Community Health Advocacy

Health professionals are often confronted with situations that demand change, including a community's inability to access adequate health care, lack of disease-specific prevention programs, or legislators who do not understand economic and noneconomic impacts of a particular disease or prevention. In such cases, advocacy may be required to move beyond the status quo. This text provides a foundation for the initiation of advocacy efforts and for the evaluation of their success and includes topics such as: -Specific strategies that can be utilized; -Grassroots advocacy efforts including actual and theoretical models; -Formation and development of coalitions; and -Advocacy efforts in legislatures, administrative agencies, court, and the media. This valuable text will be of interest to public and urban health workers, social workers, community organizers, and legislators who represent communities in need.