Policy Engagement

Creating Long-term and Lasting Impact

Health Foundation of South Florida has enhanced its focus on policy and advocacy work in order to advance its mission of improving health for residents in Miami-Dade, Broward and Monroe Counties. The Foundation complements its responsive grantmaking program with increased investments in data collection and research to inform decision makers, creates policy briefs as well as convenes and conducts advocacy training for non-profit organizations. Through these efforts, Health Foundation can position itself as a “key agent of change,” rather than simply a grantmaker.

Recognizing that creating policy change can have a more systemic and long-lasting impact, the Board of Directors created a Public Policy and Communications Committee in 2006 to guide Foundation staff in the identification of public policy priorities. That same year, the Foundation hosted an Advocacy Training Workshop for local non-profit organizations with the dual purpose of training organizations in advocacy and creating consensus around a shared policy goal.

During the past few years, the Foundation has incorporated into its grantmaking application and reporting process opportunities for applicants and grantees to inform the Foundation of policies that either threaten or improve the work of their organization. In  2009, the Foundation engaged a legislative consultant to keep Foundation staff up-to-date on legislative issues at the local, state and national level, assist in the establishment of relationships with decision-makers and provide overall guidance in identifying advocacy activities and strategies to engage in.

The identification of potential issues is driven then by various factors including but not limited to:

• Alignment with the Foundation’s Responsive and Strategic Initiative grantmaking programs
• Public Policy Agenda Priorities of local community partners and grantees
• State Legislative Agenda
• Emergence of critical health needs that call for public policy action

To review the current Public Policy Priorities for the Foundation, click here.

Potential policy opportunities are also identified within each of the priority areas and strategic initiatives: Primary Care, Oral Health, Healthy Eating Active Communities, Preventive Health Measures and the Healthy Aging Regional Collaborative.

The Foundation seeks to assist its grantees, local health coalitions and policymakers in gathering pertinent data and information, analyzing research findings, identifying policy options and supporting advocacy efforts that lead to improved access to quality and cost-effective health care for all South Floridians.

The Foundation employs a variety of advocacy strategies to inform and impact public policy. To review the list of advocacy strategies prioritized by the Foundation to engage in public policy, please click here.