Advocacy

Children’s Congress

Congratulations to Caroline Cain and Haley Palmore who were chosen to represent Southwest Ohio as part of JDRF’s Children Congress in 2011. Caroline and Haley had the opportunity to speak in front of the US Congress with delegates from other states as well, to discuss the need for funding type 1 diabetes. Palmore said, “Children’s Congress is a fabulous opportunity for kids with T1D to go to Washington and meet with people who make decisions about research funding. It is a great way for all participants to get the message across to their respective legislators and make a real difference in JDRF’s quest to cure T1D. With participants representing every state, this large group makes their presence known in DC and gets noticed!” Caroline said, “It was amazing; I felt right at home.” 

What Is Children’s Congress: 
Every two years, JDRF International Chairwoman Mary Tyler Moore and over 100 children with Type 1 Diabetes who have been chosen gather in Washington, D.C. to meet face-to-face with some of the top decision-makers in the U.S. government. The children, ages 4 to 17, represent all 50 states and the District of Columbia. As participants in JDRF’s Children’s Congress, they have a unique and empowering opportunity to help members of Congress understand what life with type 1 diabetes is like and why research to find the cure for diabetes and its complications is so critical.

President Barack Obama met with more than 150 children and teenagers with type 1 diabetes last year.

For more information, visit Children’s Congress.

Special Diabetes Program

We’re on this Path Together

The combination of federal diabetes research funding and JDRF’s own investment has become one of the world’s most effective public-private partnerships focused on disease research. This partnership has yielded impressive research advances much faster than anyone believed possible a decade ago. We must build upon this momentum in research and continue leveraging this success, which is bringing us closer to a cure for type 1 diabetes and its complications. The Special Diabetes Program (SDP)-funded research has led to new and better treatments, improved technologies, and a greater understanding of diabetes — all of which mean better lives for people with diabetes. A few of the top research findings that demonstrate a strong return on the federal investment are in the following areas: research uncovering the causes of type 1 diabetes, preventing, treating, and reversing type 1 diabetes and complications.

We are thrilled to report that, as one of the final acts of the 112th Congress, the U.S. House of Representatives also approved a broad bipartisan bill that included $150 million for the SDP, extending the program for an additional year. This accomplishment is due to the tremendous leadership of our champions on Capitol Hill and to the incredible efforts of JDRF volunteers and staff who spent countless hours advocating for this critical research funding. With this extension, our nation can continue to make remarkable scientific progress in managing and treating type 1 diabetes while working toward a cure, and improving lives while reducing health care costs to our nation.

For more on this program please click here.

It is JDRF’s top legislative priority for 2013 to renew the Special Diabetes Program, which is set to expire after this year. The program must be renewed this year to continue large-scale clinical trials and proactively plan next steps to maximize research opportunities and most effectively allocate research dollars. To help with this important initiative, register as an advocate (details below).

Promise To Remember Me

The Promise To Remember Me Campaign is a coordinated effort to schedule and complete as many meetings as possible between representatives and senators and their constituents in their local districts. In addition to building relationships with federal lawmakers, it allows JDRF to continue the momentum and messaging established through our Children’s Congress event.

How you can get involved:

The Southwest Ohio Chapter of JDRF is always looking for people to become advocates. Advocates write their members of Congress about the importance of upcoming bills that impact diabetes research and can send emails to friends, family, and co-workers about important legislation that involves diabetes. Advocates also make personal visits to elected officials to share the impact diabetes has on their families. Even if you are not “politically connected,” we would love to have you as part of our advocacy team!

To learn more about becoming an advocate for JDRF, contact Tara Listermann at 513-793-3223 or email tlistermann@jdrf.org.

OH Specialty License Plate for JDRF

We need your help! Let the state of Ohio know how much we would like a JDRF speciality license plate. It passed in Kentucky, now it’s Ohio’s turn. We only need 500 petitions signed. JDRF will receive proceeds for our mission so please completely fill out the application here!