Building Advocacy for Policy Change to Improve the Nation's Health
Skip to main content
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
  • Our Vision
    • Our Vision Overview
    • Why Health Equity
    • Focus Areas
    • Measuring RWJF Progress
  • Grants
    • Grants Overview
    • Active Funding Opportunities
    • Awarded Grants
    • Grantee Stories
    • Grant Process
    • Grantee Resources
  • Insights
    • Insights Overview
    • Blog
    • Our Research
    • Advocacy And Policy
  • About RWJF
    • About RWJF Overview
    • Our Guiding Principles
    • How We Work
    • Impact Investments
    • Staff And Trustees
    • Newsroom
    • Careers
    • Contact Us
Find A Grant

    Building Advocacy for Policy Change to Improve the Nation's Health

    Research Mar-03-2015 | Hannay J | 3-min read
    1. Insights
    2. Our Research
    3. Building Advocacy for Policy Change to Improve the Nation's Health
    Read the Program Results Report Trust for America's Health

    Dates of Program: December 2002 through July 2016

    Field of Work: Public health advocacy

    Problem Synopsis: Modernizing the chronically underfunded and outdated public health infrastructure is essential to protect the public and control skyrocketing health care costs.

    Synopsis of the Work: TFAH built a coalition of partners to advocate for a revitalized public health system and make recommendations on how it should be structured, funded, staffed and held accountable. Project staff convened consensus-building forums, provided information and technical assistance, crafted recommendations for prevention-related policies, and produced and disseminated strategic policy reports to federal, state, and local policy-makers, the media, and the general public.

    The advocacy efforts of TFAH and its partners helped inform the health care reform debate. The 2008 consensus document, Blueprint for a Healthier America, recommended a stable and reliable funding stream for public health, community-based prevention activities, a national prevention strategy, and other policy approaches that were incorporated into the 2010 Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA). Following passage of the ACA, TFAH advocated to ensure its effective implementation and to protect key provisions, including the Prevention and Public Health Fund.

    Its work in these areas continues through July 2016.

    A small strategic investment in disease prevention can result in significant savings in U.S. health care costs. Implementing community-based interventions, which do not require medical care, could yield net savings of more than $2.8 billion in one to two years—meaning that the country could recoup nearly $1 over the cost of the program for every $1 invested.


    Key Results



    • In 2006 and 2007, TFAH built consensus around an agenda for modernizing the public health system and created a framework for subsequent improvements. Over 140 organizations endorsed Our Vision for a Healthier America, which called for transforming the U.S. health care system from a “sick care” system to one focused on prevention and wellness.
    • In October 2008, TFAH released Blueprint for a Healthier America with specific recommendations for improving the public health infrastructure.
    • TFAH documented the business case for prevention in the 2008 report, Prevention for a Healthier America and communicated that message to policy-makers. The report, which was widely cited by policy-makers, showed that a small strategic investment in disease prevention can result in significant savings in U.S. health care costs.
    • TFAH reports and associated advocacy efforts helped inform health care reform legislation. Recommendations from the Blueprint and other reports were ultimately incorporated into the 2010 Affordable Care Act, including creation of the Prevention and Public Health Fund. Since the fund was created, $2.25 billion has been appropriated for prevention-related programs over three years.
    • Following passage of the Affordable Care Act, TFAH and a diverse coalition of some 770 partners from public health, philanthropy, business, faith-based organizations, education, and other sectors have advocated for its effective implementation and the protection of key provisions, including the Prevention and Public Health Fund.
    • TFAH published and disseminated reports to educate policy-makers, the media, and the public about key public health issues such as emergency preparedness, injury prevention, obesity, and the flu endemic. Every TFAH report is delivered to all members of Congress and follow-up one-on-one meetings are held to discuss policy recommendations.
    • In 2013, TFAH worked with a range of partners to reorient its existing series of reports on emergency preparedness. The new report, Outbreaks: Protecting Americans from Infectious Diseases, addresses antibiotic resistance and health care-associated infections, as well as the ongoing threats of food safety, immunization-preventable diseases, and emerging diseases.
    • Under the two-year renewal grant RWJF awarded TFAH in August 2014, TFAH is using its policy and advocacy skills to help achieve the Foundation’s goal of building a national Culture of Health.

    "The Affordable Care Act includes the ingredients needed to ensure we get the returns that prevention offers, including a focused national prevention strategy, a reliable public health funding stream, and evidence-based programs that will be held accountable for improving health outcomes."—Jeffrey Levi, TFAH

    Related Content

    How the National Prevention Council Can Overcome Key Challenges and Improve Americans' Health

    SHOW MORE
    +

    SHARE

    Subscribe to receive Funding Alerts & more

    Explore the latest in reflection and research from subject matter experts at RWJF and our wide network of partners.

    Email address already subscribed. Please check your inbox to manage your subscriptions.

    Subscribed!

    Thank you. You are now subscribed.

    Tell us what type of content you want to receive.

    Be informed with our weekly newsletter updating you with relevant news and research around a Culture of Health, as well as the latest funding opportunities.

    Get funded by RWJF: Receive notifications when new funding opportunities are released.

    Receive monthly updates on RWJF-sponsored research that informs many robust health policy debates on Capitol Hill, covering topics like health equity, improving access to quality healthcare, equitable housing, and more.

    Shop talk for researchers. This monthly newsletter covers research news and opportunities from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

    Sometimes we have news, announcements or opportunities that don't quite fit the subscription parameters above. If you're interested, we'll send you this information under "There's more...". *If you've indicated you are an EU resident, we will only send these communications if you intentionally check this box.

    Yes! I want to tell you more about myself and receive personalized communications in the future.

    Area(s) Of Interest

    Which profession or pursuit best describes you?

    Unsubscribe

    Stop receiving all emails from RWJF

    This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
    • CONTACT RWJF

      50 College Road East

      Princeton, NJ 08540-6614

       

      US Toll Free: (877) 843-7953

      International: +1 (609) 627-6000

    • MANAGE YOUR GRANTS

      MyRWJF Login

      • Twitter link
      • Facebook link
      • LinkedIn link
      • YouTube link

    • Our Vision
      • Our Vision Overview
      • Why Health Equity
      • Focus Areas
      • Measuring RWJF Progress
    • Grants
      • Grants Overview
      • Active Funding Opportunities
      • Awarded Grants
      • Grantee Stories
      • Grant Process
      • Grantee Resources
    • Insights
      • Insights Overview
      • Blog
      • Our Research
      • Advocacy And Policy
    • About RWJF
      • About RWJF Overview
      • Our Guiding Principles
      • How We Work
      • Impact Investments
      • Staff And Trustees
      • Newsroom
      • Careers
      • Contact Us

    ©2001- 

    Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. All Rights Reserved. 

     

    • Manage Email
    • Privacy Statement
    • Terms and Conditions