Advocacy at Children's Hospital Colorado

2011 Legislative Session

The 2011 state legislative session came to a close in May, ending a flurry of activity over 120 days during which legislators finalized the state budget and debated hundreds of bills. Children’s Hospital Colorado and our dedicated network of advocates contacted legislators on many of those bills because of their potential to impact the health and well being of Colorado kids.  A huge THANK YOU to all of you who spoke up on behalf of kids. Please click here to check out the 2011 Kids’ Health Annual Check-Up, detailing successes of the 2011 Colorado legislative session!

In 2011, Children’s focused on legislation related to concussions in youth sports in an effort to keep kids active and safe. Children’s also worked to protect those pieces of the budget that ensured that kids and families have access to high quality healthcare. Finally, Children’s continued to work on ongoing annual advocacy priorities such as keeping kids safe from injury and abuse, improving the health of children and strengthening the Medicaid provider network.

Additionally, please click on the links below for fact sheets on bills that Children's actively supported.

Senate Bill 40: Jake Snakenberg Youth Concussion Fact Sheet
Senate Bill 8: Alignment of Medicaid Eligibility for Kids
Protect federal funding for pediatric graduate medical education

Questions? Please contact advocacy@childrenscolorado.org.

Speaking Up for Kids

Have you ever gone to bat for your child when there was a problem at school? Or helped a relative or neighbor get care when they were sick? Maybe even asked friends to support a favorite project? If so, then you have been an advocate. Advocacy simply means to speak up, to plead the case of another, or to champion a cause. It is something that most of us do routinely on behalf of our families, our neighbors, our friends, and ourselves.

At Children's Hospital Colorado, it is a key part of our mission to advocate on behalf of kids in the public policy arena, making sure that their needs and concerns are heard when important decisions are made.  We have many ways that you can get involved and participate - it's easy! Don't just take it from us, click here to watch a video to learn more about how easy it really is to make a difference for kids!

Children's Hospital Colorado Grassroots Advocacy Network

All of our advocacy efforts rely on the strength and action of Children's Hospital Colorado Grassroots Advocacy Network.  This is a group of people who care about kids' health and well-being and want to make a difference. Over four thousand people currently participate in the Network, which joins the voices of physicians, healthcare professionals, patients and families with business leaders and community members to speak up clearly and powerfully for kids when public policy decisions are made. Advocates write letters, make phone calls, and share information when needed to influence public policies. Join the Network now!

Advocacy Events

Children's Hospital Colorado organizes several events throughout the year for advocates. "Day at the Capitol" takes advocates on specialized tours of the State Capitol and introduces them to legislators over lunch. Our annual "Be a Champ for Children!" Advocacy Workshop shares basic advocacy strategies with beginners and teaches more advanced tactics to experienced advocates. Additionally, we offer advocates the opportunity to participate in election-related voter information and awareness activities each fall. Participate in one of our Advocacy Events! 

Coalitions

Children's Hospital Colorado maintains partnerships with many community organizations to ensure close connections to other groups working on kids' issues and to share resources and information. Learn more about our coalition partners that interest you.

Publications

Those enrolled in the Advocacy Network receive a regular newsletter - Rooting for Kids! - that gives the latest scoop on our advocacy work, events, and alerts. A "Tool Kit for Easy Advocacy" booklet, packed full of advocacy tips and strategies, is mailed to every advocate when they Join the Grassroots Advocacy Network.