Are.

You can contact your state and local representatives and make them aware of the challenges adults and kids with arthritis face today and how it affects your entire family. They pay attention to personal stories. We make it easy for you! Click here to get to CapWiz that will list your legislators for you once you put in your zip code. And, CapWiz will make it incredibly easy to connect to your elected representatives and send them a personal message!

What are the key Arthritis Foundation issues that I should know about?

Congress is considering a bill that would truly affect the lives of all adults and children with arthritis and related diseases. If Congress passes the Arthritis Prevention, Control and Cure Act, there would be much more money targeted for arthritis research at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and more money for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Arthritis Program programs. Funding would be available to provide research and public health activities related to juvenile arthritis, too, such as supporting more pediatric rheumatologists to be trained for the estimated 300,000 kids with arthritis in the U.S. And the General Accounting Office would be authorized to conduct a study of Arthritis and the Workplace.

Click here to read a detailed summary of the Arthritis Act.

Click here to see the Arthritis Foundation Legislative Priorities.

OTHERS HAVE AND YOU CAN TOO!

Several Michigan individuals and families who are challenged by arthritis have already joined on as advocates. They have connected to their legislators, met with them in their home town offices or in Washington D.C., sent personal "greeting" cards asking for support of the Arthritis Prevention, Control and Cure Act. They are making things happen and not letting our legislators forget about the critical issues around arthritis.

Click here to read a recent Michigan Chapter story in the Arthritis Foundation's Arthritis Agenda e-newsletter.