Advocacy on behalf of persons with severe mental illnesses and their families is an important part of the mission of NAMI Ohio.  Advocates help ensure rights, reverse wrongs, provide protection, and encourage a more humane and responsive system.  An advocate is there for persons with a neurobiological brain disorder because all too often the system is not. NAMI advocates should seldom exercise the right to remain silent!

Who are advocates? An advocate is anyone who cares enough to get involved on behalf of a person, concern, or cause.  Advocates for persons with neurobiological brain disorders are parents, spouses, children, siblings and friends.  Concerned citizens, volunteers, patients in recovery, teachers, attorneys, and mental health professionals can be advocates, too, as can you.

What do advocates do?  An advocate helps another person get what he or she needs or wants.  Advocates may promote legislation.  An advocate investigates, educates, lobbies, and seeks additional funding for programs.  An advocate speaks up where others haven't, can't, or won't.

When do advocates advocate?  An advocate acts when not enough is being done for the person or cause which concerns them, or when something very specific occurs which demands action or response.  Advocacy is a year-round process that requires communication with members of elected bodies so they know exactly where you stand when the time for voting comes.  Issues must be kept in the public eye, or they'll be forgotten.  Neurobiological brain disorders don't go away – neither should its advocates.

Where do advocates advocate?  Anywhere decisions are made that affect the lives of persons with a neurobiological brain disorder: community mental health centers, hospitals, Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health /Community Mental Health Boards, City Hall, County Courthouse, Statehouse, Capitol Hill.  An advocate must go where the people who have the power to change things are.

Guidelines for Effective Advocates

Believe in what you are advocating.  Your own conviction and passion on the issue is of prime importance in convincing others.

Know your audience.  Whether you seek to convince one person or an entire community, knowing your audience enhances your chances of communication with them instead just talking at them.

Know your issue.  Do not tell your issue only from your biased perspective.  Share the pros and cons of the issue.  You do not want to be responsible for putting the legislation in a bad situation.  Warn them of the pitfalls.  Tell them what the opponents are saying, but follow up with an explanation of why your side is right.

Know your opposition.  Be able to address the objectionable part(s) of the opposition stance directly and effectively, using verifiable examples and statistics.

Gang Up.  Partner with other local organizations that share your position such as PTAs, churches, labor unions.

Make full use of the political process.  Initiate/support/oppose legislation as necessary.  Advocate in person, by mail, e-mail or phone.

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Establishing a Relationship with Your Legislator

A key component of advocacy is establishing a relationship with your legislator.  It is easier than you think.  Read on for simple tips in getting to know your state representative and senator.

Advocates perform a valuable function in the legislative process.  With thousands of separate pieces of legislation to consider every year, legislators in Columbus and Washington need the opinions, advice, and specialized knowledge of their constituents to guide them.  It is impossible for any legislator to have detailed knowledge of the technicalities of every bill that he or she must consider.  This means that even if you oppose the bill, legislators welcome your letters because you are providing them with the knowledge they need to make a decision.

Know who your legislator is.  Before making initial contact on an issue learn about your legislator.  Find out what legislative committees he/she serves on. To access this information, click here for names of the members of the Ohio House of Representatives:

http://www.house.state.oh.us/jsps/SearchbyName.jsp

And click here for the names of the members of the Ohio Senate:

http://www.senate.state.oh.us/senators/by_name.html

Meet with your legislator.  When calling for an appointment, identify yourself, your affiliation with NAMI, the issue you would like to discuss and the fact that you are from the legislator's district.  Ask when the legislator will be back in the district for the purpose of scheduling a visit or offer to visit him/her in Columbus.

Keep your message simple.  The best way to communicate a message is to convey how the issue will impact the communities and families in the legislator's district.  Remember "Keep It Simple Stupid." You are one of many individuals or groups with a cause to promote – you have to make your issue easy to understand and you have to clearly spell out the impact it is having on the legislator's constituents.

Put broad policy issues in a local perspective.  Legislators who know how issues will impact local voters tend to grasp ideas more easily and are generally more receptive.

Invite your legislator to your affiliate's meeting.  Seeing how you interact in your affiliate with NAMI members is an important way to establish your credibility as a resource.

Do your homework.  It is important to research before talking to legislators.  Review the legislator's history on similar issues.  What are the legislator's passions?  How did he/she get elected – on what positions?  Preparation helps avoid potential land mines.  For instance, if your legislator won on a tax cut agenda, you may have problems selling a tax increase to support your program.

