Election Advocacy and the HIV/AIDS Community

2012 Election Advocacy

HIV Med Access Campaign

The Rules: Do’s and Don’t’s Our Goal

Two HIV/AIDS Questions for

Congressional and Presidential Candidates

Messaging Bird Dogging

Voter Mobilization

The HIV Med Access Campaign is a national project that:

seeks to reframe the national conversation around HIV/AIDS treatment and care access, especially within the 2012 elections

engages advocates around a range of programs like Medicaid and ADAP

advances HIV treatment expansion as critical to the nation’s fiscal and public health goals

HIV Med Access Campaign Partners

AIDS Foundation of Chicago – Midwest• Pete Subkoviak, psubkoviak@aidschicago.org• Sarah Sobel, sobel@ohioaidscoalition.org (Ohio contact)

AIDS United – Mid-Atlantic and South• Caressa Cameron – ccameron@aiidsunited.org – Mid-Atlantic• Charles Stephens cstephens@aidsunited.org - South

Latino Commission on AIDS – Latino community

• John Hellman, jhellman@latinoaids.org

Project Inform – Northwest

• Ryan Clary, rclary@projectinform.org

www.HIVHealthReform.org/HIVmedaccess

You, as an individual, can do or say anything you want, on your own time and dimeIf you are working in conjunction with a non-profit (501 (c) 3) then all activities must be nonpartisan• This includes all planning, coordination and resources

used for the project• You cannot support or oppose a candidate or party• You cannot endorse candidates, or provide in-kind or

financial support for candidates or political parties• Your non-profit status is at stake!

Rules for Election Advocacy

DO• Encourage participation in

the civic process• Educate your community

on ways to register and vote

• Remind them that they have a voice

DON’T• Wear or say anything that

promotes a candidate or party

• Tell voters who to vote for• Connect voting with an

issue (don’t say: “vote for AIDS”)

• IMPORTANT: YOU CAN DO ALL THIS ON YOUR OWN TIME AS A PRIVATE CITIZEN

Do’s and Don’ts

Do’s and Don’ts: Examples Legal Illegal

• We support Bill 123 which would increase funding for ADAP

• Do you support Bill 123?• You should sign up to vote

– here’s how• Do you know where the

candidates stand on AIDS issues?

• Vote for AIDS in 2012• Support Romney in 2012!• Republicans suck, vote

Democrat!• You should sign up to vote

and then vote for me

Our Goal

What’s at Stake113th Congress: Jan. 2013 –Jan. 2015Next Administration: Jan. 2013 – Jan.

2017

Ryan White Program

reauthorization

Affordable Care Act

implementation

Appropriations under the

Budget Control Act

National HIV/AIDS Act

implementation

Possible Supreme

Court vacancy

Our Goal

• Increase the awareness and importance of HIV/AIDS in the 2012 election cycle by:▫Getting candidates on record on pressing

HIV/AIDS issues▫Getting media attention on HIV/AIDS issues

during the election season

Our Goal

Questions for Presidential and Congressional Candidates

Question 1: Funding for HIV/AIDS Programs

Over the past decade there has been a continual commitment by the White House to prioritize HIV/AIDS programs with President Bush’s President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief and President Obama’s National HIV/AIDS Strategy. This resource commitment is paying off. We believe that with strong and sustained investment in HIV prevention and treatment we can end the AIDS epidemic within our lifetime. As president, would you continue prioritizing people with and at risk of HIV/AIDS by protecting Medicare, Medicaid, and other critical health programs?

HIV/AIDS Funding Facts

President George W. Bush started the President's

Emergency Plan For AIDS Relief or PEP-FAR which increased

funds for HIV prevention and care globally.

President Obama released the National HIV/AIDS Strategy for

ending the AIDS Epidemic in the United States, which aims to reduce new infections and

increase the number of people in medical care at home

We are seeing a leveling off of new infections and have had

two scientific breakthroughs in new HIV prevention

technologies – microbicides and an HIV vaccine.

All presidential GOP candidates have vowed to balance the

budget by focusing on cuts to federal spending, which would

greatly affect Medicare, Medicaid, Ryan White, the CDC,

the NIH and other critical medical programs

Question 2: The ADAP Crisis

• The AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP) is a public program that helps uninsured Americans pay for their medications. Right now we have nearly 4,000 people on waiting lists across the United States, and estimated 200,000 HIV-positive people in the U.S. who do not have access to HIV medications at all. We know that HIV-positive people who are on medication are much more likely to be able to work and pay taxes and are much less likely to need costly emergency medical interventions. Those on medication are also 96% less likely to transmit the virus, preventing more infections and future medical costs. As president, will you commit to fully-fund ADAP, a program that saves American lives and taxpayer dollars?

ADAP FactsThe AIDS Drug Assistance Program is a federal and state funded program that helps uninsured, low and middle income working Americans pay for their medications, which care cost more than $2,500 per month

Right now we have XXXX people on waiting lists across the United States, this in addition to the estimated 200,000 HIV-positive people in the U.S. who do not have access to life-saving medications at all

Studies show that people who are on medication are much more likely to maintain their health and be able to work, pay taxes and take care of their families and are much less likely to need costly emergency medical interventions for their illness. Most of these medical costs will be borne by the taxpayer

Studies also show that people who are HIV-positive and on medication are 96% less likely to transmit the virus which in turn prevents more infections and future medical costs

Other Questions to AskDo you support full implementation of the Affordable Care Act, which will transform the fight against HIV/AIDS?

Will you commit to protect funding for Medicaid and Medicare, two programs that are vital to people living with HIV?

HIV/AIDS disproportionately affects certain minority populations, particularly African Americans, Latinos, youth and men who have sex with men. What will you do to address these health disparities?

I’m uninsured, and have a pre-existing condition. In 2014 I will qualify for Medicaid but I need coverage now. What should Congress do to help people like me today?

Sending the Right Message………

Think….What is my story? How does it relate to the question I’m asking?

How can I make this question personal?

How can I make my question memorable and quotable?

Doseofchange.org/H

Caccess

Use the handy dandy story

worksheet to find out

Choose language that reduces complex issues into manageable talking points

Point out problem, why your community should be concerned, and assign responsibility for solving the problem to our public leaders

Newsworthy: Local impact, personal, injustice, special event, scientific breakthrough, anniversary/holiday

Humanize the message

Effective Messaging

What:• information is included in the story and

what is not

Who:• The frame shapes how the audience

views who is responsible for the problem and the solution

How:• Make it a personal• short "sound bites" that reporters can

use• Frame the question in a moral way so

they can’t say “no” without looking bad

Framing Your Message

Example: ADAP Messaging

• ADAP waiting lists for HIV medications will cause people with HIV in the U.S. to become needlessly sick and die ▫Moral

• ADAP promotes jobs and employment by keeping people with HIV healthy enough to work and pay taxes▫ Economic sense

Framing the ADAP Issue

• Results from a recent clinical trial showed a 96% reduction in HIV transmission by HIV-positive people who initiated antiretroviral therapy. ▫Newsworthy, scientific

breakthrough• These results provide dramatic

evidence that access to HIV treatment can play a significant role in reducing HIV infections in Iowa and nationwide. ▫ Community impact

Framing the ADAP Issue

HIVH

ealthReform.org/

HIVM

edAccess

Again, use the handy

dandy story worksheet to plan and to make it personal!

Bird-Dogging:Not as scary as it looks

What is Bird-Dogging?• Bird-dogging is a tactic activists use to demand

answers from politicians in a public setting.

• Simply put, bird-dogging involves attending a public event and asking politicians questions.

• This tactic can help bring media attention to your issue and inspire elected officials to commit to new policies.

1. Find an event 2. Gather some friends 3. Make a plan

4. Get good seats

5. Get your hands up first, fast, and high

Get a handshake (and

a photo or autograph)–and

an answer!

Get quoted

Bird-Dogging Steps

Finding an event

You can learn about upcoming events by getting on the party or

candidate’s email lists.

Once you find an event, ask the organizer for details—

when the doors open, if you need tickets, and if there is a

question period.

Gather Friends

•Bringing along a few friends who share in your cause and are willing to ask questions will strengthen not only your efforts, but also your confidence.

• The more people, the more likely it is that at least one of your questions will

get answered.

