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 stuffed 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 kinds of 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 offered snacks and refreshments.
Briefing fundamentals
Congressional briefings are like mini informational classes stuffed with folks from all corners of the nation who share a standard curiosity or concern. The principle aim is to offer insights into a difficulty by detailing its prevalence and serving to folks perceive that change is important for enchancment. As soon as that info is offered, individuals can clarify how and why their proposed answer would profit the better good.
Just lately, Psychological Well being America and our companions organized a congressional briefing to debate the significance of peer help providers and what’s wanted from Congress to develop entry. You’ll be able to try the recording right here. For somebody new to psychological well being advocacy or eager to turn out to be extra concerned within the legislative facet, listed here are discoveries I made which may assist in your journey.
5 takeaways and suggestions
1. In case you’re searching for an answer to a systemic subject, you could present info on why and the way that subject impacts common residents – and supply options.
On the newest briefing, Psychological Well being America gathered a bunch of specialists in peer help providers to debate why new options are very important to their work and the way others can become involved. Among the many panelists, one offered direct peer help providers in underserved communities; the second obtained these providers as a teenager and has since devoted their life to making sure different younger folks have that very same entry; the third works for a medical insurance supplier that reimburses peer help specialists, growing 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 residing an on a regular basis life. All 4 specialists offered in-depth information and residing proof that peer help providers are efficient and needs to be bodily and financially obtainable nationwide. The knowledge they shared proved to attendees how helpful peer help providers have been to the lives of these they serve and confirmed how simple it will be to implement extra peer providers throughout the nation. As a corporation led by the voices of lived expertise, these real-life accounts gave insights into the problem. By then offering an answer and tips about how that answer may 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 crucial.
In case you plan on asking for something from Congress, and even your native or state legislator, you had higher have ample help 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 all people 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 subject, which has resulted in overwhelming help from each side. That help is useful when these asks are taken to Congress. Along with bipartisan help, 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 important info and summaries.
Congressional briefings have a tendency to offer a lot info inside a brief interval, so it’s affordable to imagine a few of that info could also be glossed over or not retained. Staffers, liaisons, and others in attendance could have to relay what they heard to a Congressperson or different employees, and also you wish to be certain they hit the very important info. 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 info 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 ability and motivation to take motion have the proper info to take action.
4. Invite the suitable 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 a protracted approach 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 purpose that almost all of us would wish to see situations enhance. At this briefing session, the invite checklist included over 70 organizations who needed to study extra about or shared our ardour for peer help providers. 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 Companies. By having panel specialists from numerous corners of the psychological well being world, we may talk about the a number of obstacles to implementation and potential options to bettering entry. The big range of attendees improved our possibilities of spreading that info all through teams and organizations to garner much more help. That is essential for objectives like growing funding for analysis and advocating for grants and help for neighborhood organizations that present peer help providers.
5. Congressional briefings are an incredible place to community and meet of us with comparable agendas.
If you’re attending a congressional briefing, it’s in all probability as a result of you might have a vested curiosity in the subject material – together with the opposite attendees. Widespread pursuits make it the right alternative to fulfill face-to-face with different individuals who share your ardour and might talk about options. A enterprise card is a should if you happen to plan to develop your skilled contact checklist. 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 subject 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 realized rather a lot 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 offered had been wonderful. 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.
