Advocacy Training

Anna’s been coming to your clinic for months. She’s trying to exercise, but the last time she went for a walk, she had to pace the street in front of her house due to the lack of sidewalks in her neighborhood. She quickly grew bored and gave up. She also reports that while her family is trying to cook healthier foods, they can't find the fresh fruit and vegetables in the recipe you gave them at their local grocery store.  She’s frustrated at her lack of progress, and so are you. What do you do?
 
There are millions of children in the same predicament as Anna, asking healthcare professionals like yourself to be their voice in the fight against childhood  obesity. By joining the Be Our Voice campaign and participating in our advocacy training, you will have the tools to maximize your role as a healthcare professional -- helping children like Anna nationwide be successful in their attempts to make healthy choices and live healthier lives.
 
The Be Our Voice advocacy training offers the opportunity for you to learn:

• how to work within public policy and the media to create change;
• the unique role of the clinician outside the clinical setting; and
• what the obesity epidemic is and how it disproptionately affects certain ethnic and disadvantaged populations.

You can also access our Advocacy Resource Guide (PDF) and Advocacy Toolbox (PDF) to help you create your personal advocacy plan through resources and templates.

As you get started, feel free to contact us with questions, utilize the discussion groups to get advice and feedback from colleagues, submit your story to share with others and sign up for the advocacy listserv to receive comments, tips and updates on advocating for children in the fight childhood obesity.