Roles and Responsibilities

Board Liaison for Public Policy

The board liaison guides the board as it shapes plans and allocates resources for lobbying. The board liaison works with the board to affirm LHS's positions on public policy measures and to determine the priority of public policy in the overall mix of LHS's work.

Board

Board members make the key decisions to move LHS into public policy initiatives that are consistent with the LHS's mission and goals. Board members are represented by a Board Liaison for Public Policy and serve on the planning team that determines what role public policy will play in the LHS program. Their role should include advocating on behalf of LHS's public policy positions in coordination with the board liaison.

President/CEO

The President/CEO has oversight responsibility for public policy and works with the board liaison to ensure that the board shapes LHS's direction on policy. The President/CEO serves as the spokesperson for LHS. Responsibilities include hiring, program design, program accountability, and resource management, as they all apply to the public policy component of LHS's ministry.

Director of Public Policy Advocacy

The Director of Public Policy Advocacy tracks and manages all information relevant to LHS's public policy work. The director is the steward of the plans and systems essential to LHS's initiatives. Directs and coordinates communications and activity. The director's responsibilities range from knowing how to access all statements made by the organization on a given policy issue to being sure a call to action is on schedule. Knows where every policy spokesperson is and needs to be. The director ensures that all spokespersons are promoting the same key messages, that relevant information from AOPHA, AAHSA, and LSA is communicated to appropriate individuals in the Advocacy program, and that the rapid response team is convened to deal with a crisis or course correction. Informs and mobilizes LHS stakeholders by building support in key legislative districts; holding briefings or press events that garner understanding and attention; and managing an action alert network that can muster calls or letters to decision makers on short notice. Builds rapport with the members of the media who cover LHS issues, including but not limited to, knowing how to reach the media, how to handle the tough questions, and how to become a resource, and being the person the reporters call when they need a community connection on a public policy issue.

For more information, contact Nancy Wellman, Director of Public Policy Advocacy at 419-861-5506 or nwellman@LHSOH.org