For those who’re like me, the thought of attending a congressional briefing could also be intimidating and complicated. Initially, I anticipated what you would possibly see on C-SPAN – to stroll into a big assembly room filled with older, influential authorities representatives questioning folks as they stand in entrance of a microphone. As psychological well being advocates, or future advocates, our voices matter, and attendance at these kind of boards is crucial for change. Maybe, such as you, the considered one thing so formal was intimidating.
What I skilled, nonetheless, was far much less stoic. In actual fact, it was the precise reverse of what I used to be anticipating. They even offered snacks and refreshments.
Briefing fundamentals
Congressional briefings are like mini informational periods crammed with folks from all corners of the nation who share a typical curiosity or concern. The primary purpose is to supply insights into a difficulty by detailing its prevalence and serving to folks perceive that change is critical for enchancment. As soon as that data is offered, members can clarify how and why their proposed resolution would profit the higher good.
Just lately, Psychological Well being America and our companions organized a congressional briefing to debate the significance of peer assist companies and what’s wanted from Congress to increase entry. You may try the recording right here. For somebody new to psychological well being advocacy or eager to develop into extra concerned within the legislative aspect, listed below are discoveries I made which may assist in your journey.
5 takeaways and ideas
1. For those who’re searching for an answer to a systemic situation, it’s essential to present data on why and the way that situation impacts common residents – and supply options.
On the newest briefing, Psychological Well being America gathered a bunch of consultants in peer assist companies to debate why new options are very important to their work and the way others can get entangled. Among the many panelists, one offered direct peer assist companies in underserved communities; the second obtained these companies as a youngster and has since devoted their life to making sure different younger folks have that very same entry; the third works for a medical health insurance supplier that reimburses peer assist specialists, rising entry for a lot of of us in want; and the fourth panelist shared her expertise with institutionalization and professionals who claimed her prognosis would stop her from dwelling an on a regular basis life. All 4 consultants offered in-depth information and dwelling proof that peer assist companies are efficient and must be bodily and financially out there nationwide. The data they shared proved to attendees how useful peer assist companies have been to the lives of these they serve and confirmed how straightforward it could be to implement extra peer companies throughout the nation. As a company led by the voices of lived expertise, these real-life accounts gave insights into the problem. By then offering an answer and recommendations on how that resolution will be molded and utilized on a bigger scale, policymakers are left with tangible mechanisms to work with.
2. Help from a number of teams and organizations is important.
For those who plan on asking for something from Congress, and even your native or state legislator, you had higher have ample assist from a number of sources. With 1 in 5 adults and 1 in 6 youth experiencing a psychological well being situation in any given yr, psychological well being will have an effect on everyone both immediately or not directly sooner or later of their lives. Having this data makes the case that psychological well being care is a bipartisan situation, which has resulted in overwhelming assist from each side. That assist is useful when these asks are taken to Congress. Along with bipartisan assist, Psychological Well being America used this chance to assemble like-minded companions and collaborators to tell the briefing. Growing the breadth and depth of the knowledge, together with the varied our bodies of illustration, strengthened our asks.
3. “Go away-behinds” present important data and summaries.
Congressional briefings have a tendency to supply a lot data inside a brief interval, so it’s cheap to imagine a few of that data could also be glossed over or not retained. Staffers, liaisons, and others in attendance might have to relay what they heard to a Congressperson or different workers, and also you wish to make certain they hit the very important data. The aim of a leave-behind doc, or one-pager, is to make sure your viewers understands the message and might reference it as soon as the briefing ends. On this explicit briefing, we had six asks that included data on totally different acts, invoice proposals and calls to motion, all combined in with impactful tales of lived experiences from our panelists. Offering attendees with a brief, concise abstract of the focal factors ensures these with the ability and motivation to take motion have the right data to take action.
4. Invite the precise audio system, organizations, and different attendees.
If you’re internet hosting a briefing, or advocacy occasion, getting the phrase out to key people and organizations will go an extended strategy to strengthen your message and enhance the possibilities of asks being put into laws. With psychological well being being a priority for everybody, no matter their political affiliation or demographic profile, it stands to cause that the majority of us would wish to see circumstances enhance. At this briefing session, the invite listing included over 70 organizations who needed to study extra about or shared our ardour for peer assist companies. We additionally invited consultants to share their lived expertise: Tiara Springer-Love, a psychological well being advocate from New York; Lauren Foster, a behavioral well being program supervisor at Blue Cross Blue Defend, Minnesota; Vesper Moore, a psychological well being advocate at Kiva Facilities; and Dana Foglesong of the Nationwide Affiliation of Peer Providers. By having panel consultants from varied corners of the psychological well being world, we may talk about the a number of limitations to implementation and potential options to bettering entry. The big range of attendees improved our possibilities of spreading that data all through teams and organizations to garner much more assist. That is essential for objectives like rising funding for analysis and advocating for grants and assist for neighborhood organizations that present peer assist companies.
5. Congressional briefings are an incredible place to community and meet of us with related agendas.
If you’re attending a congressional briefing, it’s in all probability as a result of you’ve gotten a vested curiosity in the subject material – together with the opposite attendees. Frequent pursuits make it the proper alternative to satisfy face-to-face with different individuals who share your ardour and might talk about options. A enterprise card is a should should you plan to increase your skilled contact listing. Moreover, introducing your self to panelists after the session is all the time a good suggestion. In spite of everything, these audio system are consultants of their area and have expertise in your space of curiosity.
Finally, my scary notion of congressional briefings at Capitol Hill was shattered, and I’ll attend extra ought to I get the possibility. I arrived feeling anxious and misplaced however left feeling supported and rejuvenated in being part of the answer. I additionally discovered lots regardless of being well-versed within the topics. It helped to listen to accounts of lived experiences and notice that others care about and wish to enhance psychological well being in our nation. Plus, the snacks they offered had been glorious. For those who get the possibility to attend a congressional, and even state authorities, briefing, take it.
Watch recording of congressional briefing
Makalynn Powell is the Peer and Youth Coverage Fellow at Psychological Well being America.
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