10 Reasons to Attend Family Advocacy Day

1. Educate members and staff on the uniqueness of pediatric health care and the role children’s hospitals play. 

2. Humanize complex policy issues. 

When lawmakers hear firsthand how policies impact children and families, they can see beyond the statistics and talking points.  

Patients and families tell their stories better than anyone. Their personal stories remove politics from the relationship and get to the heart of a particular issue important to the child and family. 

This year, patient advocates will engage with policymakers to influence change on: 

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

3. Introduce members to their own constituents. 

A face-to-face meeting with lawmakers can be incredibly impactful. FAD connects congressional leaders to the children and families they serve in Congress and puts real faces and stories behind policy issues.  

This personal interaction can make legislation feel more relatable and engage policymakers and staff to influence change.    

4. Increase congressional members' pride in your children's hospital. 

FAD creates a sense of pride in the children’s hospital that cares for kids in their home districts. When members of Congress learn about the important work that occurs at the children’s hospital in their state or district, they feel more connected. They feel proud to work with the hospital and associate themselves with the organization. 

5. Allow patients and families to give back. 

FAD is a great opportunity for families that would like to give back to the hospitals that have supported them. These patients and families have received life-changing care from a children’s hospital, and they can use their story to advocate for pediatric health care policies that would create a better experience for the next family. 

6. Establish the hospital as a liaison between members and constituents. 

A family’s presence will strengthen children’s hospitals’ relationships with members of Congress and their staff in countless ways. Over time, members will see the hospital as a liaison for constituents. When government relations professionals visit elected officials, they often ask about the specific children and families they met at FAD.  

This connection also encourages members of Congress to ask a hospital for additional experiences to include in hearing statements or press events as they advocate for children’s health. 

7. Showcase federal advocacy work. 

FAD is a powerful way to highlight ongoing federal advocacy efforts that impact children’s health. Often, community members are not aware of the advocacy work at their local children’s hospital. When hospitals post pictures from FAD on social media platforms, they increase awareness of patient stories and the unique aspects of children’s hospitals. 

8. Build relationships with delegations who can support work with state officials. 

Engaging with congressional delegations isn’t only focused on federal policy. It can also make a difference with state officials. By strengthening relationships with members of Congress and their staff, children’s hospitals can establish allies who support state initiatives related to pediatric health care. 

9. Promote hospital collaboration to advance policies. 

Children’s hospitals can work together to share patient stories and demonstrate their collaboration, which can build trust with lawmakers and staff. For example, a children’s hospital can share how a child received specialized care at their hospital and then worked with a community hospital in another state to ensure continued treatment.  

10. It’s fun! 

Throughout this event, children and families not only share personal experiences with lawmakers, but they enjoy celebration parties (with facility/service dogs!) and other fun activities. In 2024, we welcomed more than 180 children and their families to champion pediatric care and amplify the needs of patients and caregivers across the country. 

Register by March 28. 

FAD is more than just an opportunity to visit Capitol Hill. It is a chance to serve as a collective voice and educate elected leaders on the need to create a better tomorrow for children. 

Learn more on how you can participate and advocate on issues related to children’s health.