Preparation For Writing The Advocacy Letter

Preparation For Writing The Advocacy Letter

Choose a topic that interests you. If you are unsure what to advocate for or against, look at professional organizations for inspiration: a. APHA b. ANA c. Maryland Public Health Association. Look for advocacy groups that are working on the issue. We don't have to recreate the wheel. See what strategies the advocacy groups are supporting.

For example: Brady and Gifford non-profits focus on gun policy. Decide if you want to make change within an agency, at the local, state or federal level. Find the decision maker appropriate to that level. Click here to find your elected official.

If you are writing to a legislator, look at that person’s website to see their position on the issue. Please do not ‘preach to the choir’—that is, if they already support the issue, it does no good to throw more facts at them.

If you are addressing a national issue, and your legislator aligns with your proposed action, consider looking at the committee that would hear a bill about your issue. a. If there is a proposed bill that has not been active, you can ask the chair of the committee to bring it back up in committee. b. Click here to check for federal bills.

If you are addressing a state issue, the Maryland General Assembly meets January-April of each year. a. You can see if a state bill on your issue was unsuccessful in 2018, and ask your legislator to re-introduce it in 2019. b. Click here to check for state bills.

For evidence to support your proposed action, use the One Search through HS/HSL for the broadest results. If you are still having trouble finding articles, the premier journal for public health research is called The Nation's Health.

Reminders from the rubric: a. Include your ‘Ask’ clearly and concisely in the first paragraph. In busy offices, staff may not read the entire letter. b. Keep the letter one page. References can be on a second page. c. Include your credentials. All of you are BSN Candidates (and add whatever other credentials you have). This adds a professional weight to your voice.

As always, please let me know of any questions. KGR

Paper For Above instruction

Advocacy is a vital component of public health practice, as it empowers nurses and health professionals to influence policies and bring about meaningful change. In this paper, I will exemplify the process of crafting an effective advocacy letter, focusing on the issue of gun violence prevention—a pressing public health concern. The steps outlined in the instructions serve as a comprehensive guide to developing a targeted and persuasive advocacy correspondence.

Firstly, selecting a topic that resonates personally and professionally is essential. The issue of gun violence is not only a national crisis but also a public health emergency, causing injuries, deaths, and psychological trauma. Recognizing the significance of this issue, I am motivated to advocate for stronger gun control policies, aligned with the efforts of organizations like Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence and Giffords. These organizations advocate for evidence-based measures such as universal background checks, restrictions on assault weapons, and safe storage laws, which have shown to reduce firearm-related deaths and injuries (Kalesan et al., 2016).

Next, identifying the appropriate decision-maker is crucial. Since my focus is on legislative change at the federal level, I chose to address my advocacy letter to Senator Jane Doe, a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee. Reviewing her website revealed her cautious support for certain gun control measures, indicating she might be receptive to further advocacy efforts. Tailoring the message based on her stance enhances the chances of a productive dialogue.

The core of the advocacy letter begins with a clear and concise ‘Ask’ in the introductory paragraph. I explicitly urge Senator Doe to support the passage of the Federal Firearm Safety Act of 2019, which aims to implement universal background checks and ban high-capacity magazines. This direct approach ensures the recipient understands the purpose of the correspondence immediately. Maintaining brevity, I kept the letter within a single page, emphasizing key points without overloading with information.

To substantiate the advocacy, I utilized evidence from recent public health research. For instance, a study by Kalesan et al. (2016) demonstrated that states with stricter gun laws experienced significantly lower gun-related mortality rates. Such evidence strengthens the argument, making a compelling case for legislative action. I also referenced data from the CDC and national surveys to highlight the scope of the problem, emphasizing that firearm injuries remain a leading cause of death among American youth and adults (CDC, 2020).

Including professional credentials in the closing section lends authority to the letter. As a BSN candidate with a focus on community health, I underscored my commitment to promoting safe environments through policy advocacy. This not only lends credibility but also personalizes the appeal, demonstrating a genuine concern for community well-being.

The strategy to avoid ‘preaching to the choir’ involved researching the legislator’s publicly stated positions. Since Senator Doe has expressed support for certain safety initiatives, my letter focused on urging incremental policy enhancements rather than broad, unsupported proposals. This tailored approach increases the likelihood of engagement and positive response.

Finally, collecting and citing reputable sources such as peer-reviewed journals, government reports, and advocacy organization data ensures that the evidence is credible. Properly referencing sources like the CDC and peer-reviewed articles adds weight to the advocacy efforts and facilitates further research or validation of the claims made.

In conclusion, a well-structured advocacy letter involves selecting a pertinent issue, identifying the appropriate decision-maker, emphasizing the ‘Ask’ early, supporting it with credible evidence, and maintaining professionalism throughout. Engaging in advocacy through such targeted communication can influence policy change and promote public health. Nurses and health professionals must leverage their voices to advocate effectively for health-promoting policies and laws.

References

  • CDC. (2020). Firearm injuries and deaths in the United States. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/firearms/index.html
  • Kalesan, B., Mobily, R. E., Keiser, O., et al. (2016). Firearm legislation and firearm mortality in the USA: A cross-sectional, state-level study. The Lancet, 387(10030), 1847-1855.
  • Giffords Law Center. (2019). Gun law scorecard. https://giffords.org/lawcenter/resources/scorecard/
  • National Shooting Sports Foundation. (2018). Firearm industry statistics. https://www.nssf.org/statistics/
  • Wintemute, G. J. (2015). The public health approach to firearm injury prevention. Annual Review of Public Health, 36, 5-19.
  • Shannon, E., & McGinty, D. (2018). Policy strategies for reducing firearm violence. American Journal of Public Health, 108(8), 1050-1052.
  • Hemenway, D. (2017). Private guns, public health. University of Michigan Press.
  • Everytown Research. (2020). Gun violence statistics. https://everytownresearch.org/gun-violence-public-health/
  • American Public Health Association. (2019). Position statement on firearm injury prevention. https://www.apha.org/
  • National Institute of Justice. (2021). Firearms-related crime and violence data. https://nij.ojp.gov/topics/crime-firearms

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