NCADD Advocacy

National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, Inc. BUILDING BLOCKS ADVOCACY SERIES Spring 2001 Volume 1, Issue 1
PART ONE: ADVOCACY GROUPS AND DEFINITIONS  Advocacy groups and the activities they conduct are designed for the purpose of effecting state and federal legislation.  The best advocacy campaigns engage all three groups in outreach activities in order to increase the likelihood of widespread support for legislation.
GROUP TYPE	DEFINITION	ACTIVITIES
GRASSROOTS COALITIONS	The core membership of an advocacy group -- typically represents the larger faction of an advocacy group.	Grassroots coalition members attend group meetings with the staff members assigned to serve an elected official. During the meeting members of the grassroots coalition educate staff about the issue at hand. Coalitions participate in large and all-encompassing letter-writing and phone calling campaigns that urge legislators to support the grassroots' issues. Communication vehicles include: blast faxes, emails, and mail.
GRASSTOPS COALITIONS	Leaders of an advocacy group.	Individualized face-to-face meetings with the elected official to educate him or her about the issue. Personal letters and phone call communications directly with elected official.
INDEPENDENT THIRD-PARTY COALITIONS	Friends and allies who are affected by the issue and can provide public testimony in support of the advocate's issue and activities.	Join in the collaborative signing of letters addressed to legislators. Make statements to the public and the press in support of issue.
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National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, Inc.

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