Day/Time:

Wednesday, February 13, 2008
10:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.

Presenter:

Roberta Garson Leis, Program Director, Join Together

Description:

Several state and community leaders are using the findings of the Blueprint Report to advocate for improving state policy and funding. Strengthening grassroots leadership capacity, advocating for policy change using "ripe" issues are the goals of a Join Together state advocacy initiative. The discussion will center around state advocacy examples.

Learning Objectives:

• How to build grassroots partnerships using current legislative issues, policies and opportunities that match Blueprint report findings
• How to develop/sustain/strengthen a cadre of state advocates so they can exercise leadership more effectively around these issues.
• Learn how to make the case for specific state policies such as increasing alcohol taxes, sentencing reform, treatment instead of jail, DUI , parity, prevention and treatment funding.. Case examples from selected states.