Believe in your cause.  All causes are good causes.  You must convince your legislator(s) that your cause is special.  If you have conviction, dedication to the cause, loyalty to the organization, and determination to see the job through no matter how long it takes, then you will be an effective lobbyist. 

Know your issue. What is the substance of the legislation you are proposing (or opposing)?  Why is it so important? What will happen if it passes (or does not pass)? How much will it cost?

Recognize that advocacy is a long-term process.  One of the fastest ways to turn legislators off to your ideas is by threatening retaliation when they disagree with you.  Remember that politics is a long-term process.  It is a marathon, not a sprint.  You may disagree with them one day, but you might be in agreement on another subject in the future.  Do not burn important future bridges!

Say "Thank you.”  A simple thank you goes a long way.  A public one goes even farther.  Consider writing a letter to the editor.

Go the extra mile.  One way you can establish a relationship with your legislator is by volunteering to help him/her on their campaign, such as passing out campaign literature, holding a local fundraiser, working on a phone bank or putting a sign in your yard.  Your legislator will recognize your efforts and your relationship will grow.  You can also acknowledge your legislator by recognizing him/her at a local event.  Present an award and send out press releases several days before the event and invite your members and supporters.   Take pictures and send them to your local paper along with a brief description of the event.  In urban areas, the major newspaper may not publish it, but the chances are excellent that the neighborhood weekly and the suburban newspapers will. 

Write your Legislator.  Letters do make a difference.  Your opinion, added to that of others in your community, does count.  Here are some tips for effective letter writing:

• Keep the letter under one page.  Legislators are bombarded with mail.  Keep you message short and simple.
• Reference a specific bill by its number and title and describe the subject of the bill
• Support your position with concise and well reasoned arguments
• Thank the legislator for his/her time in considering your issue.
• If the legislator takes an action in support of your bill (signs on as a co-sponsor or votes in favor in committee or on the floor) follow up with a thank you letter.
• Note that postcards and e-mails can be effective in rush-to-action votes.  Keep the message brief and to the point. 
• Address your letter as follows:

Members of the Ohio House of Representatives:

The Honorable "Joe Smith"   
Ohio House of Representatives
77 South High Street
Columbus, Ohio 43215

 Members of the Ohio Senate:

The Honorable "Joe Smith"
The Ohio Senate
Statehouse
Columbus, Ohio 43215

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Working with the Media

In many ways, the same rules that apply to educating your legislator also apply to members of the media.  In each case, it is easy to become unnecessarily intimidated, and you must remember that these "experts" need us to provide the information required for their job.  Develop your media relations plan by focusing on establishing relationships and crafting a consistent message and repeating it in all your communications.  

Send out a press release when hosting an event. Press releases should be brief, concise double-spaced and contain name and phone number of a contact person.  They should be written in the third person, using quotes if applicable.

Hold a Press Conference.  Remember the visual orientation of television – most press conferences look alike.  Be creative in the location and the participants involved to help improve the impact of your story.  However, remember that more convenient you make it for the media, the more likely you will get them to cover your event.

Don't be afraid to say you don't know or you aren't sure.  Let the reporter know that you will get back to him or her with the requested information, if you don't have it.

Be a good resource.  Develop personal rapport with members of the press.  Meet with your paper’s editorial board and let them know why they if you would like the paper to endorse your issue.

Write letters to the Editor.  Respond to articles and events with letters to the editor where appropriate. Letters to the Editor are among the most read features in the newspaper.  They are a free, quick forum to educate the public about the issues of concern to your group.  Below are some tips for writing a letter likely to be considered favorably for publication.

• If possible use a computer or typewriter.  Write on one side of the paper, double spaces.
• Express your thought as clearly and concisely as possible.  Editors usually prefer letters of no more than 200 to 250 words.
• Deal with one timely, newsworthy topic in a letter.  Use short words, short sentences, short paragraphs.
• If you write to criticize, end your letter with some constructive suggestions when possible.
• Illustrate your point with a relevant personal or local community experience.
• Always sign your name and provide your address.  (Most newspapers won't print unsigned letters whose author they cannot verify.)  Check your newspaper's policy on withholding name by request.
• Don't expect to see you letter in print right away.  It may not appear for 10 days or even longer.  Don't be discouraged if your letter is not printed – try again.

For more information about advocating on behalf of people with mental illness in the criminal justice system, click here for a copy of the Advocacy Handbook .

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