Advocacy Resources

CCIH Advocacy Toolkit

CCIH released this advocacy toolkit in 2022 that we hope members will be able to use and customize to achieve their advocacy goals. We aim for it to be useful for organizations that have been advocating for years, as well as for those who are just beginning. To help guide development of the toolkit, CCIH conducted several focus group conversations with members to learn more about their advocacy outreach and ways that CCIH might be more effective in supporting those efforts.

CCIH Advocacy Advisor Bob Noziglia wrote this blogpost to share some highlights of those conversations and what we’ve learned, as well as a follow up piece to explore the influence of faith communities a little deeper. We hope you will use the toolkit and we would appreciate hearing from you about your thoughts or suggestions for advocacy tools so we can continuously improve the toolkit.

Why Christians Support Strong Global Health Programs

This two-page brief explains why US support of strong global health programs aligns with Christian values and is a wise investment to protect security and economies.

Christian Voices on the Importance of Advocacy

In this video, CCIH members explain the value of U.S. foreign assistance and why advocating and speaking out for those without a voice is important to them as Christians.

How Faith-based Organizations Can Help Reduce Abortions

This fact sheet discusses how family planning helps reduce abortions with compelling quotes from key prominent Christians working in public health on the effect of family planning in preventing unintended pregnancies to help protect the health of mothers and children.

CCIH Statement on Racial Justice

CCIH joins the global community in insisting that we respect all people regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, and orientation. We are compelled as followers of Christ Jesus to love all and treat all people with dignity. We condemn every occurrence of racial and ethnic division. This is a global plague that destroys families and communities. We all harbor biases, conscious or unconscious, against others that we must work to overcome. See the Statement


Issues & Actions

December, 2022

Faith-based Support for the Keeping Girls in School Act

The Adventist Development and Relief Agency International (ADRA), CCIH, and World Vision joined together to write to Members of Congress in support of the Keeping Girls in School Act (H.R. 4134/S.2276). The Keeping Girls in School Act is a critical piece of legislation that would address the challenges girls are facing in accessing secondary educational opportunities. The letter expressed concern about a demonstrated decline in education levels  in the past two years in low- and middle income countries and emphasized the critical need to keep girls in school.

See The Letter

December, 2022

CCIH Comments on USAID Policy on Engaging Faith-Based and Community Partners

CCIH hosted a Forum Call on December 9, 2022 to receive feedback to the draft policy on engaging faith-based and community partners. During the call CCIH led a discussion on initial feedback and sought input from members on what they would like to see reflected in the policy. After this discussion, CCIH synthesized the feedback and submitted comments to the policy through the USAID website, as well as directly to the Faith Engagement office with USAID.

SEE THE COMMENTS

October, 2022

Support for Global Health and Security in 2023

CCIH joined global health organizations in signing onto letters to the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives encouraging the U.S. Congress’ continued support for robust funding for global health; nutrition; water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH), and biosafety and biosecurity programs. The letter stressed that investments in these programs save lives, transform communities, and advance health equity. In concert with U.S. humanitarian and development programs, these programs are also cost-effective and support U.S. foreign assistance priorities to reduce poverty, achieve gender equality, promote human rights, and improve national and global security by supporting stable, resilient, and democratic communities.

See The Letter

September, 2022

Support to End Global Hunger

CCIH joined other NGOs and faith-based organizations in signing on a letter to thank President Biden for his leadership on the global food crisis and to express alarm at the human toll and potential long-term consequences this crisis has created. The letter describes the current situation of high and rapidly rising food, fertilizer and fuel prices as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change and intensified by the Ukraine conflict, which is exacerbating the devastating trend of rising hunger since 2014. The letter urges additional funding to help address the crisis and save lives.

See The Letter

Advocacy Stories

CCIH Advocacy Teams Share Faith-based Work in Global Health

On June 10th, 2019 CCIH hosted its annual Advocacy Day. This year, we had 10 CCIH members from Ghana, Lesotho, Kenya, Malawi, Uganda, Zaire, and Zimbabwe, as well as six CCIH members based in Maryland, Massachusetts, and Michigan. The teams met with 15 Congressional Offices (14 in the…

CCIH Joins Partners in Malaria Day Hill Reception

Malaria Day Hill Reception On May 7, 2019 CCIH and partners from the Malaria Roundtable (Malaria No More, American Society Tropical Medicine & Hygiene, PATH, United Nations Foundation, Nothing But Nets, and Friends of the Global Fight Against AIDS, TB, and Malaria) co-sponsored a Hill Reception to recognize…

CCIH Members Meet with U.S. Senators to Show Support for Foreign Assistance

Interfaith Working Group for Foreign Assistance Faith Leader Fly-In On May 1, 2019, CCIH participated in the Interfaith Working Group for Foreign Assistance Faith Leader Fly-In where faith leaders meet with Congressional offices to highlight the importance of preserving and expanding these life-saving initiatives. Dr. Perry Jansen, Senior…

CCIH Advocates Take Message to Capitol Hill

Immediately following the conference on July 16, 2018 three groups of CCIH members went to Capitol Hill to advocate for global health and development programs and to discuss the vital role of faith-based organizations in providing care. The three teams had representatives from five U.S. states and eight…

Capitol Hill Briefing on Healthy Families and the Role of Faith Communities

CCIH held a briefing on Capitol Hill on Healthy Families and Communities and the Role of Faith Communities on July 17, 2018 following the CCIH Annual Conference and Advocacy Day. The briefing was moderated by Dr. Alma Golden, Deputy Assistant Administrator, USAID Bureau for Global Health (shown at…

Scripture Motivates Young Advocate to Visit Congress

Love is not just sympathizing with the miseries of others, instead it means making every effort to alleviate their suffering. – Olushola Ogunleye, Liberty University Student and CCIH Advocate The account in Matthew 15:32-39 is one of many places in scripture that inspired Liberty University student Olushola Ogunleye…

CCIH Brings Christian Global Health Work to Capitol Hill

Following the conference on June 20, 2016, three teams of CCIH advocates visited offices on Capitol Hill to discuss the importance of U.S. foreign assistance and the work of Christian organizations in global health. One team visited the offices of Representative Dave Rouzer (R-N.C.), Senator James Lankford (R-Tex.),…

Students Meet with U.S. Congressmen and Staff to Share Christian Perspective

Liberty University student Olubunmi Sharon Obayemi said she always wanted to be a Christian voice encouraging U.S. leaders to support health care for women and children in need. In October 2015 she got her chance when she came to Washington, DC along with other Liberty students participating in…

Christian Global Health Advocates Visit Capitol Hill

On June 29, 2015, 25 advocates from 11 different nations visited Capitol Hill to express their appreciation for U.S. support for global health programs, and share their experiences regarding the critical role faith groups play in health around the globe. Advocates came from Benin, Cameroon, Kenya, Liberia, Nepal,…

Advocacy Day 2014

    The advocates were divided into small groups and visited 26 Capitol Hill offices, including the offices of 19 Republicans and seven Democrats. They shared their personal stories of the positive impacts of U.S. foreign assistance and the support among Christians for international family planning for improved…

Advocacy Day 2013: Global Health Advocates “Tell it from the Heart”

A little rain and waves of tourists didn’t deter Joy Mukaire of the Christian Health Association of South Sudan from her goal of sharing a very important message on Capitol Hill in June 2013. “The message I wanted to put across was that women’s health is at stake….