Strategic Engagement of Policymakers Is Key to Advancing a Children's Health Care Coverage Policy Agenda

This brief examines how policymakers’ positive engagement can benefit children’s health care coverage advocates, as well as the strategies for making this engagement happen. Key strategies include understanding states’ unique political environments; identifying, nurturing, and supporting political champions; creating strategic links between grassroots organizations and policy advocacy groups; creating effective, appealing messages for policymakers; establishing advocacy groups as the “go-to” resource for reliable data and information; and sharing ownership of agendas and successes with champions and key policymakers.