With the help of grassroots solutions, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has updated and standardized their advocacy training materials, making them more accessible and relevant to pediatricians. The AAP has advocacy training materials in place; however, they were overwhelming and out-of-date, causing pediatricians to feel advocacy was too time-consuming and complicated for their busy schedules.

grassroots solutions worked with the AAP to identify the opportunities and real-life stories that inspire pediatricians to get involved in advocacy-related activities, as well as the barriers that keep pediatricians from getting involved. grassroots solutions also worked with the AAP to identify the core topics and skills that pediatricians need to become effective advocates for children’s health at the community, state, and federal level. Working in close consultation with the AAP, grassroots solutions developed an eight-chapter interactive Advocacy Guide for pediatricians. The Advocacy Guide includes an innovative panel discussion section with questions from pediatricians relating to each advocacy topic and also highlights real advocacy stories from pediatricians.

The AAP Advocacy Guide inspires pediatricians to use their unique skills and stories to advocate on behalf of children’s health and well-being, demonstrates that advocacy is relevant and accessible to pediatricians, gives pediatricians applicable tips and tools for their own advocacy efforts, and provides the AAP with a standardized training guide that can be used by pediatricians across the country.