title: Advocacy Priorities and Strategies for ASAHP: A Survey of the ASAHP Membership.
abstract: The Association of Schools of Allied Health Professions (ASAHP) recently established a strategic goal to increase advocacy efforts. The purpose of this study was to identify advocacy priorities and preferred advocacy strategies among the ASAHP membership. A brief Advocacy Priorities and Strategies Survey was sent to 234 ASAHP members included in the ASAHP email list using an online survey software. Forty-eight members (20%) completed the survey. Data were analyzed using the online survey software and response frequency counts. ASAHP members identified the following federal advocacy priorities: 1) support for students entering allied health professions, 2) support for faculty seeking higher degrees to enhance quality of education in allied health programs, 3) support for higher education institutions to increase capacity of professional programs to address projected allied health workforce needs identified by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and 4) support for research funding from federal agencies for allied health. The need for education regarding allied health professions to enhance advocacy efforts was also reported. Preferred advocacy strategies included scheduling ASAHP conferences in Washington, DC, to facilitate trips to Capitol Hill and visiting legislators in home states. Members also indicated a need to participate in advocacy training to enhance their advocacy skills.
authors.affiliation: School of Health Professions and Studies, University of Michigan-Flint, 303 E. Kearsley St., Flint, MI 48502-1950, USA. Tel 810-237-6503. donnafry@umich.edu.
authors.forename: Donna
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Fry
authors.forename: David H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Demo
authors.forename: Nancy
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Devine
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Butler
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Saladin
mesh_terms: D016390:Allied Health Occupations / Q000193:education; D000488:Allied Health Personnel; D005260:Female; D006281:Health Occupations; D006801:Humans; D007857:Leadership; D009937:Organizational Objectives; D009938:Organizations; D012576:Schools, Health Occupations; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires