Viral Hepatitis Grassroots Training and Hill Education Day – December 5, 2005

To view the presentation from the Viral Hepatitis Grassroots Training and Hill Education Day, click here.

NVHR was one of three sponsors of the first ever Viral Hepatitis Grassroots Training and Hill Education Day on December 5, 2005 in the Hall of the States in Washington, DC.

Together with NHCAC (the National Hepatitis C Advocacy Council) and HCAP (the Hepatitis C Appropriations Partnership), NVHR brought in 23 advocates from across the country, the majority of whom are living with hepatitis, to visit their Members of Congress and to attend the National Viral Hepatitis Prevention Conference.

The training was led by Glenna Crooks, of Strategic Health Policy International, and included an overview of the structure of the federal government as well as instruction on:

• Message Preparation for Hill visits
• Effective Education of Government Officials
• Hill visit role-playing

As the majority of attendees had never conducted Hill visits before, the training provided a unique opportunity to learn about the structure of our legislative branch of government and how to be an effective advocate.

Immediate results of the training included new co-sponsors to the Hepatitis C Control and Prevention Act (S521/HR1290) and a better understanding among Congressional staff of viral hepatitis and its impact on people's lives.  More good news came the following week when the Hepatitis B Act (HR4550), was introduced by Rep. Charles Dent (R-PA). 

Following up on this successful training, NVHR plans to continue its work with the advocate community on viral hepatitis legislation, Congressional funding for viral hepatitis, and the National Viral Hepatitis Roundtable's (NVHR) National Strategy to Eliminate Viral Hepatitis.

To view the presentation from the Viral Hepatitis Grassroots Training and Hill Education Day, click here.