In case you’re like me, the concept of attending a congressional briefing could also be intimidating and complicated. Initially, I anticipated what you may see on C-SPAN – to stroll into a big assembly room filled with older, influential authorities representatives questioning individuals as they stand in entrance of a microphone. As psychological well being advocates, or future advocates, our voices matter, and attendance at some of these boards is crucial for change. Maybe, such as you, the considered one thing so formal was intimidating.
What I skilled, nevertheless, was far much less stoic. Actually, it was the precise reverse of what I used to be anticipating. They even supplied snacks and refreshments.
Briefing fundamentals
Congressional briefings are like mini informational periods stuffed with individuals from all corners of the nation who share a standard curiosity or concern. The principle objective is to supply insights into a problem by detailing its prevalence and serving to individuals perceive that change is important for enchancment. As soon as that data is supplied, members can clarify how and why their proposed answer 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 broaden entry. You may take a look at 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 that may assist in your journey.
5 takeaways and suggestions
1. In case you’re in search of an answer to a systemic concern, you should present data on why and the way that concern impacts common residents – and supply options.
On the newest briefing, Psychological Well being America gathered a gaggle of specialists in peer assist companies to debate why new options are important to their work and the way others can get entangled. Among the many panelists, one supplied direct peer assist companies in underserved communities; the second acquired these companies as a teenager and has since devoted their life to making sure different younger individuals have that very same entry; the third works for a medical 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 forestall her from residing an on a regular basis life. All 4 specialists supplied in-depth data and residing proof that peer assist companies are efficient and ought to be bodily and financially accessible nationwide. The knowledge they shared proved to attendees how helpful peer assist companies have been to the lives of these they serve and confirmed how simple it might be to implement extra peer companies throughout the nation. As a corporation led by the voices of lived expertise, these real-life accounts gave insights into the difficulty. By then offering an answer and recommendations on how that answer will be molded and utilized on a bigger scale, policymakers are left with tangible mechanisms to work with.
2. Assist from a number of teams and organizations is crucial.
In case you 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 instantly or not directly sooner or later of their lives. Having this information makes the case that psychological well being care is a bipartisan concern, 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. Rising the breadth and depth of the knowledge, together with the varied our bodies of illustration, strengthened our asks.
3. “Go away-behinds” present crucial data and summaries.
Congressional briefings have a tendency to supply a lot data inside a brief interval, so it’s affordable to imagine a few of that data could also be glossed over or not retained. Staffers, liaisons, and others in attendance could must relay what they heard to a Congressperson or different employees, and also you wish to make sure that they hit the 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 specific briefing, we had six asks that included data on completely 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 facility and motivation to take motion have the proper data to take action.
4. Invite the fitting audio system, organizations, and different attendees.
In case you are internet hosting a briefing, or advocacy occasion, getting the phrase out to key people and organizations will go an extended solution to strengthen your message and enhance the probabilities 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 situations enhance. At this briefing session, the invite record included over 70 organizations who needed to be taught extra about or shared our ardour for peer assist companies. We additionally invited specialists 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 Protect, Minnesota; Vesper Moore, a psychological well being advocate at Kiva Facilities; and Dana Foglesong of the Nationwide Affiliation of Peer Providers. By having panel specialists from numerous corners of the psychological well being world, we might focus on the a number of obstacles to implementation and potential options to bettering entry. The big range of attendees improved our probabilities 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 excellent place to community and meet of us with related agendas.
In case you are attending a congressional briefing, it’s in all probability as a result of you’ve 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 focus on options. A enterprise card is a should in case you plan to broaden your skilled contact record. Moreover, introducing your self to panelists after the session is at all times a good suggestion. In spite of everything, these audio system are specialists of their area and have expertise in your space of curiosity.
In the end, my scary notion of congressional briefings at Capitol Hill was shattered, and I’ll attend extra ought to I get the prospect. 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 understand that others care about and wish to enhance psychological well being in our nation. Plus, the snacks they supplied have been glorious. In case you get the prospect 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.
