Less than five months later, it is beginning to become a well developed plan that appears to have a good chance of success. To push health promotion to the next level, we must develop some political clout and advance health promotion within the federal agenda. After consulting with over 300 health organizations and individual health promotion leaders, we have decided to advocate for increased funding for health promotion research, and increased funding for dissemination of information on the best science and best practice. If we succeed in securing this increased funding, this will be an important step in advancing our field and give us the enthusiasm and confidence necessary to tackle larger advocacy goals. We Have Made Progress We have made excellent progress in all aspects of our effort.
Brief details are below.
We are working with over two dozen professional associations and advocacy groups who have offered to support this effort by providing expert advice, access to key senators and representatives and coordinating elements of the effort. We are just about to start a formal process of securing written endorsements to include in our communications with Congress. By the time this is published, our executive committee and steering committee should be in place, and our web site tools for contacting Congress should be operational. We have received preliminary indications that a number of them may be interested in introducing and co-sponsoring a bill to support our goals. We need to continue to nurture these relationships and develop similar relationships with other members of Congress.