Make a PlanWrite your questions in advance!

• Make it personal by sharing your own story—what has inspired you to take on this cause?

• Make a clear ask—if you have identified a problem, what is the solution and how can this person enact change?

• Make it easy for them to say yes—it is a simple, moral obligation.

• Practice your questions with a friend who will act as the politician or a devil’s advocate.

Get Good Seats

If you are in a group, spread out—do not all sit together.

Arrive early so you can try to get a seat near the front.

First, Fast, High

As soon as there is an opportunity for

questions, get your hand up first, fast and

high!

Get a Handshake

•Candidates often walk through the crowd giving handshakes. This provides additional opportunity to engage in conversation, so get in line!

•When you shake hands, ask your question. You’ll only have a few seconds, so make it quick and to the point.

•If you have the chance, get a picture or an autograph to spend more time talking with this politician.

Get Quoted

Get Quoted

Remember…Bird-dogging is not about attacking an elected official or candidate. You will not make you or your cause look good if you do that.

Before asking anything of a politician, make sure you research his or her stance on the issue.

All that being said, elected officials work for us, and it is our responsibility to ask for the change we want.

Follow UpTalk to Staff. Introduce yourself to the elected official’s staff. Ask for their business card and follow up with them after the meeting about the issue you spoke about. Be Persistent. Send an email. Make a phone call. Schedule an in-person meeting with the elected official or staff person when they are in the district. Do it all again. Get Your People to Multiple Meetings. Creating an ongoing and unwavering presence in multiple locations throughout the state

State and Regional Action Planning to Mobilize Voters

Special thanks to Jessica Terlikowski and Charles Stephens of AIDS United for the slides.

What IS Voter Mobilization?Voter

registrationVoter

education

Get out the vote effort

Tips for Successful Voter Mobilization• Learn the rules

▫ Go to your Secretary of State’s website ▫ Voter registration deadlines▫ Submission requirements▫ Rules for people with criminal records

• Make a plan with realistic and attainable goals including ▫ Number of people you want to register,

get to the polls▫ Number of partners you plan to engage

• Assess internal/external resources:▫ Existing efforts▫ Staff & volunteers▫ Peer educators▫ Registration opportunities (intake, support

groups, health fairs, etc.)

Tips for Successful Voter Mobilization• Get the materials you need ▫ Info on issues▫ Voter registration cards▫ Federal Election Commission ▫ Your Secretary of State’s website ▫ AIDS Vote http://www.c2ea.org/aidsvote

• Identify your target universe of to register▫ Clients, staff, volunteers, residents, etc.▫ Who else?

• Go to where the people they are, but start with your base▫ Your agency▫ Planning council meetings▫ Community events

Tips for Successful Voter Mobilization• Make it fun and easy

▫ Create a voter registration station at your agency▫ Work with staff to integrate registration into encounters with clients▫ Organize volunteers to register voters at agency/community events▫ Identify registration captains

• Organize educational forums for staff, clients, board members, and volunteers about key issues

• Notify your network of important dates through email, phone calls, and social media▫ Registration deadline and election day!

• Attend candidate forums and raise HIV/AIDS issues

Let’s Get Out the Vote!

• Organize carpools▫ Use agency vehicles ▫ Collaborate with faith partners

or other organizations that are organizing rides to the polls

• Get the word out▫ Phone calls▫ Fliers▫ Facebook ▫ Twitter

• Cast YOUR vote!

Election ResourcesDoseofchange.org/HCaccess

Aidsunited.orgWellstone.org

AFJ.orgVotesmart.org

HIV Med Access Campaign Partners

AIDS Foundation of Chicago – Midwest• Pete Subkoviak, psubkoviak@aidschicago.org• Sarah Sobel, sobel@ohioaidscoalition.org (Ohio contact)

AIDS United – Mid-Atlantic and South• Caressa Cameron – ccameron@aiidsunited.org – Mid-Atlantic• Charles Stephens cstephens@aidsunited.org - South

Latino Commission on AIDS – Latino community

• John Hellman, jhellman@latinoaids.org

Project Inform – Northwest

• Ryan Clary, rclary@projectinform.org

www.HIVHealthReform.org/HIVmedaccess