2009 Advocacy Events
November 18, 2009: Advocacy Lunch and Learn
Budget 101: Understanding the State Budget & How it Affects Kids
The downturn in the economy has created extreme pressures on the state budget, including many health care programs funded with state dollars. Interested in learning more about the state budget and what Coloradans can expect in the coming year? Join us for our Budget 101 Advocacy Lunch and Learn to better understand how budget implications affect Colorado 's children and identify opportunities to address the long-term fiscal needs of the state.
Panelists include:
Rich Jones, Director of Policy and Research at The Bell Policy Center
Lorez Meinhold, Senior Healthcare Policy Analyst for Governor Ritter
Heidi Van Huysen, Director of Public Affairs at The Children’s Hospital
Date: November 18
Time: 12pm – 1pm
Location: Mt. Yale Conference Room at The Children’s Hospital
RSVP: Required. Click here to reserve your space!
December 11, 2009: Interested in learning more about the Colorado State Legislature? Join Us at the State Capitol!
A surprisingly well kept secret in downtown Denver is the Capitol’s free guided tour. This 45 minute ramble through history is available year round: Monday through Friday, from 9:15 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. September through May, and 9:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. June through August. Tours usually include early Colorado history, Capitol construction, information on the lawmaking process, details about the gold dome, several stained glass windows, and a visit outside the Senate and House of Representatives' chambers. On Friday, December 11, we have organized a customized tour of the Capitol for GAN members, Children’s staff and community members so that advocates can better familiarize themselves with the Capitol and learn more about the legislative process!
Getting To Know Your Capitol
What: Customized Capitol Tour: Getting To Know Your Capitol
A behind-the-scenes tour which will include:
- House Committee Meeting Room
- Senate Committee Meeting Room
- Bill Room
- JBC Meeting Room
- Old Supreme Court
- Legislative Services Building
- Legislative Council Library
Where: Colorado State Capitol, 200 E. Colfax, Denver , CO
When: Friday, December 11
Time: 12pm – 1pm
RSVP: Limited to 20 people, RSVP required. Click here to reserve your space!
For questions, please contact the Public Affairs Team at Children’s at advocacy@tchden.org.
December 17, 2009: Advocacy Lunch and Learn
Autism in Colorado : Recommendations for Moving Colorado Forward
In 2008, The Children’s Hospital and our advocates actively supported SB08-163, in which the Colorado General Assembly created the Colorado Autism Commission. The Commission was developed in order to obtain additional information on people with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) in the State. The group was tasked with identifying existing services and the gaps in these services as experienced by the Autism Spectrum Disorders community and determining appropriate actions to remedy these shortcomings through the preparation of a Ten-Year Strategic Plan for the State of Colorado . Betty Lehman, Chair of the Autism Commission, and several fellow Commission members will share the Commission’s recommendations for moving Colorado forward.
Date: December 17
Location: Mt. Princeton Conference Room at The Children’s Hospital
Time: 12noon – 1pm
RSVP: Required. Click here to reserve your space!
Speak UP for Kids!
The 2009 parenting seminars are one way to share our expertise with community members, parents, employees and patient families. New this year, this seminar provided parents with information, examples and necessary tools to speak up on behalf of children. Because advocacy is a key part of the mission at The Children’s Hospital, we look to parents to partner with us in making a difference on issues that matter. This event, held on October 14th, was very impactful and provided many different parents with resources and tools!
Tours of the Colorado State Capitol
Colorado State Capitol
Do you think you’ve seen it all in Denver? Interested in learning more about the Colorado State Legislature? Visit Our State Capitol!
A surprisingly well kept secret in downtown Denver is the Capitol’s free guided tour. This 45 minute ramble through history is available year round: Monday through Friday, from 9:15 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. September through May, and 9:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. June through August. Tours usually include early Colorado history, Capitol construction, information on the lawmaking process, details about the gold dome, several stained glass windows, and a visit outside the Senate and House of Representatives' chambers. The Capitol Building is located at 200 E. Colfax Ave. Denver , CO 80203 . All Historic Tours are 45 minutes in length and begin at the tour desk located on the east side of the north (Colfax Avenue ) entrance on the first floor. These tours are complimentary and no reservations are necessary. For more information, please click here . If you and your family, friends and/or colleagues are interested in arranging a group tour, please feel free to contact the Public Affairs Team at advocacy@tchden.org.
May 13, 2009: Advocacy Lunch and Learn
Topic: 2009 Legislative Wrap-Up
On May 13, The Children’s Hospital’s lobbyist, Ruth Aponte shared her perspective on the 2009 state legislative session and discussed some of the legislative outcomes that will impact The Children’s Hospital and kids throughout Colorado. Aponte is a Principal with Aponte & Busam: Public Affairs Consultants and has been lobbying in Colorado for more than a decade.
