Dear ACH Members,
Welcome to How to Build a Health Center Champion Before They're Elected, ACH's National Health Center Week advocacy series.
Over the next several weeks, we'll share actionable tips to help you build relationships with congressional candidates before Election Day. The strongest champions for health centers don't become advocates overnight. They become champions because someone took the time to educate them, invite them into the community, and demonstrate the impact health centers have on the lives of their constituents.
This election cycle comes at a pivotal moment. Congress will soon make critical decisions affecting long-term health center funding, the future of the 340B program and workforce investments. The relationships you build today can shape the policies that affect your patients and communities tomorrow.
Election season offers a unique opportunity to introduce candidates to your mission, strengthen relationships with incumbents, and build bipartisan support for health centers. Every candidate, regardless of political party, is a potential future policymaker and partner.
Week 1: Know Your Candidates
Whether someone is a longtime incumbent or running for office for the first time, don't assume they understand what a community health center is, how it's funded, or the essential role it plays in your community. Before you ask someone to become a champion, take time to learn about them.
Take time this week to learn:
- Who is running for Congress in your district.
- Their background and policy priorities.
- Their experience with healthcare or public service.
- Whether they've visited a community health center or spoken publicly about primary care.
- If they're an incumbent, how they've voted on issues affecting community health centers.
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