Get Involved!
Want to make a difference for people affected by lung disease? Join our community of advocates and help shape the policies that protect lung health. Sign up below to receive periodic updates on important policy issues, share your lung health story with lawmakers, and email your elected officials in just a few clicks.
What is an Advocacy Champion?
Our Advocacy Champions are volunteer lung health advocates from all walks of life who are willing to share their stories with lawmakers and the public, whether by writing a letter to the editor, providing a comment to the media, or helping bring attention to an issue in another way. They come from all over the state, and we are recruiting at least one Advocacy Champion in every legislative district in Illinois.
“I am proud to serve as an Advocacy Champion for Respiratory Health Association. It’s been empowering to share my story with my Senator and be a voice for the COPD Community.” – Bill K., Chicago
You don’t need to be an expert on policy issues to be an Advocacy Champion. RHA alerts you when action is needed, provides key talking points on the topic, and asks you to contact your elected officials with these magic words: “I am a constituent and I want you to support…”
As an Advocacy Champion, you will receive real-time policy updates and monthly newsletters. To learn more about becoming an Advocacy Champion, please contact McKenna Mason at mmason@resphealth.org.
Health Professionals for Healthy Lungs
With increased threats to healthcare and clean air policies, your voice is needed now more than ever.
Health Professionals for Healthy Lungs (HPHL) is designed for health professionals across Illinois who share ourvision of healthy lungs and clean air for all and want to lend their voices in support.
“RHA respected my time and made it as easy as possible to participate in policy issues near and dear to me. I have recruited colleagues to also lend their voice to advocacy efforts that protect access to care for thousands of Illinoisans with lung disease.” – Cathy C., Elmwood Park, IL
As we learned during the historic Smoke-free Chicago campaign in the early 2000s, health professionals bring additional authority and credibility to policy change efforts. By joining HPHL, you and fellow health colleagues have helped influence today’s public health issues — from access to care and reimbursement rates to raising the tobacco purchase age to 21 — and public health policies of the future.
Guided by health equity principles and committed to improving lung health in all communities, HPHL advocates for clean energy, healthy air, and policies that improve lung disease management and decrease exposure to tobacco products.
HPHL members have 100% control over when and how they are involved. You will be contacted by email periodically throughout the year with information about a policy issue and asked to send an email, make a telephone call, submit a letter to the editor or join RHA at a legislative meeting.
HPHL members are also invited to participate in events held to educate the news media and general public on issues of lung health.
Most activities are quick and easy, and all of them have a big impact on RHA’s efforts to prevent lung disease, promote clean air and help people live better and healthier lives.