Safe Kids Week!
Representative Su Ryden, members of the Safe Kids Denver Metro Coalition and community advocates celebrated the Governor’s Proclamation that the week of April 26th was Safe Kids Week in Colorado! Support was also generated for Senate Bill 296: Primary Enforcement of Safety Belt Laws, which a key advocacy priority for Safe Kids.
What: Safe Kids Week Public Awareness Event
When: 11:45 a.m. on Tuesday, April 28
Where: Lincoln Park , across from the Capitol (park is bordered by Lincoln and Broadway – on block between 14th Ave and Colfax)
Who: Senator Betty Boyd, Representative Su Ryden, and Safe Kids Denver Metro (SKDM), a coalition comprised of more than 50 organizations committed to promoting childhood safety and led by The Children’s Hospital
Questions? Please contact advocacy@tchden.org
For more information on Safe Kids, please visit www.safekidsdenvermetro.org
April 13, 2009: Advocacy Lunch & Learn
Preventing Shaken Baby Syndrome- what we are doing, and how you can help!
Sadly, child abuse is a leading cause of trauma death for Colorado children, and in many cases the infant or young child was shaken. For the past three years, The Children’s Hospital, along with Kohl’s Department Stores and The Kempe Center, have led a statewide Shaken Baby Syndrome prevention effort aimed at educating parents and caregivers about infant crying and how to cope with it. Public Affairs/Advocacy staff members Deb Federspiel and Danielle Goldyn provided an overview of this major advocacy initiative, new components currently in development, and how you can get involved. For more information, please visit calmacryingbaby.org .
March 31, 2009: Advocacy Lunch and Learn
Topic: Colorado Healthcare Affordability Act - what it means for Colorado kids and what it means for you!
Tom Nash and Joan Henneberry speak to advocates
at the March 31 Lunch and Learn.
During these uncertain economic times, it is more important than ever that we invest in health care for children and families across Colorado. Joan Henneberry, Executive Director of HCPF and Senior Health Policy Advisor for Governor Ritter, and Tom Nash, Vice-President of Financial Policy for the Colorado Hospital Association, discussed the Colorado Healthcare Affordability Act, an innovative legislative effort designed to expand health care coverage to more Coloradans while strengthening the hospital provider network that cares for them. Additionally, they discussed the implications of the recently passed federal stimulus package on Colorado ’s health care system.
March 18, 2009: Advocacy Training, for People on the Go!
Famed advocacy leader Nancy Amidei at
advocacy training on March 18!
Kids don’t know politics, but every day they are affected by public policies and laws. It’s up to grown-ups to speak
up and make sure those policies and laws are good for kids’ health and well-being. On March 18, The Children’s Hospital offered two seminars for people who want to stand up for kids’ health and well-being through public policy advocacy. All were welcome to attend these sessions led by famed advocacy leader Nancy Amidei. Amidei shared tips, resources, and strategies for influencing public policy. Because we know that people are busy, scheduled two different advocacy sessions in two different locations to reach as many advocates as possible! Interested in learning more about advocacy but unable to make the trainings? Click here for Nancy's tools and tips!
Colorado Can Cover All Kids Summit
We were thrilled that one of our valued partners, 2010 All Kids Covered, hosted this dynamic day and all advocates were encouraged to attend! The summit inspired innovation among policy makers, agency staff and health care advocates to make Colorado ’s public health insurance system work better for kids and families.The event featured a keynote address by Lt. Governor O’Brien, presentations by national and state experts and afternoon workshops.
Presidential Inauguration Watch Party
Advocates watch the Presidential Inauguration at
The Children's Hospital.
Hundreds of advocates watched this historic occasion at The Children's Hospital! On January 20, the oath of office was administered to the President-elect and the Vice President-elect on the steps of the United States Capitol in Washington, DC. We were pleased to host a watch party at Children’s where interested individuals stopped by for any or all of the scheduled broadcast.
Advocacy Lunch & Learn: Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Children's lobbyist Ruth Aponte speaks to Lunch
and Learn participants on January 20.
The Children’s Hospital’s lobbyist, Ruth Aponte shared her perspective on the 2009 legislative session, discussed some of the issues The Children’s Hospital is currently monitoring, and provided her take on the Colorado political landscape after the 2008 elections. Aponte is a Principal with Aponte & Busam and has been lobbying in Colorado for more than a decade. Due to an overwhelming interest for this event, we reached capacity for this event and had over 100 advocates in attendance! If you were unable to attend the event, but are still interested in learning more about what Aponte discussed, please click here .
View Past Advocacy Events
