title: Advocating for children's health at the state level: lessons learned.
abstract: This article documents the successful creation and promotion of a bill to fund a nurse home visitation program for high-risk mothers in Arkansas. It illustrates several key factors in successful advocacy by pediatricians working in an academic setting: a realistic time commitment; a community needs assessment, data assimilation, and review of existing resources; the identification and incorporation of stakeholders; a narrow focus on the area of greatest need; the backing of political partners; and favorable opportunities to advance child health issues.
authors.affiliation: Center for Health Promotion, Department of Pediatrics, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Arkansas Children's Hospital, 800 Marshall St, Little Rock, AR 72202, USA.
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Aitken
authors.forename: L A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Rowlands
authors.forename: J G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Wheeler
mesh_terms: D001131:Arkansas; D002648:Child; D002651:Child Advocacy / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003152:Community Health Nursing / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008427:Maternal Health Services / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D011050:Policy Making; D015397:Program Evaluation; D013219:State Government