Health Policy Toolkit

Dear Colleague:

Welcome to the third edition of the Oncology Nursing Society's (ONS's) Health Policy Tool Kit. The purpose of this tool kit is to educate and inform nurses, other healthcare professionals, and people interested in healthcare issues about the public policy and legislative process; encourage involvement in our government at all levels; and effect positive change in health policy for oncology nurses and people with cancer and their families.

This tool kit has been developed as an introductory guidebook that outlines the role of oncology nurses in health policy advocacy, explains the public policy and legislative process, and provides tips and resources regarding how you can help bring about change.

Getting involved in the public policy process may seem intimidating, confusing, or just outside the realm of what you do. However, we believe that you will find—through the information provided in these pages—that having an impact on our nation's policymaking process can be easy, fun, and effective!

We hope that you will find this tool kit useful and that you will share it with your family, friends, and colleagues. Can one person help bring about change? Just think of the woman who started Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) or the family that brought about Megan's Law. The creator of MADD lost a child to a drunk driver. She developed and led a grassroots movement that forever changed how the United States addresses drinking and driving. Megan's Law, which requires sex offenders to register and notify communities where they live, is another example of how one family turned tragedy into triumph. The family members' efforts after they tragically lost their daughter resulted in changes in both state and federal policies on public notification and potential risk. Elizabeth Smart’s father decided that no other family should experience what his family did when she was abducted, and he took his idea for a nationwide Amber Alert system straight to the White House, where President Bush took action. Can one person bring about a result in one law? Absolutely!

To be responsive to changes in ONS's advocacy activities and ensure that oncology nurses have the latest and best resources, this tool kit recently was revised and appended with additional information. We would like to acknowledge and thank both the original project team that developed this resource and the reviewers who contributed to its most recent revision.

We appreciate your interest and thank you in advance for becoming involved in advocacy and health policy issues.

Sincerely,
Len Mafrica
ONS Executive Director, Business Development

Ilisa Halpern Paul, MPP
ONS Health Policy Associate

Kate Daly, BA
ONS Project Manager

Jennifer DiVito
ONS Executive Assistant
Health Policy Tool Kit Project Team

Members:

Lois Anderson, BS, MT (ASCP)
Joanne P. Finley, RN, MS
Janet R. Goeldner, RN, MSN, AOCN^®
Nancy L. Hane, RN, MS, AOCN®
Patricia McCollom, RN, MS, CRRN, CDMS, CCM, CLCP
Mary Ellen T. McFadden, RN, MA, OCN^®
Kathy Plakovic, RN, OCN®
Patricia A. Poirier, MSN, RN, AOCN^®

2006 Reviewers

Jodie Curtis, Government Relations Director, Drinker Biddle Gardner Carton
Elizabeth Denlinger, Legislative Assistant, Drinker Biddle Gardner Carton
Jeremy Scott, Government Relations Director, Drinker Biddle Gardner Carton