APMA News - November/December 2017 - 42

2016 State Component
Self-Assessment Survey: Grassroots Advocacy
The APMA Center for Professional Advocacy (CPA) provided an overview of the 2016 State Component Self-Assessment Survey results in
the July/August 2017 edition of APMA News, available at www.apma.org/APMANews. This installment will focus on the second category
of the survey, the grassroots advocacy efforts of state components. Find the full 2016 results at www.apma.org/CPA.

The Grassroots Advocacy category was designed to determine
n NCFAS
whether a state component regularly interacts with its members,
encouraging them to advocate for the profession. Survey quesNCFAS hosted a White Coat Lobby Day at its state capitol in
tions in this category included whether the state component:
May. Eighteen members and state component staff visited
1. established a key contact program to facilitate outreach
legislators' offices, attended legislative committee meetings,
with state legislators;
and performed more than 40 foot and ankle exams. They
2. used a phone tree or other means such as email listserves
discussed the value of a podiatrist and promoted proposed
to mobilize members;
legislation. They publicized their
3. hosted a lobby day at the
impending visit to the legislature
APMA helped fund in part this
state capitol in the past two
via invitations in the weekly legisyears; or
lative circulator and offered goody
SCPMA advocacy effort via its
4. mobilized members in any
bags to all legislators and staff
CPA Advocacy Cost-Sharing
other way to engage their
that included information about
state legislators.
the importance of foot and ankle
Program. Learn more at
care and a foot roller. As a result
www.apma.org/CPA.
Results from the 2014 and the
of this effort, two NCFAS mem2016 surveys were compared to
bers were offered the chance to disee how state components fared. The 2014 survey results can be
rectly address members of the Congressional Black Caucus,
found at www.apma.org/CPA.
creating additional opportunities for education and relaAs in 2014, a total of four points were available in the grasstionship building.
roots advocacy category in 2016. Of responding states, nearly
48 percent scored 2.5 points or higher, versus only 39 percent
in 2014. More importantly, of the 38 states responding that also
n SCPMA
responded in 2014, 30 were able to maintain their score or improve it, representing increased efforts to encourage memberSCPMA hosted an educational lunch for the South Carolina
ship involvement. More states are implementing mechanisms to
Democratic Caucus. This event was designed to provide
mobilize their members at critical moments (79 percent in
a more focused reinforcement of previously established
2016 versus 65 percent in 2014). The 2016 results included six
connections while promoting a bill to update the scope of
perfect scores (Arizona, Iowa, New Mexico, New York, Tennespractice to include the ankle for podiatrists in South Carosee, and Washington). Only one state (Delaware) achieved a perlina. During this lunch, more than 50 state legislators
fect score in 2014.
heard a presentation on podiatrists' experience, training,
and education. Afterward, the podiatrists had the opportunity to answer questions and strengthen connections.
Case Study: North Carolina and
While the bill ultimately did not pass, members heard
South Carolina's Legislator Education Efforts
positive feedback from their legislators. Legislative fixes are
often about the long fight, chipping away at obstacles.
The best time to develop a relationship with your state representatives is when you do not have a specific request. You
APMA encourages state components to consider these exwant them to be familiar with your profession and your value
amples in their own legislative efforts. Remember that the CPA
before you have a legislative priority. Once you have these relais available to assist with state advocacy efforts as well.
tionships in place, your legislators are much more receptive to
You will find the next installment in this series in the Janyour initiatives and arguments. The North Carolina Foot and
uary/February 2018 edition of APMA News, which will focus
Ankle Society (NCFAS) and South Carolina Podiatric Medical
on the third category of the survey, Political Action CommitAssociation (SCPMA) both put this philosophy into action this
tees and Fundraising. For questions about the scoring proyear, with a white coat lobby day (NCFAS) and an educational
cess or general questions about the survey, contact the CPA at
lunch hosted for one of the state caucuses (SCPMA).
advocacy@apma.org.
n
42 APMA News November/December 2017

http://www.apma.org/APMANews http://www.apma.org/CPA http://www.apma.org/CPA http://www.apma.org/CPA

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of APMA News - November/December 2017