ARIZONA ASSOCIATION OF COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS

AACHC Program Overview

Government and Media Relations

The Association's advocacy program is designed to communicate the needs of Community Health Centers to state and federal elected and appointed officials in concert with other health care providers. This includes creating a grass roots network of Community Health Center leaders who prioritize the legislative needs of the not-for-profit primary care facilities in Arizona. The same leaders communicate this information to their local elected lawmakers, Members of Congress, and others who have a direct impact on health care policy.

Services provided by the Advocacy program include working with lawmakers at the State Capitol, meeting with Members of Congress in Washington, D. C., and providing critical information to opinion leaders in the media and policy makers to support expanding access to primary care services.

In order to maintain an effective Advocacy program, the Association and its staff work with members to

1. prioritize a membership-driven Legislative Program each year for the Legislature to consider
2. document the need for funding for Community Health Centers through research and the coordination of data
3. communicate constantly with the elected officials of Arizona
4. schedule membership meetings with elected and appointed officials throughout the course of the year
5. explain the content of proposed legislation that may affect the operation of Community Health Centers and encourage a prompt membership response
6. testify before relevant committees of the Legislature in support of Association legislative initiatives
7. work in concert with the National Association of Community Health Centers in Washington on federal issues and enlist the support of the Arizona Congressional delegation for federal resources helpful to the CHC mission.

In addition, the Association advocacy program is focused on creating coalitions of like-minded interest groups whose purposes include expanding health care access to the medically underserved people of Arizona.