Throughout this course, you have learned about the importance of political advocacy: how legislation can impact healthcare delivery, quality of care, patient outcomes, and various healthcare professional’s roles and practice.

For this final assignment, you will research current legislation related to public health (Unit 7 topics are a great place to start). Identify a piece of legislation you feel passionately about. You will complete parts I and II below, to illustrate your understanding of the legislation, state your position, call for action, etc.

Audience: Politicians who will be voting on your identified legislation.

Submit

This assignment has 2 deliverables for upload. Please review carefully.

Part I Multimedia Presentation:

Record yourself delivering a formal address about your stance on the legislation, to your politicians. Audio and video quality should be clear, and your attire should be business professional. Minimum length of 10 minutes.

Use one of these techniques to create your multimedia presentation.

Use Screencast-o-matic (Links to an external site.) (Instructional Video Below)
Any video recording system of your choice
Record video directly in the assignment submission using these instructionsLinks to an external site.

Part II – Written support:

Prepare a professional paper, summarizing the legislation itself, your position, call for action, etc. Cite relevant sources, which may include industry leader’s perspectives, or scholarly research. Minimum length of five pages.

Struggling with where to start this assignment? Follow this guide to tackle your assignment easily!

This step-by-step tutor-style guide will help you confidently complete both the multimedia presentation and the written paper, while keeping your argument professional, persuasive, and policy-focused.

Step 1: Select a Public Health Bill You Truly Support

Choose current or recently proposed legislation related to public health (Unit 7 topics are ideal). Strong options often include:

Mental health access
Opioid misuse prevention
Maternal and infant health
Health equity and social determinants of health
Public health funding or workforce protections

Selecting a bill you care about will strengthen your advocacy tone.

Step 2: Research the Legislation Thoroughly

Before writing or recording, gather key facts:

Bill name and number
Level (state or federal)
Sponsors and political support/opposition
Current status (committee, floor vote, etc.)
Intended public health impact

You should understand what the bill does, who it affects, and why it matters.

Step 3: Clearly Define Your Position

Ask yourself:

Do you support or oppose the bill—and why?
How will this legislation affect:
- Healthcare delivery
- Patient outcomes
- Healthcare professionals’ roles

Your stance should be clear, evidence-based, and persuasive, not emotional.

Step 4: Plan Both Deliverables Together

Your presentation and paper should align, not contradict one another.

Think of it this way:

Presentation = persuasive speech to lawmakers
Paper = detailed policy brief supporting your argument

Use the same core points in both formats.

Step 5: Structure Part I – Multimedia Presentation

Your 10-minute presentation should follow this outline:

Introduction (1–2 minutes)
- Identify yourself as a healthcare advocate
- State the legislation and why it matters
Overview of the Legislation (2–3 minutes)
- What the bill proposes
- Who benefits and how
Your Position (3–4 minutes)
- Why you support or oppose the bill
- Evidence from research or real-world data
Call to Action (2 minutes)
- What you want legislators to do
- Why immediate action is necessary

Maintain a formal, respectful, and professional tone throughout.

Step 6: Structure Part II – Written Support Paper

A strong five-page paper typically includes:

Introduction
- Introduce the public health issue
- Identify the legislation and your position
Legislation Overview
- Background and purpose
- Current status
Impact on Public Health and Healthcare
- Effects on quality of care
- Workforce implications
- Patient outcomes
Evidence Supporting Your Position
- Scholarly research
- Expert or industry perspectives
Call to Action
- Clear recommendation for policymakers
- Consequences of inaction
Conclusion
- Reinforce urgency and importance

Step 7: Use Credible, Scholarly Evidence

Your argument must be supported by reliable sources, such as:

Peer-reviewed journals
Government health agencies
Professional healthcare organizations

Avoid opinion blogs or non-academic sources.

Step 8: Maintain a Policymaker-Focused Tone

Remember your audience is legislators, not classmates.

Be respectful
Avoid slang or casual language
Emphasize data, outcomes, and feasibility

This is professional advocacy, not a personal reflection.

Step 9: Review Before Submission

Before submitting:

Ensure the video meets the 10-minute minimum
Confirm the paper meets the 5-page requirement
Double-check citations and formatting
Ensure consistency between video and paper

Political Advocacy in Public Health: Creating a Legislative Call-to-Action for Policymakers