The Arizona Caregiver Coalition actively advocates for caregivers at both the state and federal levels. Advocacy played a key role in securing the continuation of the Arizona Lifespan Respite Program in 2016. We encourage family caregivers, advocates, and supporting agencies to join our efforts.
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Create an account on the Arizona State Legislature Web Application System.
Track Legislative Bills: Stay informed about upcoming bills by creating a list of those you want to follow through the legislative process.
Take Notes: Make personal notes on bills that interest you to keep track of key details.
Monitor Hearing Dates: Check for dates of upcoming hearings so you can stay up-to-date.
Watch Hearings: View live or archived Senate and House hearings to stay informed.
Request to Speak: You can request to speak at Senate and House committee hearings to voice your support or opposition to specific bills.
By actively participating, you can help shape the legislation that impacts your community.
Several important bills that could provide much-needed support to family caregivers are currently being considered by the House and Senate. Your involvement can make a difference in whether these bills pass. Here’s how you can help:
Testify at Local Hearings: Attend local planning and budget hearings to voice your support for caregiver assistance.
Participate in Community Meetings: Join neighborhood and public meetings to advocate for these bills.
Engage with Local Care Providers: Encourage local care providers to support these initiatives.
Contact Your Representatives: Send letters, emails, or make phone calls to your local representatives to express your support for caregiver assistance.
Your advocacy is crucial in helping these bills become law.
Make it Personal: A personal approach helps humanize caregiver issues and provides valuable education to your legislator.
Keep Groups Small: If meeting with others, limit your group to 4-5 people to maintain a productive and respectful atmosphere.
Be Respectful: Approach the conversation respectfully, avoiding antagonism, to foster a positive dialogue.
Do Your Homework: Research your legislator’s past actions or statements on caregiver assistance so you can tailor your message effectively.
Stay Focused: Concentrate on one key issue during your meeting, and be clear about the action you’re requesting (e.g., support HB 1111).
Provide Materials: Leave a position paper or fact sheet behind for your legislator to review later.
Express Gratitude: Always thank your representative for their time and consideration.
Following these guidelines can help ensure your meeting is impactful and productive.
Find out who your representatives are using the Children’s Action Alliance’s wonderful search engine.
Be Concise: Get straight to the point with clear and simple talking points.
Be Specific: Clearly state your position and back it up with reasons and evidence.
Share Personal Experiences: Use your own experiences to illustrate your message and make it relatable.
Know Your Audience: Tailor your message to resonate with your listener’s perspectives and concerns.
Highlight the Impact: Explain how your issue will affect the listener and their constituents, both positively and negatively.
By following these tips, you can deliver a compelling and persuasive message.
Introduce Yourself: Clearly state who you are and what or whom you represent at the start of your message.
Justify Your Role: Explain why you’re a suitable spokesperson for the issue (e.g., “I am a caregiver…”).
Be Prepared and Polished: If speaking in person, use notes to stay focused. For written communication, ensure everything is well-proofread.
Respect Their Time: Keep in mind that public hearings typically allow no more than five minutes per speaker, and face-to-face meetings with representatives are often limited to 30 minutes.
Enable Follow-Up: Provide your contact information so the audience can reach out with any further questions.
By following these steps, you can make a strong and effective impression.
Make sure people in your community are registered to vote and help inform them about caregiver issues.
