About This Event

Family Advocacy Day (FAD) is CHA’s marquee advocacy event in Washington, D.C. This year we are celebrating 20 years of connecting hearts and minds to the essential care provided by the nation’s children’s hospitals. FAD gives pediatric patients and their families a powerful platform to share their journeys directly with federal lawmakers.

Through in-person interactions with congressional leaders, we elevate patient stories, increase awareness of the unique aspects of children’s hospitals, and encourage members to advance issues related to child health.

In 2025, advocates will engage with policymakers to influence change on:

• The workforce shortage of doctors and other health care professionals trained to meet the unique health care needs of children.
• The vital role Medicaid and CHIP play in families’ lives, providing health insurance to nearly half of all children in the U.S.
• The mental, emotional, and behavioral health emergency facing children and teens.

CHA invites children’s hospitals to bring patient advocates to FAD to amplify our shared effort to strengthen pediatric care at the federal level. In 2024, close to 50 advocates from across the country attended the event, and we hope to welcome even more in 2025.

Together, we can serve as a collective voice to educate our elected leaders on the need to create a better tomorrow for children.

Find more information and resources in the government relations professionals community.