communication

The Sunlight Foundation has a great piece up on their blog about re-thinking that ubiquitous piece of 21st-century non-profit communication known as 'the advocacy email.'

Many of us working in non-profit/organizing/public policy world receive dozens of advocacy emails everyday, all bearing a remarkably similar format and asking us to complete a remarkably similiar task: read this background information and click here to take action.

So - its not entirely surprising that a few people would find this way of doing things somewhat...dull.

Check out the Sunlight Foundation blog to read how one email recipient, pushed to the brink, shared his ideas on an alternative way to format advocacy emails.

Today's post will highlight the recently launched the Future of Sex Ed website, a collaborative effort developed by Advocates for Youth, ANSWER, and SIECUS.

The lessons AIDS advocates can draw from this website are two fold.  First: content. The site provides an excellent and in-depth overview of sex education - an issue that is intrinsically related to HIV prevention.  Here advocates can easily access all of the information needed to advocate for comprehensive sex ed, including primers on public education and toolkits for states and communities.  Its a great resource for anyone interested in this issue.

The second lesson: form.  The partner organizations behind the website did a wonderful job of developing a simple, clean website that's intuitive and easy to navigate.  They provide a range of resources which allows site visitors to find the right fit for their needs.  For those seeking basic information, there are factsheets.  For those looking to do something more, there is a comprehensive toolkit for advocates or information on professional development opportunities. 

Overall, Future of Sex Ed is a great example of how to execute an issue-specific site that gives interested advocates a menu of options to get involved.

Check it out at: futureofsexed.org

Generally, Dose of Change does not cover technical matters of policy, however, given the ongoing ADAP funding crisis and surrounding advocacy efforts, we thought this brief case study of how ADAP drug rebates work in Indiana can provide advocates fodder for messaging and strategy.

Indiana reports that its HIV Medical Services Program has realized great benefits by using its Ryan White Part B funds to purchase insurance and cover drug co-payment costs.  The state uses its Part B award to provide a short-term traditional ADAP benefit and a long-term comprehensive health insurance benefit.

Our good friends at Treatment Access Expansion Project (TAEP) have put together two resources that will surely be useful for advocates trying to make heads or tails of the recently passed health care reform legislation: 

Slides with explanatory notes (PDF)

Adaptable Presentation (PPT)

While the legislation has been signed into law, most of the major provisions don't go into effect until 2014 and some, like closing the infamous Medicare Part D donut hole, won't be completed for years after that.  These resources from TAEP are a great way to prepare for the years of organizing and messaging around health care reform implementation that lie ahead.

Find out what's happening now, what's coming down the road and the work that remains to be done.

In this post we share some strategies and resources advocates around the country are using to respond to the widespread AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP) funding crisis.  Tell us what’s going on in your neck of the woods!

First, some brief background:

States across the country find themselves in the midst of an ADAP funding crisis as the economic downturn is devastating their ability to raise sufficient revenue.  Flat funding by the federal government and escalating drug costs are compounding the fiscal problems.

Demand is spiking as more people turn to safety net programs like ADAP as a result of becoming unemployed and losing health coverage.  Increased efforts to identify HIV positive individuals through testing are likewise adding pressure as people become aware of their status and are linked to care.