Communications "Best of" Documents
Examples are often great learning tools. The following are several examples of compelling one-pagers, op-eds and other creative materials are available as successful models.
Policy and Policymaker Materials
Wisconsin BadgerCare Plus Fact Sheet: The Wisconsin Council on Children and Families put together this summary in late 2007 following the enactment of Wisconsin's children's coverage expansion. The fact sheet keeps a positive frame when talking about children's health insurance, incorporates regionally relevant social math—110,000 uninsured Wisconsin kids is a number greater than entire population of Green Bay—and acknowledges "tradeoffs" that came with the legislation, while also noting the net positive results and benefits for Wisconsin families of making these long-term systemic improvements.
Wisconsin Fiscally Responsible Fact Sheet: Based on a one-pager originally created by some Texas advocates, the Wisconsin Council on Children and Families produced a fact sheet showing that providing children with health insurance is fiscally responsible. The fact sheet's clear layout of easy-to-read information makes a strong argument for why kids should be covered. The series of financial facts Wisconsin grantees cite emphasize state-specific costs and percentages and make two main points: 1) Covering children under BadgerCare is cost-effective; and 2) The costs—health and financial—of not covering Wisconsin's kids are too high. This is a great leave-behind that relates the bigger picture to the individual.
Utah CHIP Fact Sheets (2): Voices for Utah Children developed two solid fact sheets on the children's health coverage program in their state that use positive messaging and include strong, compelling and clear information. The first fact sheet focuses on the success of CHIP in Utah and on recent poll information. The second fact sheet talks more fundamentally about what CHIP is and makes the economic case for covering children.
Texas CHIP Book: The Texas CHIP Coalition and Insure Texas Kids Campaign published this book to support a state House bill. The book is a comprehensive, compelling tool for policymaker outreach, as it provides several strong arguments for CHIP restoration, breaks down the effects of CHIP on each lawmaker's district, and includes press clips, copies of letters and a list of the state's varied supporters of the bill. This book is a creative and effective vehicle to promote the value of covering children.
Press and Press Materials
Washington Business Leader Op-Ed: This op-ed was drafted by the Children's Alliance and co-signed by a Starbucks board member. The piece urges Washington state to cover all of the state's children and stresses the do-able nature of the goal.
Rhode Island Back-to-School Op-Ed: This is a Fall 2007 op-ed from a Rhode Island school superintendent. Rhode Island KIDS COUNT worked with Gallo to develop the op-ed that talks about RIte Care as a success and why Rhode Island has been and should continue to be a leader on children's health coverage.
Utah Religious Leader Op-Ed: In August 2007, Salt Lake City's Catholic bishop collaborated with Voices for Utah Children to write this op-ed in support of children's health coverage. The piece focuses on the faith-based, moral argument for covering kids, and also incorporates health-related information as well. Though the paper had already editorialized a few times on children's health coverage issues, the Salt Lake Tribune ran this piece because its editors thought this op-ed highlighted a different—and very important—perspective.
Other Materials
Utah Storybank Solicitation Insert: Voices for Utah Children worked with the state's Department of Health to identify CHIP families willing to share their experiences for a storybanking project. Utah advocates developed this insert, to be mailed to 10,000 families along with a copy of the questions they'll be asked should they agree to provide their story for the effort. This insert is a creative resource that is colorful and clear, and of particular note is the fantastic visual of "covering" Utah's children with imagery of kids under a red tent-like sheet.
Texas Story Book: In 2007, Texas published a book of stories from around the state of families who had lost coverage because of the state's broken system. Through the book, advocates underscored the need for children's health coverage in a creative and compelling way.
Texas McDonald's SCHIP Tray: The Texas CHIP Coalition launched a major SCHIP outreach and enrollment campaign across the state in mid-2007. In the Houston area, outreach was especially creative. Two local McDonald's restaurants held enrollment events on-site, and used their tray liners to advertise the event in advance. The tray liners include Spanish and English text, and emphasize the ease of applying for CHIP, the reliable coverage it provides and the affordability of the program.