State-based advocacy comes in many shapes and sizes. Peggy Johnson of the Kansas Cancer Partnership says that she categorizes state policy into two buckets: “Big P” and “Little P.”

“Big P” represents policy changes which require a new law or changing an existing law to be passed by the legislature and signed by the governor. An example of a Big P policy is Kansas’s Clean Indoor Air law prohibiting the use of tobacco products inside buildings, including offices, restaurants, stores and other public buildings.

“Little P” policies require a change in regulations or code and can be accomplished through working with the office or agency which has oversight for the regulations or codes. An example of a Little P policy is a state ban on the use of electronic cigarettes or pipes in public buildings.

Because there are many avenues for affecting policy change at the state level, cancer control coalitions are critically important as they bring various stakeholders to the table, including experts on cancer such as health departments, community organizations, researchers, health care providers, decision makers, and cancer survivors and their families. These stakeholders come together to address cancer concerns in their communities. The comprehensive cancer control coalitions are an excellent way to get involved in state-based advocacy efforts.

Because state and local lawmakers live in the communities in which they work year-round, it’s often easier to meet with them or get them on the phone. Developing relationships with staffers and lawmakers at the local level is a key part of state-based advocacy. While there is much work to be done at the national level to improve cancer care, cancer burdens and strategies vary from state to state. For this reason, it is critical that community leaders and patient advocates work to address the specific issues regarding cancer in their state.

A major function of CCCs in convening stakeholders is to develop a cancer control plan that focuses on the cancer issues unique to their state (or regions within their state)—these coalitions are the backbone of comprehensive cancer control. By becoming involved in your state’s cancer coalition, you can help ease the burden of cancer and engage in strategies to help prevent and control cancer in your community. As a national partner of the NCCCP, NCCS is here to assist advocates in partnering with their state coalitions and supporting cancer coalitions as they develop and carry out their comprehensive cancer control plans.

Check out our Advocacy Toolkit which outlines what advocacy is, how a bill becomes a law, and provides several tools for advocacy with care planning legislation as an example of how to take part in advocacy. The toolkit has important tips for using media tools in advocacy efforts and for meeting and calling decision makers.

Watch NCCS’ webinar on advocacy at the state level lead by Peggy Johnson, the Co-Chair of the Kansas Cancer Partnership. This webinar outlines the comprehensive cancer control program and how the Kansas Cancer Partnership has participated in state advocacy efforts to improve cancer care.

From comprehensive cancer control programs to governors and state legislators getting involved in cancer policy, you can help improve the access and delivery of cancer care for those right in your own community. To help explain numerous advocacy opportunities at the state level, we’re joined by Peggy Johnson, Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer of Wichita Medical Research and Education Foundation.