Policy Advocacy Program
Grassroots Advocacy Training: Advocate Training Program
The CABWHP Advocate Training Program ("ATP") empowers and equips Black women to advocate for themselves and their families. PAG members and other CABWHP affiliates identify Black women connected with their respective organizations and communities to participate in the ATP. Accordingly, ATP participants have a strong support base for their advocacy activities. The women participate in small group trainings and discussion groups on policy issues and advocacy methods. In addition, they receive instruction regarding strategies to achieve personal and family wellness. ATP participants also participate in a Group Advocacy Project and CABWHP activities and events. To date, fifty-five women have graduated from the program in Los Angeles and the San Francisco Bay Area.
Annual Policy Summit
Our annual Policy Summit convenes approximately forty (40) women's health leaders from throughout California to strategize about how to most effectively impact Black women's health policy at local, regional and state levels. This group includes grassroots leaders, health service providers, government representatives and policy advocates. Our annual Policy Summit enables us to strategically analyze issues affecting the health of Black women over time, analyzing gaps and clarifying needed areas of emphasis for future policy work. The Policy Summit takes place every February in Sacramento.
Policy Advisory Group
The CABWHP Policy Advisory Group ("PAG") is comprised of grassroots leaders, health service providers, government representatives and policy advocates. The PAG is a vehicle for regular communication, strategic planning, training and support for leaders. CABWHP hosts small regional convenings throughout the state in order to regularly communicate with PAG members about national, statewide and local policy issues and events.
Town Hall Meetings
With the assistance of members of the PAG and ATP, CABWHP hosts periodic town hall policy meetings to provide a forum for dialogue and information dissemination regarding Black women's mental and physical health issues and concerns. At these meetings, both community leaders and Black women have an opportunity to directly communicate with legislative staff and other policymakers.
Healing for the Mind, Body & Soul: CABWHP Newsletter
Our newsletter is comprised of basic health and policy information and analysis. The target audience for the newsletter is the larger community of Black women and other lay persons. The newsletter is circulated to more than 1,000 individuals and organizations and communities served by PAG members. The combined networks of PAG members and CABWHP affiliates facilitate community-wide dissemination of health and advocacy information.
Issue Guides
CABWHP publishes quarterly issue guides with thorough analysis of health policy issues addressing mental, emotional and physical health. Our Issue Guides are distributed via email to PAG members and over 1,000 colleagues and organizational collaborators. Both our Issue Guides and newsletters can be downloaded from our website. This year, our Issue Guides will also be disseminated electronically through a list-serve. This year's first Issue Guide was published in April and is entitled "Effective Prevention of Sexual Violence."