Conference Speakers Stress Continued Importance of Advocacy Outreach

Education and networking opportunities were naturally in abundance, but the importance of advocacy efforts in support of full practice authority for California nurse practitioners took center stage at CANP’s 39th Annual Educational Conference, held March 17-20 in Newport Beach.

CANP President Donna Emanuele set the tone from the outset of the conference’s opening general session, noting several creative and effective outreach efforts being conducted by local chapters throughout the state.  She also stressed that, with Senate Bill 323 still under consideration in the State Assembly, now is no time to let up.

“We’ve asked a lot of you, and I could not be more proud of how the members of this organization have responded to that call to action,” Emanuele told attendees.  “CANP is now seen as an influential presence in the political arena.  They not only hear us, but they are listening to us – and we still have a lot to say. Your efforts remain vital to our success as an organization and as a profession.”

That call was echoed by guest speakers during general sessions both Thursday and Friday. Keynote Speaker Micah Weinberg, President of the Bay Area Council Economic Institute, stated “the facts are on your side,” in the debate over full practice authority.  “Rooms full of studies show that full practice authority for NPs provides better access, better or same quality of care and the same or lower costs,” he told the Thursday morning audience.  “If legislators and their staffs are pretending they don’t know this, then they really are pretending. That means you have to keep it up with the bare-knuckled politics.”

Assemblymember Susan Eggman, co-author of Senate Bill 323, enthralled the audience during Friday’s Legislative Update session by recapping her own personal path to becoming an elected official – which included a stint as an Army medic – and brought down the house when she said “If the voters see fit, I have 10 more years to serve in the Legislature. Before I leave, you will have full autonomy."

Many speakers emphasized the numerous ways in which CANP members and allies can take up the fight, including:

• Working through designated legislative representatives in each CANP chapter to organize district office visits with legislators and their staff members
• Joining their colleagues for Lobby Day 2016, taking place May 24 in Sacramento
• Engaging on social media to help spread awareness, bring others into the cause and target key messages to their elected officials

Emanuele, Eggman and CANP Legislative Advocate Kristy Wiese all additionally stressed that contributions to the CANP Political Action Committee are critical to help level the playing field against well-funded interests intent on defeating the measure. Before the conference ended, many had already taken the message to heart and acted upon it, with onsite contributions to the PAC totaling more than $28,000. PAC contributions continue to be important, and can be made online through CANP’s website.  The conference also saw a surge in signups for CANP's newly-enhanced online Action Center, which enables users to quickly and aggressively advocate on behalf of California NPs by instantly communicating with their elected officials through a variety of channels.

CANP’s online Senate Bill 323 Resource Center provides guidance and a number of tools to assist in grassroots outreach efforts. Supporters are also encouraged to contact CANP Grassroots Coordinator Stephanie Tseu, who is available to assist in navigating and effectively engaging in the legislative process at the local level, and to serve as a central contact for questions on the bill and the legislative process.  She can be reached via email at canpgrassroots@gmail.com.