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Get the facts on advocacy at APHA

APHA is the primary voice for public health advocacy, leading the way to protect all Americans, their families and their communities from preventable, serious health threats and striving to assure that community-based health promotion and disease prevention activities and preventive health services are universally accessible in the United States. Advocacy is a valued principle and critical part of APHA’s mission.

Due to the many interests and broad agenda that fall under public health, it is important for APHA to maximize its effectiveness and make the most of existing resources to be successful in improving public health policy. APHA’s advocacy positions and actions are supported by an extensive repository of science-based policy statements adopted by the association.

Advocacy activities do not begin or end with APHA’s staff in Washington. APHA works with its members and Affiliates to support its advocacy priorities each year, including through APHA's Speak for Health campaign activities. APHA’s advocacy efforts will be most effective if they are coordinated to maximize their impact.

The membership and Affiliates of APHA, through their representation on the Governing Council, determine the association’s overarching priorities. Specific advocacy efforts to address the priorities are then determined by staff and the Executive Board of APHA. Each year, several advocacy priorities are established for primary focus. In addition, APHA also acts on many other critical public health advocacy issues including some raised by its membership, Affiliates, and partner organizations.

1) How does APHA define public health advocacy?

An advocate is a person who argues for a cause - a supporter or a defender. To advocate is to act in support of a particular issue or cause. Being a public health advocate gives you the opportunity to influence the way the public and policy-makers think and act on public health policies.

APHA engages in both education and advocacy campaigns. Public and policymaker education campaigns communicate information about specific issues without the expectation of specific policy action.

Advocacy campaigns encompass efforts to engage the public, members, or target groups to directly encourage policymakers to consider policy action on a specific public health issue.

Advocacy is often confused with lobbying. Lobbying is one form of advocacy that consists of direct communication with policymakers regarding specific legislation and expressing views on behalf of an organization. APHA’s government relations staff lobbies on behalf of the organization and comply with federal laws by submitting regular reports detailing their activity.

Anyone can be an advocate. As a public health advocate and constituent, you are exercising your right to participate in the democratic process. You are free to speak on behalf of yourself and as an APHA member.

2) Can an individual APHA member act on behalf of APHA?

An individual member can act on behalf of APHA only after discussing the issue with APHA government relations staff and receiving authorization or a specific request from APHA.

3) What is the process for requesting APHA action on an advocacy issue?

The APHA member or representative of an affiliated organization such as a state or regional Affiliate or a Caucus should contact APHA government relations staff via phone or email with ample lead time (preferably at least two weeks before an answer is required, if not earlier). APHA government relations staff will review the requested action to determine if APHA can participate. When making this decision, APHA staff will first determine if the issue aligns with existing APHA advocacy priorities and is supported by existing APHA policy statements. If so, then the following questions will also be considered:

  • Is it an issue of top priority for the association?
  • What is the political and strategic value of APHA’s input?
  • What has APHA done on this issue previously?
  • Does clear support exist within the association membership, particularly among Sections, Forum or SPIGs with relevant expertise for the specific approach or initiative?
  • Is there adequate staff capacity to support the effort given other priorities?
  • Is the issue politically feasible?
  • Is the issue timely and ripe for action?
  • What other organizations are weighing in on the issue?
4) What if APHA does not agree to a member or Affiliate request?

In any advocacy process, there may be differences of opinion about actions and priorities. This is natural to the process of advocacy. If there is a difference of opinion, both sides will work to find a mutually agreeable solution. In certain circumstances, APHA may decline a request. In that case, the reasons for declining will be clearly communicated.

5) How are APHA policy priorities determined?

APHA’s overarching, Association-wide priorities are determined by its Governing Council. APHA’s priorities are:

  • Building public health infrastructure and capacity
  • Ensuring the right to health and health care
  • Creating health equity
6) How are APHA advocacy priorities determined?

APHA has prioritized its advocacy activities to help focus its efforts and capitalize on available resources to give the Association the opportunity to be a leader on critical public health issues. Each year, APHA identifies several advocacy priorities which relate to the policy priorities listed in question number 2 above. These advocacy priorities are the primary focus of APHA’s advocacy efforts. APHA government relations staff provides opportunities for members and Affiliates to take action on these priorities through action alerts and other coordinated efforts. Early in each Congressional session, APHA staff considers the following questions in order to assess the potential of various advocacy priorities:

  • What is APHA’s position on a particular policy initiative?
  • Does APHA have a unique perspective to offer?
  • What is the timeline and likelihood for congressional or agency action?
  • Is there expertise within the staff or other APHA leadership to support APHA taking a leadership role?
  • What is the advice of the Executive Board and other staff and member leadership?
7) What kinds of advocacy does APHA do?

There are a variety of advocacy actions that APHA will do in response to or to initiate support of public health actions. These actions include but are not limited to:

  • Writing letters to Congress or the Administration in support of or opposition to various issues
  • Signing on to joint letters with other like-minded organizations
  • Organizing and participating in meetings with legislative staff or members of Congress
  • Organizing and participating in legislative and educational briefings
  • Writing and signing-on to op-eds
  • Sending out advocacy alerts to mobilize action
  • Delivering or submitting testimony for the record
  • Issuing press releases or signing on to joint press releases
  • Creating or joining coalitions
  • Submitting comments on regulatory issues
  • Signing on to amicus briefs
  • Creating fact sheets and issue briefs
8) Can Sections, Special Primary Interest Groups (SPIGs) and Forums act on behalf of APHA?

In rare instances, Sections, SPIGs and Forums can act on behalf of APHA only after discussing the issue with APHA government relations staff and receiving direct approval for a specific request. It should be noted that any use of APHA’s name and/or logo requires pre-approval by APHA staff. While not guaranteeing staff approval, the inclusion of the appropriate APHA government relations staff in the advocacy effort discussion can expedite and strengthen the effectiveness of the final outcome.

9) What kinds of advocacy activities can Sections, SPIGs and Forums request APHA take?

Typical actions that Sections, SPIGs and Forums can request APHA take are listed in question 7 above.

10) Can state and regional Affiliates act on behalf of APHA?

State Affiliates, like Sections, can act on behalf of APHA in rare instances only after discussing with APHA government relations staff and receiving direct approval for a specific request. The same is true for the Caucuses.

Unlike Sections, SPIGs and Forums, state and regional Affiliates and the Caucuses are independent entities and are not bound by the same rules as membership units. State and regional Affiliates can act independently of APHA and do not need to ask APHA before taking a position and participating in a federal advocacy activity on behalf of their own Affiliate. However, if Affiliates or Caucuses decide to weigh-in on federal issues, APHA requests that the Affiliate or the Caucus share their actions and documents with the APHA Government Relations staff.

11) What kinds of advocacy activities do Affiliates and Caucuses take?

APHA’s 53 state, regional and local public health associations can take any of the typical advocacy actions listed in question number 5 above. They can also request APHA take any of the typical actions listed above. The same process applies to APHA’s Caucuses.

12) Can an individual APHA member request APHA action on an issue?

Any APHA member, representative of a state or regional Affiliate or Caucus member can request that APHA take action on an federal public health issue that aligns with APHA's priorities. Such a request is strengthened by the endorsement of the relevant membership unit (Section, SPIG, Forum), Caucus or Affiliate. Partner organizations can also request APHA take action. Each request will be considered on an individual basis and staff will determine the appropriate action, if any, for APHA to take.

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