System-directed grassroots advocacy

In 1990 leaders at the Catholic Health Corporation (CHC), Omaha, decided that the system should take an active role in advocacy efforts on health policy issues. CHC determined that developing a grassroots network would be the most effective way to pursue advocacy initiatives. The system also decided that it should concentrate solely on national health policy issues with potential impact on CHC facilities. Planners determined that the first step in creating a network would be to specify a contact person at each of the system facilities. They also decided that it would be more effective to encourage local community members to contact their elected officials on health policy issues than for the system to engage directly in advocacy efforts. The system itself would monitor and assess changes and developments in national healthcare policy and initiate advocacy efforts. Finally, a steering committee of facility chief executive officers (CEOs) would act as a liaison between system affiliates and the corporate office. CHC corporate staff now establish a public policy agenda that identifies initiatives the system will focus on each year. The system sets performance goals for CEOs and encourages them to participate in strategic planning for public policy initiatives.