Do We Engage Or Protest States With Regressive Healthcare Policies?
As the CEO of the Collaborative Family Healthcare Association (CFHA), I want to address a topic that has been on many of our minds: our decision to host conferences in states with regressive policies related to healthcare for women and other justice issues that impact healthcare professionals and the patients we serve.
To begin, I’ll state at the outset that our decisions are made with careful consideration and a conscious stance of engagement rather than absent protest. And, we don’t pretend to have all the right answers. We, meaning the CFHA board and staff, together with member leaders, come together and make the best decision possible for each situation. So, here are some of the reasons why we chose Texas as location for our upcoming conference.
A Stance of Engagement
Our decision to hold conferences in states with controversial policies is not an endorsement of those policies. Rather, it reflects our commitment to engagement. We believe in the power of dialogue and the importance of being present in these regions. By choosing to engage, we aim to foster discussions, share knowledge, and provide support to our members who are directly impacted by these policies. On balance, we asked ourselves whether being present and engaged was more efficacious than protesting via our absence and it was hard to see protest winning over presence.
Supporting Our Members in All States
We have members across the country, including in states with regressive healthcare policies. Abandoning these states would mean abandoning our members who live and work there. These dedicated professionals rely on CFHA for support, resources, and community. We cannot turn our backs on them during challenging times. Instead, we choose to stand with them, offering our support and ensuring they know they are not alone. This is especially true for Texas where some of our most ardent members, including our President, hail from. These teams are caring for women as they struggle with reproductive issues. They are caring for migrants as they struggle with immigration issues. They are caring for LGBTQ+ populations as they struggle to find support. It does not feel right to abandon those care teams.
Because They Asked
We host conferences in areas that members ask us to host conferences, and our San Antonio conference came to be as a result of an application put forth by a group in the southwest Texas region, much the same way our last conference was held in Phoenix, AZ as a result of an Arizona-based group. The planning committee, which hails from that region, is excited to show off their state and the many ways they have overcome barriers to care, including political barriers. This is crucial not just for Texas but for care teams coming from other states with regressive policies to have exemplars and encouragement that you can still provide quality, team-based care in difficult political environments.
A Long-Term Perspective
The issues we face in healthcare are complex and multifaceted. They will not be resolved overnight, and we cannot afford to ignore red-leaning states for decades to come. Change is a long-term process, and we must remain engaged and active in all regions to drive progress. By being present and vocal, we can contribute to meaningful change over time. In other words, we don’t see these issues resolving quickly and thus a decision to protest by avoiding red-leaning states could essentially mean 10 or more years of absence from these states.
Fostering Dialogue and Support
Our conferences are more than just events; they are opportunities for connection, learning, and growth. They provide a platform to discuss pressing issues, share best practices, and support one another. In states where healthcare policies are regressive, our conferences become even more critical as they offer a space for care teams to come together, find solidarity, and develop strategies to navigate the challenges they face. We have opportunities to have these discussions in San Antonio. And we have created a virtual Community Conversation in September ahead of the conference to ensure that we are primed to play an active role in supporting our Texas-based care teams.
Respecting Different Approaches
I want to acknowledge and respect that some may choose protest as their form of engagement. Protest is a powerful tool for change, and those who choose this path have our respect and support. However, given our relatively small size and purchasing power, CFHA believes that our greatest impact comes from being present and actively engaged.
I want to emphasize that our choice to host conferences in all states is driven by a commitment to our members and the belief that engagement is a powerful catalyst for change. We will continue to stand by our members, support their work, and foster dialogue, no matter where they are located. I’m sure some of you disagree with our stance and some may even choose not to come to the conference as a result of its location. I get it. These are tricky times around the dinner table. We just hope we can still be at the dinner table and continue the conversation.
Photo by Aarón Blanco Tejedor on Unsplash
