Past Advocacy Events

Advocacy Lunch & Learn: Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Topic: Trends and Implications of Child Poverty in Colorado

In the next two years, Colorado ’s population will reach five million people, nearly a quarter of whom will be children. While unmatched as a place to live and raise a family, Colorado is also the state with the largest increase in the percentage of children living in poverty. Impacting everything from health, education, earning potential and victimization rates, the effects of poverty are devastating. Dr. Alex Medler, Vice President of Research and Analysis for the Colorado Children’s Campaign, led a discussion summarizing the 2008 KidsCount in Colorado! report, particularly the trends related to children’s health.  Additionally, advocates learned how these trends impact everyone who lives in Colorado , and how we can work together to promote action in key areas. 

 

Advocacy Lunch & Learn: Thursday, November 20

Reforming health care is among American voters’ top issues.  To ensure all children and more American adults receive affordable health care coverage and high quality health care at the right time at the right place, we will all need to work together.  On November 20, 2008, the National Association of Children’s Hospitals and Related Institutions and PricewaterhouseCoopers jointly conducted Proposals to Policy: A National Conversation on Health Care Reform, a broadcast program from the National Press Club in Washington , DC .  Susan Dentzer of the NewsHour with Jim Lehrer moderated a panel of health care experts, leaders from the incoming administration, and Congress as they discussed the president-elect’s health care reform proposals.  The Children’s Hospital Public Affairs Department was pleased to host this broadcast, which was streamed live on November 20 in the Mt. Oxford Auditorium. 

 

Kohl's Shaken Baby Syndrome Prevention Campaign

On November 11, Dr. Jim Shmerling and Dr. Andrew Sirotnak accepted a check from Kohl’s Department Stores for

 $387,162 to continue the work of the Kohl’s Shaken Baby Syndrome Prevention Campaign, which launched in early 2006.  This campaign, which is presented by The Children’s Hospital and The Kempe Center, reaches over 2 million people in Colorado every year with a message to never shake a baby, and offers tips for calming a crying baby, as well as managing the caregiver frustrations that often accompany the crying.  Sadly, child abuse has been the number one cause of death for children admitted to the hospital’s trauma program for the past five years. In many of these cases, there are signs the child was shaken.  Thanks to ongoing support from Kohl’s, we have taken the lead to develop and administer a statewide campaign aimed at preventing Shaken Baby Syndrome, one of the most serious – and deadly – forms of child abuse. The prevention campaign is led by a multi-disciplinary workgroup comprised of representatives from The Children’s Hospital and The Kempe Foundation for the Prevention and Treatment of Child Abuse and Neglect.  Now entering its fourth year, the campaign continues to raise public awareness about the issue of SBS and how to safely care for a crying baby by utilizing television, radio, print, web, earned media, and community partnerships to get the message out.   For more information or to request materials to share with parents and caregivers: www.calmacryingbaby.com  or contact Danielle Goldyn, SBS Research & Prevention Coordinator goldyn.danielle@tchden.org

 

Kids Voting Event!

The Children’s Hospital hosted a Kids Voting event from 11am – 1pm on November 4. This event was designed to

reinforce with children the importance of democracy, and to engage their parents and other adults in the process.    In addition to a kids voting booth where children casted their votes for President, volunteers delivered “absentee ballots” to patient rooms so that all interested children were able to participate.  Additionally, there were patriotic snacks and giveaways, as well as fun and educational activities about elections and government for kids and grownups alike.  First Lady Jeannie Ritter read stories to patients in their rooms and visited other patients to distribute their absentee ballots!

 

 

Be a Champ for Children!

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 October 23 & 24, The Children’s Hospital offered a free seminar for people who want to stand up for kids’ health and well-being through public policy advocacy.  All were welcome to attend this event led by famed advocacy leader Nancy Amidei. The training was held around the timing of the elections to capitalize on interest in legislative advocacy and to inspire participants to take advantage of opportunities to vote, influence candidates and new legislators, and be a driving force for children’s health in the coming year.  This was a great opportunity for beginner advocates to get comfortable with the basics of advocacy and served as an excellent refresher for more experienced advocates.

ElectionFest 2008!

On October 1, kids and families participated in ElectionFest at The Children's Hospital! The event offered a fun way to engage kids and families in the upcoming elections and generated lots of interest around getting involved in the legislative process and being a voice for kids!   Voter registration, election/candidate information, and grassroots advocacy resources were offered in a fun, patriotic setting that included food, patriotic crafts, kids voting booth, and educational games.

