What is Advocacy?
Advocacy is the act of recommending, supporting, or encouraging a cause or policy on behalf of the community we serve. Advocacy aims to bring awareness to issues and empower those who are affected by them to understand their rights and express their views. Advocacy influences decisions within political establishments and promotes social justice, inclusion, and equality.
Why Advocate?
Public policy plays a vital role in creating conditions that improve health and address the social drivers of health (SDOH) fundamental to health equity. Improving health equity will significantly improve the lives of the residents of Nevada. It is imperative that steps are taken to increase the understanding of policy makers on the connection between health disparities and health outcomes. Actively advocating to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion can make critical lasting impacts that will strengthen all communities in Nevada.
What is Health Equity?
Health equity is ensuring the increased opportunity to attain equitable health regardless of who you are, where you live, or what your finances look like.
Ways to Take Action
Join the NCHC Policy Workgroup
The Public Policy Workgroup identifies critical priorities for NCHC to reduce health inequities. Guided by these policy priorities, members of this workgroup develop an action plan to help the coalition promote research, policy briefs, and awareness on the policy priorities.
Email nchc@unlv.edu
Contact your elected Representatives
Visit this website to find your Representative and access the numerous ways to reach them. Contact from constituents can be a very effective way of communicating what issues are important and affecting community members.
Provide Public Comments
Provide public comment at city, county, or state meetings to increase the focus on health equity.
Advocacy Pages of our Partners
Children’s Advocacy Alliance
Children’s Advocacy Alliance (CAA) is a community-based, nonprofit organization that mobilizes people, resources, and reason to ensure every child has a chance to thrive and make Nevada a better place to live and raise a family. CAA advocates for the well-being of Nevada’s children by building consensus around priorities and leveraging their collective strength towards real changes in policy and practice. CAA’s policy priority areas include children’s health, safety, school readiness, and economic well-being.
Silver State Equality
Silver State Equality brings the voices of LGBTQ+ people and allies to institutions of power in Nevada and across the United States. SSE strives to create a world that is healthy, just, and fully equal for all LGBTQ+ people. Areas of focus include Electing pro-equality champions, up and down the ballot; Passing pro-equality legislation in Carson City, Sacramento, and Washington DC; Advancing LGBTQ+ civil rights and social justice in the courtroom; Reducing disparities in LGBTQ+ health and well-being through education and advocacy.
Nevada National Hispanic Medical Association
NHMA’s mission is to empower Hispanic/Latino physicians to lead efforts to improve the health and well-being of the Hispanic/Latino population through collaboration with the state, regional, and local level Hispanic/Latino medical societies, resident and medical student organizations, and other public and private sector partners. NHMA strives to cause positive community impact to meet excellence in healthcare standards, connect people to services they need when they need them, as well as identify systemic issues within healthcare delivery.