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
Important dates to remember:
October 9th 2012 - Last day to register to vote in the General Election for President
November 6, 2012 - Election Day
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
Online Voting Resources
PA Department of State website: www.votespa.com
On-line resources for registering to vote in Pennsylvania, voter ID requirements, voting instructions, polling places, and absentee ballots
Committee of Seventy: www.seventy.org
Committee of Seventy has the latest information on the Pennsylvania voter ID law and on voter registration, polling places and elected officials.
Federal Voting Assistance Program: http://www.fvap.gov
Voter registration and absentee ballot information for American uniformed service members, their families and U.S. citizens living outside the United States.
League of Women Voters: www.lwv.org
Everything you need to register to vote with resources in English and Spanish:
Rock The Vote: www.rockthevote.com
Building political power for young people, this website has multiple resources on voter registration for young people, including college students who need information on absentee voting.