 

 

Step Up for Kids Day on September 16

Tuesday, September 16: Step Up for Kids Day

The Children's Hospital partnered with Every Child Matters (ECM) on Step Up for Kids Day on September 16th.  This event drew public attention to issues affecting America's children such as poverty, health care, early care and education, and child abuse.  The event took place on the West Steps of the State Capitol at 11:30am.  Dr. Steve Berman, Pediatrician at The Children's Hospital and former President of the American Academy of Pediatrics was one of the featured speakers. 

Tuesday, September 9: Children's 101 For Candidates

On Sept. 9, 18 candidates running for the Colorado House and Senate visited The Children’s Hospital as participants in the Children’s 101 for Candidates event, coordinated by the public affairs team during election years. (As Children’s is a non-partisan institution, all candidates running for the state legislature were invited to participate.)

Children’s 101 for Candidates is designed to build relationships with candidates, educate them about the unique role that Children’s plays in the provision of healthcare in Colorado, and offer them the opportunity to tap the hospital staff as expert resources when shaping policy related to children’s health and safety.

 

Wednesday, August 20: Advocacy Lunch and Learn
Topic: SAFE Initiative

Speaker of the House Andrew Romanoff addressed a group of over 60 advocates during the August 20 Lunch and Learn focused on Savings Account for Education (SAFE). The Children’s Hospital has signed on as a supporter of SAFE which is a ballot initiative that creates a permanent source of funding for public education, preserves the right of citizens to vote on taxes, and untangles the fiscal knot in Colorado’s constitution.  While this initiative does not directly earmark funds for healthcare, a benefit of passing it is that it will free up significant state general fund dollars, some of which could be directed into healthcare.  Speaker Romanoff provided a comprehensive overview of the SAFE initiative and then answered questions posed by advocates. 

Saturday, August 16: Tykes on Trikes (and Other Wheels Too!) Parade

The Children’s Hospital is pleased to partner with Every Child Matters, a non-partisan 501c3 organization focused on making the needs of children and youth a national political priority and promoting the adoption of smart policies for children, youth, and families – including stopping child abuse, helping working families with child care, expanding pre-school education and after-school programs and ensuring that children receive good health care. In an effort to celebrate children and raise awareness about children’s issues this election year, we encouraged all of our valued advocates and their friends and family to participate in the Tykes on Trikes (and Other Wheels Too!) Parade!The post-parade activities included elected officials welcoming parade participants and several community organizations providing free food, complimentary day passes to museums, live music, voter registration and other fun activities. The post-parade festivities also represented the culmination of the “Dear Mr. New President” letter writing contest.  We encouraged all of our advocates to invite children (ages 18 and younger) to enter the contest which asked kids to write to the new President about their wishes, ideas and dreams for children and youth in the US!
 

Friday, June 18: Supporting SAFE

On July 18, TCH collected signatures in the hospital atrium to support SAFE (Savings Account for Education).   TCH employees and SAFE volunteers staffed the event which collected between 50-75 signatures.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wednesday, June 25: Advocacy Lunch and Learn

Topic: Wellness

Over 60 advocates helped to elevate the issue of wellness as an advocacy priority during the June 25 Lunch and Learn at The Children’s Hospital. Panelists Dr. Nancy Krebs (The Children's Hospital), Senator Suzanne Williams (Colorado State Senator), and Elaine Gantz Berman (Colorado Board of Education and Metro Denver Health and Wellness Commission) highlighted some of the wellness efforts currently being implemented at The Children’s Hospital, throughout the city of Denver, and across the state of Colorado.

 

Tuesday, June 3: Governor Ritter Visits The Children's Hospital to Sign Health Care Legislation

Colorado Governor Bill Ritter visited The Children's Hospital on Tuesday, June 3 to sign into law recently passed health care legislation!  Legislators who sponsored these important bills were on-site to participate in this important event.  This is a time for celebration as several of these bills will help increase access to health insurance coverage for Colorado ’s children.  Advocates, staff, volunteers, patients and patient families were all in attendance at this signing ceremony.

 

 

 

 

April: Child Abuse Awareness Month

Tuesday, April 22, 2008 

Over 70 advocates attended this panel discussion about the issue of child abuse prevention.  The panelists highlighted child abuse prevention efforts currently being implemented in Colorado and inspired interest and support from advocates to motivate them into action!

For more information featured during the panel discussion, please visit:

http://www.kempe.org/

http://www.dontshakeababy.com/

http://www.nursefamilypartnership.org/

 

Healthcare Reform on the Horizon: A Forum with Blue Ribbon Commissioners

Wednesday, January 30, 2008 

Over 200 participants attended this panel discussion about the work of the Colorado Blue Ribbon Commission for Healthcare Reform over the past year, culminating with the reform recommendations they presented to the Colorado legislature on January 31. 

View video coverage of this event!