Arthritis Advocacy Toolkit

About Us Impact/Evaluation Council Calls/Records FAQs

New Member Info Publications Resources Advocacy Toolkit

At this webpage, members of the Arthritis Council’s Policy and Legislative Workgroup have posted information and other resources for you to use in your advocacy work related to arthritis policy in your community, state, and nationally. The ideas and strategies presented herein are intended to ease the time and work associated with developing your own templates, strategies, etc. Please use this information to help guide your efforts and be sure to tailor to meet your needs. The Arthritis Policy and Legislative Work Group’s charge is to: develop and implement strategies for state arthritis programs and/or related stakeholder groups that will emphasize and demonstrate the burden of arthritis to policymakers and reinforce the importance of evidence-based programs to improve quality of life and decrease health care costs related to arthritis.

Dear Arthritis Advocate:

Members of the National Association of Chronic Disease Directors Arthritis Council Policy and Legislative Work Group recently developed a work plan that consists of 3 objectives/purposes:

Arthritis Awareness Month (May). Build awareness of the burden of arthritis in conjunction with Arthritis Awareness Month.
Advocacy Work Group. Establish advocacy work groups as part of the coalition’s activities (to increase awareness of, and policy support for, arthritis public health initiatives) and
Cover Letter and Distribution Plan (for state arthritis fact sheets). Provide key stakeholders with information about the burden of arthritis.

This Arthritis Advocacy Toolkit will focus on Arthritis Awareness Month. The following information is to be used as a toolkit around Arthritis Awareness Month activities . However, you may find that the information is relevant to other advocacy efforts that you are involved in.

We hope this information is useful and helps you and your program stakeholders to organize at least 1-2 activities that will increase awareness of the burden of arthritis to key individuals/target audiences in your state.

Toolkit Contents

Sample article – coalition member and program partner newsletters,weekly newspapers, etc

Arthritis Coaltion Meeting – Attempt to have one coalition meeting coincide with arthritis awareness month to leverage optimum opportunities.

Coordinate recent release of data/report – with press release for arthritis awareness month activity (can be part of conference/meeting, etc.)

Sample Press Release

Arrange Meetings between key arthritis program stakeholders and legislators

Sam ple Resolution – Check with a local legislator’s office. The staff should be able to assist with information and process of resolution and/or proclamation.

Arthritis Resource Page – A listing of advocacy resources specific to arthritis as well as general materials.

Arthritis Case Statement – Rationale for the elevation of arthritis to the highest level of public health action.

2017 Arthritis Appropriations Fact Sheet – NACDD is advocating for increased federal funding for the number one cause of disability in the nation

Resource Links

Advocacy Tools – Here you can access State Success Stories both past and current and how to write them; the template and instructions for a state specific Arthritis Fact Sheet; information on state by state arthritis legislation; and the role of Advocacy in State Arthritis Programs.

Arthritis Foundation Arthritis Advocates

Building the Business Case (abbreviated version from 2010 Arthritis Grantee Meeting)

Glossary of Leg and Policy terms – developed by the Arthritis Council Policy & Leg workgroup

Arthritis Grantee Meeting Advocacy Presentations

Public Health Policy – Who’s Listening (E. Jone, 2008)

Advocacy for Public Health Professionals (D. Hoffman, 2008)

Back to the Arthritis program home page.

Arthritis Advocacy Toolkit