Advocacy is a coordinated combination of problem identification, solution creation, strategy development, and actions taken to make positive change.*

*Adopted from the 2014-2015 ACOG JFCAC Legislative Work Group, “Advocacy 101”

How to Find Opportunities and Activities

• ACOG (National and District)
• AMA
• Physicians for Reproductive Health
• State/Local Medical Societies
  • Go to your state medical society home page and look for “Advocacy”, “Take Action”, “Policy” and similar terms

Training Options

• ACOG Congressional Leadership Conference
• CREOG Advocacy Modules
• State Medical Societies
  • See your state medical society home page – training is often done in conjunction with Lobby Day visits, or as a stand alone offering
• Physicians for Reproductive Health Leadership Training Academy

How to Contact Elected Officials

Finding Your Elected Officials

• Government Website https://www.usa.gov/elected-officials
• League of Women Voters – lwv.org, go to “Elections”
• The Secretary of State for your own state

Tips for Writing/Calling Your Elected Officials

• AMA Publication – “How to make your voice heard by Congress”
  https://patientsactionnetwork.com/sites/default/files/guide-to-communicating-with-congress.pdf
• Berkley Library, University of California
  https://guides.lib.berkeley.edu/ContactingOfficials/Tips
• National Center for Health Research
  https://www.center4research.org/get-involved/let-your-voice-be-heard/

Newsletters, blogs, websites for staying current on developing issues

• Go to ACOG website and update your preferences to get the “Government Affairs/Advocacy” newsletter
• CDC “Health Matters for Women” Newsletter
• State Medical Societies – sign up for Newsletters and Apps
• National Women’s Law Center – nwlc.org – go to “E-mail Sign-up”
• Global Health Issues
  • Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, Heilbrunn Department of Family and Population Health – sign up for the “COVID-19, Gender, and Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights Digest”
  • E-mail – [email protected] for weekly newsletter

SASGOG does not endorse any position found on the linked sites or organizations listed above.  The Advocacy page is intended to provide information and resources for those seeking to create positive change.