Establish and maintain relationships with your elected officials.

Invite your state legislators to visit your health center. Meet with them and make sure they know what your health center does for the community, and the challenges it faces. Suggest what they can do to help. If you gain the support of an elected official, be sure to keep them updated and informed on the results of their support. Make their actions known and publicize their support for health centers. Always follow up. Regular written communication provides a concrete reminder of your interest, your identity, and your issues. Send written letters and e-mail. Provide talking points on key issues. Let them know about your annual report, new board members, and special events.

Attend town meetings to build local public awareness.

Town meetings are often the forum where the community's most active and influential members meet to discuss and decide key issues. So, make sure your health center is part of the discussion. Bring patients, board members, and staff to town meetings. Let them speak from personal experience about the benefits of care provided at your health center. Speak out about local health issues and how your health center is helping.

Develop and execute a strong local media outreach effort.

A well-conceived media plan can help your health center raise its visibility in the public mind. Develop relationships with local reporters. Make sure they know whom to contact for news about health centers. Provide them story ideas. Invite them to health fairs and special events. Ask media personalities to speak at fundraisers and other public events. When an elected official does something important for health centers, thank them publicly through the press.

Be active in MACHC and NACHC.

Amplify your voice through your associations. Bring up issues facing your health center and act in concert with other centers. You can triple the impact of your message when your concerns are raised at the state and national level.