Advocacy
At the Washington Association for Community Health, we are committed to telling the health center story and advocating for their priorities at the state and federal levels, ensuring policymakers understand what health centers do, how they do it, and the support they need to expand their impact. When patients and health center team members speak up, policymakers listen!
Whether you are a health center leader or staff member, a crucial health care stakeholder, or a community member passionate about health centers, your voice is essential! Your stories are impactful!
How to Make Your Voice Heard
WACH Policy Committees
WACH’s Board of Directors has multiple policy committees that convene to discuss the most relevant policy topics impacting CHCs. These committees directly inform the legislative advocacy strategy of WACH and our partners at the Community Health Network of Washington (CHNW).
If you’d like to learn more about how your organization is engaged in these committees, talk to your CHC leadership.
Grassroots Action Alerts
Save Health Care in Washington is a grassroots advocacy campaign brought to you in partnership with the Community Health Network of Washington. By signing up, you will receive timely email updates and action alerts that will empower you to raise issues with state legislators that will have a positive impact on your local community health center. We encourage you to sign up today to add YOUR voice and story!
Visit the Save Health Care in Washington Website to learn more.
Federal Grassroots Action
WACH partners closely with the National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC) to advocate for CHCs to our members of Congress and other federal organizations in Washington, D.C.
NACHC hosts their own action alert platform geared towards federal advocacy for health center priorities. They also create many materials and one-pagers to learn more about CHC priorities and to assist with advocacy for your members of Congress.
Joint Legislative Days
Every Washington State Legislative Session, WACH hosts a two-day advocacy event – in partnership with the Community Health Network of Washington (CHNW) - to advocate for CHCs to the state legislature.
On Day 1, we bring together our CHC advocates – from CHC CEOs to patient board members – to host a briefing seminar, discussing and preparing for our advocacy to the legislature. On Day 2, our advocates take to the Capitol and meet with as many of their elected representatives as they can, telling them about their priorities, challenges, and patient stories.
Our Joint Legislative Days will take place on February 2nd - 3rd, 2027. More information to come soon!