| The Department of Federal Affairs (DOFA) is the Academy’s voice in Washington, D.C. For nearly four decades, the legislative staff has worked to put, and keep, children’s health on the national agenda. Through lobbying, coalition building and raising public awareness, DOFA has cemented the Academy’s credibility and visibility on national child health issues. For pediatricians with the interest and drive to make a difference in child and adolescent health on the federal level, DOFA provides in-depth advocacy training through the annual Legislative Conference and Resident Advocacy Days. Staff also provide ongoing support, information and hands-on guidance to pediatricians, both in person and through the active Key Contacts program and Federal Action Advocacy Network [FAAN], helping them reach out to their representative and senators, testify and/or publicly raise issues of importance to child health and well-being in a variety of forums, including national political campaigns, local town halls and the media through op-eds, letters to the editor and personal interviews. Issues on AAP’s federal agenda include access to care for all children, immunizations, disaster preparedness, childhood obesity, and injury prevention. DOFA also actively advocates for the needs of pediatricians, tracking and impacting federal legislation and regulations dealing with physician payment and education, ethics, biomedical research and clinical laboratory testing. More information about current federal affairs and advocacy efforts is available exclusively to Academy members on the AAP Member Center Web site (http://aap.grassroots.com).
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