Advocacy
Role of Advocacy
As advocates for the health of women, children and families and for the health centers that provide our programs, MFHS seeks to provide education on health issues, promote health programs, and develop relationships to support family health. By providing awareness of our programs, we can emphasize the important role they play in assuring access to quality health care and in strengthening the communities we serve.

The agency’s programs are made available through limited public and private resources. Without adequate support, Maternal and Family Health Services cannot sustain existing services much less expand them to meet the needs of uninsured and underinsured families.

Your senators and congressional representatives make decisions about the level of funding MFHS programs receive. By contacting your elected officials you can help protect and promote responsible health programs for women, children and families. And don’t forget to vote!

Find your elected Officials in Washington
To find your federal legislators - Congress and Senate and to check legislation and voting records: www.congress.org/congressorg/home/

Federal Government Sites
US government's official web portal: http://firstgov.gov
White House web page: http://whitehouse.gov
Congress: http://www.congress.gov

Find your elected Officials in Pennsylvania
For a list of State Representatives and State Senators:
Http://www.state.pa.us/papower/taxonomy/taxonomy.asp?DLN=31786

State Government Sites
Pennsylvania's home page: http://www.state.pa.us
Pennsylvania's Senate: http://www.pasen.gov
Pennsylvania's House: http://www.house.state.pa.us

Other Links for Advocates
National Family Planning and Reproductive Health Association
National WIC Association
Federal legislative information

Political Information Sites
VoteSmart: http://www.vote-smart.org
CapWiz's Politics site: http://www.congress.org
League of Women Voters: http://www.lwv.org
Pennsylvania Commission for Women: http://www.pcw.state.pa.us

Register to Vote
To register to vote in Pennsylvania, you must:

• Be a citizen to the United States at least one month before the next election
  
• Be a resident of Pennsylvania and your election district at least 30 days before the election
• Be a t least 18 years of age on the day of the next election
  

You need to register if:

• You have moved
  
• You want to change your party affiliation
  

Where can I register to vote?
A mail-in form is available from:

• PA Department of State's online voter information center - http://www.votespa.com/ or call 1-800-552-VOTE
• Your county election bureau
• State offices
• Political parties and organizations
• The League of Women Voters - 1-800-692-7281
  

You may register in person at many government offices, including:

• Your county Voter Registration Office - usually in the courthouse
• PennDot: with your application for a motor vehicle driver's license
• Other state offices: public assistance offices, Marriage License Bureaus, armed forces recruitment centers
  
  

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