One way to make your National Health Center Week celebration and events even more successful is by engaging your elected officials. Whether it’s your Members of Congress, your state legislators or your county/local officials, NHCW provides an excellent opportunity to connected with policymakers locally at your health center. Consider hosting one of the following events in recognition of State & Local Elected Official Day this year:
- Health Center Tours with Elected Officials – if your elected officials haven’t been out for a visit in the past year, invite them to come for a tour of the Health Center to see firsthand all the good work you and the health center team are doing to care for the community.
- Awards Events with Elected Officials – whether you present an award to your elected official(s) recognizing their support, or you ask them to present an award to a deserving team member at the health center, awards and recognition are always a great way to connect with policymakers.
- Submit a Letter to the Editor (LTE) or Opinion Editorial to Your Local Media Outlet – use the NHCW media templates to submit an LTE or OpEd addressing your policymakers, expressing appreciation and/or explaining the reason why their continued support is so important for the health center and the patients you serve.