Arizona Council Of Human Service Providers

The Az Council engages in public policy advocacy at the state and national level on behalf of its member agencies. To impact legislation, most of the effort is on grass roots lobbying. There is some limited direct lobbying. Over 80% of the lobbying or advocacy effort is directed at the regulatory process, not at legislation. The members of the Council provide publicly funded behavioral health and child welfare services. They are heavily impacted by regulations and policies enacted by state agencies. That is the primary focus of the Councils advocacy effort by staff and independent contractors. Staff of the Council and of member agencies and independent contractors serve on work groups and committees and meet regularly with the staff of the Arizona Department of Health Services, Department of Child Safety, the Department of Economic Services and Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS). See Schedule O for details.

To encourage its memebers to engage in public policy efforts, the Council organizes a Day at the Capitol so that its member agencies can meet with legislators themselves. The Council sends out information on legislation, regulations and policies so that its members can express their views to their elected officials. The amount of time spent by Council staff in direct lobbying is minimal (less than 3%). See Schedule O for details.