Engaging Stakeholders in the Work You Do 2017 NCOA Benefits Enrollment Conference

Transcription

1 Engaging Stakeholders in the Work You Do 2017 NCOA Benefits Enrollment Conference Howard Bedlin, Vice President, Public Policy and Advocacy Marci Phillips, Director, Public Policy and Advocacy April 18 & 19, 2017 Improving the lives of 10 million older adults by 2020

2 Setting the Stage Stakeholders in Translating Programs to Policy Building & Sustaining Relationships Education & Advocacy What s Needed NOW 2

3 Stakeholders Assets, targets in translating programs to policy: Policymakers Partners in service delivery Board of directors Clients and families Media/Press 3

4 Relationships and Policymakers Leverage constituent services, community needs expertise Filter policy through local lens Inform about services, provide access to constituents with site visits, events Facilitate access with ongoing engagement 4

5 Education and Advocacy Advocacy roles: Education Mobilization Ensuring access Prevention & protection Systems change Lobbying 5

6 Education WHAT: Raising awareness about aging services, putting the face on an issue WHO: Older adults, caregivers, policymakers, media, and the general public HOW: Newsletters, meetings, events, site visits, correspondence, traditional & social media pieces 6

7 Lobbying Lobbying is any attempt to influence legislation by: stating a position on specific legislation to legislators or other government employees who participate in the formulation of legislation (known as direct lobbying); or urging your members or the general public to contact their legislators with a position on specific legislation (a call to action ) (known as grassroots lobbying). ( 7

8 Lobbying, Advocacy & Nonprofits What You Can Do Organizations that are classified as 501(c)(3) public charities under the Internal Revenue Code may engage in both lobbying and advocacy. Public charities may engage in a limited amount of legislative lobbying under either the substantial part test or by electing to operate such activities under the Section 501(h) of the tax code. ( 8

9 Advocacy vs. Lobbying What Lobbying is NOT Providing technical assistance or advice to legislative body or committee in response to a written request Making available nonpartisan analysis, study or research Providing examinations and discussions of broad, social, economic and similar problems 9

10 Advocacy vs. Lobbying What Lobbying is NOT (cont d.) Communicating with a legislative body regarding matters which might affect the existence of the organization, its powers and duties, its tax-exempt status, or the deduction of contributions to the organization (the "self-defense" exception) Updating the members of your own organization on the status of legislation, without a call to action

11 Learn More Nonprofit Advocacy Resources

12 Best Practices / Obstacles Best Practices: Work with Congressional caseworkers to help serve constituents Disseminate newsletters, annual reports to describe reach and successes with Congress Invite Congress, staff to events, site visits to see who and how you serve Share community needs assessment, issue analyses to demonstrate expertise

13 Best Practices / Obstacles Obstacles: Perception of lobbying Government entity vs private nonprofit Limits on access to government officials by governance policies, funding sources Capacity / Time!

14 Q&A Questions, Concerns?

15 What s Needed NOW Education on impact of threats, opportunities o o Appropriations and Reconciliation cuts MIPPA extension Mobilizing stakeholders o o o Champion senior benefits Enlist partners to speak for you Add seniors voices

16 Future Federal Budget Debates April: FY17 appropriations finalized before CR expires April 28 NOW through July: FY18 appropriations hearings, markups (Labor-HHS-Education bill funding ACL and CDC usually last) May: Administration detailed FY18 budget request September: Finalize appropriations before FY18 begins October 1

17 FY18 and Benefits Appropriations SHIP and LIHEAP targeted so far by Administration Reconciliation Medicaid, Medicare, SNAP, SSI could be cut to pay for tax reform or other spending items

18 Medicare Opportunity: MIPPA Extension Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA) increased low-income outreach and enrollment funding from $25 million to $37.5 million through FY17 Authorization expires Sept. 30, 2017; funding continues through Sept. 30, 2018 Previous bipartisan Senate support for permanent authorization At a minimum, MIPPA funding should be extended the same length as CHIP

19 Advocacy Resources Straight Talk for Seniors NCOA Advocacy Toolkit resources: Advocacy Basics Communicating with Congress Meeting with Congress Advocacy signup Action Center

20 Q&A Questions?

21 Contact Information Howard Bedlin Vice President, Public Policy and Advocacy Marci Phillips Director, Public Policy and Advocacy