Advocacy in Action - April 2010

Published: 2010-04-15

The Professional Affairs Committee of NCSHLA / Advocacy Subcommittee has committed to make advocacy come alive in 2010 for our membership – because your voices and those of your peers, patients and supporters will be more important this year than ever before.  Last year’s efforts were our wake up call…but this is NOT the time to hit the snooze button.  This year, the state funding for our services is further imperiled….and the fiscal picture for North Carolina is grim.  Make your commitment and act now to protect your future and the future of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology funding in North Carolina. 

Our Mission:      Everyday Advocacy; Advocacy Every Day

Participants:      Every Speech-Language Pathologist and

                                Audiologist in North Carolina

Your Role:          Take action and Believe!

Our Focus:          Awareness and Education

Purpose:              Increase Value and Recognition of the

                                Critical Service Provided by our clinicians

How?:                   Respond to the Advocacy Recommendation

                                provided each month

Share:                   Advocacy Recommendations with your SLP

                                and Audiology Peers -more voices!

Encourage:         Every SLP and Audiologist that you know to

                                join NCSHLA – it’s our voice!

Advocacy:  It’s a noun. It’s a verb.  It’s a vital necessity for our profession.  It’s up to us.

APRIL:  As Legislators return to Raleigh this month to make difficult budget decisions, it’s time to thank them for supporting our services last year and to remind them that it’s important to continue that funding this year.

Write an email of thanks to your local House and Senate Representatives asking them to support funding for speech-language pathology and audiology funding for our neediest citizens because:

Ø       It’s good public policy to take care of the medical needs of our neediest citizens;

Ø       It’s good public finance policy to utilize the federal match rate of 4:1 for our state dollars;

Ø       The residual impact of addressing medically necessary disorders early empowers Medicaid recipients to become taxpayers  - THAT is also good long term investment of public funds.

Ø       Visit www.ncleg.net to identify your Representatives and send them an email.

Our team members and several business owners and practice managers have been and continue to meet in person with key legislators on the House Appropriations Sub-Committee for Health and Human Services and those meetings are going well.  We are always happy to attend these meetings with our members – so please let us know if are able to schedule a meeting and would like for one of us to attend with you.

NCSHLA CONVENTION:  Advocacy In Action Table

We will have an ADVOCACY table set up near the registration desk where you can purchase Speech and Audiology ADVOCATE buttons to show your support of the professions and where you will also have the opportunity to complete and mail a postcard to your Legislator or a member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee for Health & Human Services thanking them for their representation and requesting their continued support of vital services.  Only 350 sets available – please show your support early!

$2.00 purchases a BUTTON and a POSTCARD with postage!

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED TO AT THE ADVOCACY TABLE – can you spare an hour?  If you are willing to volunteer an hour or two at the table during the convention, please email me. 

Remember to attend the Advocacy session at the convention presented by Janice Brannon, our State Special Initiatives Grassroots Liaison at ASHA.  The session is Thursday afternoon,  1:45-3:45 p.m.

Thank you all for your support.

Believe! 

Jeri Bates, Member

Advocacy Subcommittee

Professional Affairs Committee

Contacts:  jeribates@speechcenter.net; tfurr@cheshirecenter.net; cyncrf@vol.com