AIRS CHANGES IN D.C. AND I

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AIRS CHANGES IN D.C. AND IR

• BOB BLANCATO
• RBLANCATO_at_MATZBLANCATO.COM

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• 3 perspectives on public policy/ advocacy
• There are risks and costs to a program of action
  but they are far less than the long range risks
  and costs of comfortable inaction. John F.
  Kennedy
• There comes a time when youve got to saylets
  get off our asses and go. If I move with 75
  percent or more of the facts I usually never
  regret it. Its the guys who wait to have
  everything perfect that drive you crazy Lee
  Lacocca.
• Even if you are on the right track, you'll get
  run over if you just sit there. Will Rogers

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• I am proud to work with AIRS on its Public Policy
  Plan working in conjunction with the Public
  Policy Committee and the Affiliates Council.
• AIRS as a national organization still relatively
  new at public policybut many of you are not.
• So there are basics to good public policy work
  and good advocacy.

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• A public policy plan needs following basics
• Identify issues and set goals
• Have or get the facts
• Plan strategies and tactics alone or in
  collaboration
• Supply leadership
• Know your audiencedecision makers and their
  staffs
• Work to broaden base of support
• Know the schedule and process
• Evaluate your plan throughout

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• Advocacy can reduce to the 6 Bs
• Be consistent
• Be relevant
• Be realistic
• Be reliable
• Build Relationships
• Become a Resource

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• Change is more than buzz word
• Reality of day
• Electoral and economy driven
• New more active role for government
• Taking greater responsibilities for those in
  needas well as troubled industries.

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• Economy driving force. Numbers speak volumes 5
  million jobs lost, 2 trillion in retirement
  savings gone11 million people lost all their
  home equity and most recently
• Social Security and Medicares future problems
  are growing closer in time.

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• Public policy work and advocacy do take a real
  commitment at all levels
• Groups like AIRS with members and affiliates have
  built in advantage.
• AIRS 2009 public policy plan was developed as a
  work in progress
• All groups need to get a firmer grip of the new
  landscape before committing time and resources to
  a plan.

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• AIRS public policy plan for 2009 involves work on
  initiatives from the past, and opportunities that
  may present themselves in the future
• First and foremost in the plan is to secure
  passage of the Calling for 2-1-1 Act.
• Good progress out of the gate in 2009. Senate
  bill leadership assumed by Senator Murray, key
  member of the HELP Committee which must produce
  bill. 40 co-sponsors already.
• House bill again strong leadership by Rep.
  Eshoo-a key member of the Energy and Commerce
  Committee which must produce bill and 120
  co-sponsors.

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• Already in 2009 there was a successful UWA Hill
  day which featured involvement by AIRS public
  policy members and staff.
• There have been at least 2 important meetings,
  one on each side with key Committee staffs to
  press the case to move the bill forward.
• Reception better on the House side because they
  are more familiar and efforts to reduce
  opposition have shown some progress.
• Senate side important questions raised such as
• How would grant program work?
• What would regulatory agency at state level look
  like?
• Costs between states with no 211 and those with?
• Why feds should be involved at all?
• All issues we are going to have to address.
• One positive was their interest in AIRS
  accreditation.

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• Despite the meritsit will take much work to get
  211 passed.
• Committees of jurisdiction also doing health care
  reform.
• Stand alone bills are fewer.
• Strategy is to continue to increase
  co-sponsorsforce the issueand then look for
  ways to get it on other bill that is moving.
• Throughout this process, strong partnership
  between AIRS, UWA and 211 US.

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• From affiliate council, public policy, and
  advocacy standpoint on 211 bill---get your House
  member and Senators on bill if not already there.
  
• Identify those who are on the relevant Committees
  and Subcommittees and work to build stronger
  relationships
• Keep good data on the work of 211 locallyvolume
  and types of callsresponse during emergencies-
  suicide preventionmeasure call volume since
  recessionspecial focus on vulnerable populations
  of all ages.

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• Will need to build political support so we can
  get hearings held on the bill which is a
  prerequisite for moving the bill
• Then if it cannot pass on its own will have to be
  attached to some larger bill and we will look for
  such vehicles.
• Another later year option might be to link to the
  expiring E 911 legislation in October

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• Also on the AIRS public policy agenda is to gain
  passage of H. Res 187 to designate May 7th as
  National Information and Referral Services Day
• This is more of an AIRS project.
• Intention is to recognize the broader field of I
  R.
• Intended to provide visibility to field that
  could aid 211 bill.
• Author of resolution is Lee Terry of Nebraska who
  has also emerged as a key Republican on Energy
  and Commerce for 211.
• Resolution calls quality IR services the
  keystone point of entry to the entire human
  services structure delivery system.

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• Its one co-sponsor to date is Rep. Eshoo who is
  the author of the 211 bill.
• Will needed sustained advocacy.
• Had 23 co-sponsorsworking to get all backfull
  list available at www.thomas.gov and to get more.
• An internal Dear Colleague letter set to go out
  in June will help.
• And a Senate sponsoreluded us so far. Tried
  Florida and Maryland.

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• Public policy work is a lot about monitoring and
  looking for opportunities.
• That was case with the stimulus billor American
  Recovery and Relief Act
• What might be there for IR.
• The search goes on.

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• Important bills are expected up later this
  year.Effort will be focused on seeing where IR
  might connect
• Bills such as theWorkforce Investment Act with
  one stop career centers to the reauthorization
  of the Transportation Equity Act where
  coordinated one-stop transportation hopes to
  emerge.
• Also look to see if Stafford Act legislation will
  emerge this year to reform our disaster
  preparedness roles
• We need to get prepared to determine our role in
  the 2010 census-4 billion put in FY 09
• New money for section 8 housing vouchers and
  since housing related calls are the highest
  number logged on 2-1-1 this is also important.

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• On the aging side. there are several
  opportunities to explore.
• Silver Alert Bill- passed the House-awaiting
  action in Senate.
• Elder Abuse Victims Act and the larger Elder
  Justice Act-enhanced role of IR in helping to
  report elder abuse and possibly new hotlines
  established and need for trained people.
• Project 2020 expansion of home and community
  based services under the OAA in three areas.
• Aging and disability resource centers, evidence
  based disease management and nursing home
  diversion.

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• Other areasnational broadband legislation and
  capacity of I R to expand its capacity as
  internet based service.
• Obamas new call for Social Investment Fund
  network to provide federal money to support
  private and non-profit sector local innovations.
• New money for respite care services in FY 09.
• New initiatives to increase food stamp
  participation by low-income seniorsespecially at
  a time when rolls are rising.

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• DTV transition. Still an opportunity with a June
  12th drop dead date to convert. Must monitor call
  volume starting when you get back through the
  12th and beyond.
• Also involved in public policy work is to build
  relationships with new Administration and key
  officials as they get named from FCC to FEMA to
  AOA to ACF.

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• Pleased in 2009 to have begun to implement the
  affiliate advocacy plan to have a designated
  public policy person in each affiliate.
• Valuable resourcespreads our influence around.

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• A public policy/advocacy plan only as good as the
  degree to which you are involved
• In our role we know the policy process and some
  players.
• When it comes to
• Where we fit in legislation
• What could we propose that is new
• What ask might we want to make either through
  legislation or regulatory process
• You must help that process.

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• Want more interactivity going forwardneed to
  communicate more closely.
• Feed input into the AIRS Public Policy Committee
• Include public policy on your calls and or
  meetings. Always happy to participate.
• Thank you.