Homework: Speech Draft for Meeting With Community Leaders
Your summer legislative internship continues on as does summer in Minnesota. The chief of staff has asked you to remain after this morning's staff meeting. Your previous tasks-the public health issue and policy review and advocacy letter-have been well received. In particular, consensus exists for the specific legislative improvements you recommended. The legislator intends to wrap these suggestions around a robust strategy to bolster and sustain the legislation's positive impact.
While momentum for policy action is building, a speed bump has occurred. At yesterday's press conference, reporters raised concerns voiced by the commissioner of the Department of Health, board chair of the region's largest health care system, and CEOs of managed care organizations.
Other significant multi-sector managers have voiced opinions also. These leaders represent the following types of organizations and agencies: for-profit, nonprofit, education, faith-based, health and human services, public safety, and the environment.
Taken together, the leaders are concerned about the new legislation's potential impact on their organizations, consumers, and communities. Specific concerns include:
a. Cost: How will the new legislation negatively impact their annual budgets, their bottom line?
b. Quality: How will this new legislation create new health access barriers for vulnerable groups that they represent?
c. Outcomes: What ethical impacts does this new, proposed legislation present? Could negative population health status outcomes result?
These leaders represent a strong power base within their communities and in Minnesota. The legislator is scheduled to appear at an upcoming community leaders' meeting and wants to provide a strong response to these concerns.
Demonstration of Proficiency
By successfully completing this homework, you will demonstrate your proficiency in the course competencies through the following homework scoring guide criteria:
A. Competency A: Explain the impact of policies and legislation on individual and population health.
a. Summarize the public health issue and two specific legislative improvements previously proposed.
B. Competency B: Describe the relationship between cost, quality, and outcomes in determining public health funding decision-making.
a. Identify two objections, concerns, or questions related to cost, quality, or outcomes a specific leader, clearly identified by title, might raise.
b. Respond to the objections, concerns, or questions related to cost, quality, or outcomes in a way that engenders support for the proposed legislation.
C. Competency C: Develop policies that maximize the positive impacts of social and economic determinants on the health of individuals, communities, and populations.
a. Demonstrate in a concluding call to action what community leaders can do to advance public health policies that positively impact individuals, communities, and populations.
D. Competency D: Communicate in a manner that is scholarly, professional, and respectful of the diversity, dignity, and integrity of others and is consistent with health care professionals.
a. Cite in APA format a minimum of two current, scholarly and/or authoritative sources that support the speech's content within the text and in a separate reference page.
b. Write a clear, persuasive, organized, and generally error-free speech draft that is reflective of professional communication in the public health field.
Instructions
You have been asked to develop a 2 to 3 pages draft speech for the legislator to present at the community leaders' meeting. The chief of staff has informed you to include all of the following components in your draft:
A. Summary of Public Health Issue and Recommended Legislative Improvements (2 paragraphs).
a. Summarize the public health issue and the two strongest legislative improvements you proposed previously.
b. Remember you described both of these components in your advocacy letter.
B. Objections, Concerns, Questions About Proposed Legislative Improvements (2 paragraphs).
a. Identify two potential objections, concerns, questions related to cost, quality, or outcomes some of the multi-sector leaders are most likely to raise.
i. Example: I am concerned this new reproductive health care access legislation will increase my employer-share costs of health care.
b. Identify by title the leader raising the objection.
i. Example: Head of the state restaurant association.
C. Responses to Objections, Concerns, and Questions (1/2 page).
a. Compose appropriate responses to each of the two objections, concerns, or questions raised related to cost, quality, or outcomes that show why the new legislation is needed. Be specific and cite evidence in your responses.
b. Include, as appropriate, persuasive, compelling, motivational language to spur leaders to support the proposed legislation.
D. Conclusion (1/2 page).
a. Include a specific ask, that is, a clear call to action on the part of the community leaders. Remember that this is the apex of the entire speech. To accomplish this:
i. Consider how your readings have demonstrated the power of the business community in health policy development. We have learned that business leaders have influenced the development and implementation of policies in many states and the nation.
ii. Describe two specific approaches a business leader might take to support the legislation. For example, a call to action of the CEO of the state's largest hospital system might be to contact five persons in his or her professional network to encourage support of the legislation. These contacts may include: two lobbyists, the senior vice president of Minnesota's Medical Association, president of Minnesota's largest medical school, and the CEO of Minnesota's largest federally qualified health center.
b. Confirm your conclusion does all of the following:
i. Clearly explains that the legislator considers the business community as a united, key health policy stakeholder group.
ii. Provides a clear call to action by asking the business leaders to take two steps to support the legislation.
iii. Specifies two example approaches a business leader might take. Be sure to name the business leader by role or title in your examples.
iv. Closes by thanking the business leaders and meeting organizers for their support
Format your homework according to the give formatting requirements:
a. The answer must be double spaced, typed, using Times New Roman font (size 12), with one-inch margins on all sides.
b. The response also includes a cover page containing the title of the homework, the course title, the student's name, and the date. The cover page is not included in the required page length.
c. Also include a reference page. The references and Citations should follow APA format. The reference page is not included in the required page length.