Make September 2010 Pain Awareness Month in YOUR State! Here's How....

by Heather Grace

It has never been more important for people to work together to fight the problems surrounding pain treatment. You can make a difference... How? Encourage your State Governor's Office to proclaim September 2010 as PAIN AWARENESS MONTH, (PAM) officially.

What exactly is a Proclamation?
A proclamation is an official public announcement of a celebration. State or local governments (governors or mayors) can issue proclamations. Proclamations can use dry, official language, or straightforward, simple language. The document is signed by a public official, such as the governor.

Checklist for Submitting & Securing a Pain Awareness Month Proclamation

1. If you don’t have contact information for your Governor or are not sure of how to go about requesting a proclamation type the following phrase into a search engine (like Google) see what comes up. Phrase: “submitting a proclamation request to Governor [your Governor’s name] in [state name]”

2. Once you have the contact information for state governor’s office, initiate contact and find out:
• the protocol and timeline for requesting a proclamation
• name and contact information for the administrative assistant in charge of proclamation requests
• if any other group or organization has already submitted a request for a PAM proclamation
• if there is a signing ceremony with the governor and, if so, the date and time
• how to submit some draft language (fax, e-mail, snail mail)

3. If another group or organization has already submitted a request for a PAM proclamation, ask the Governor’s office contact if your organization’s name or the American Pain Foundation can be added to the list of supporters in the proclamation language.

4. If no other group or organization has submitted a request, you can either a) proceed with submitting your request OR b) let the Governor’s office contact know you will be submitting a request soon but first want to make some contacts with other groups whom might like to collaborate with you on the request.

5. Other collaborators to consider:
• Your state’s Power Over Pain Action Network – A leader directory can be found at:
http://www.painfoundation.org/poweroverpain/default.asp?file=map.htm
• Your State Pain Initiative – Contact list can be found at:
http://www.aspi.wisc.edu/stcont.htm
• American Cancer Society Chapter – e-mail ican@acscan.org to get contact info for your state
• State Hospice Organization – try Googling “[state name] hospice and palliative care
organization”
• Local chapter of American Society for Pain Management Nursing – Chapter list can be
found at: http://www.aspmn.org/Organization/chapter_list.htm
• State nursing organization - try Googling “[state name] nurses association”
• National Association of Social Workers state chapter – Contact list can be found at: http://www.socialworkers.org/chapters/default.asp.
• Other self-help groups, i.e. Arthritis Foundation, MS Society, Lupus, Sjogrens, etc. Chapters can be found by Googling the organization’s name.

6. Complete the proclamation template, including the sample letter and proclamation, below. Fill in the blanks with the needed information and then save as a Word file on your computer so you can print it, fax it, e-mail it or mail it, as needed. If
some of your collaborators want to co-sign the letter, add their organizational name.

7. Copy/paste the cover letter into Word. Fill in the blanks with the needed information and then save it as a Word file on your computer desktop. If some of your collaborators want to co-sign the letter, add their contact information and e-signatures.

8. Even if you submitted it on-line using a template provided to you, consider sending a hard copy draft proclamation and cover letter to Governor’s office.

9. After a week, check back with the Governor’s office contact to make sure the request was received. At that time also confirm the following:
• When the final version on the proclamation will be ready
• Date, time, and locale for signing ceremony - be sure to ask is there will be an official photographer present and, if so, how you can get order a copy of the official photo.
• If there is no signing ceremony, request that the office send the finished proclamation directly to you as soon as it is finished. Be sure your contact information is included on all correspondence. And, it can’t hurt to ask if there is any possibility the Governor will pose for a photo with you (your group) at his/her convenience.

10. Convey this information to any collaborators, and make needed travel plans (if needed).

Tips for Leveraging Your Pain Awareness Month Proclamation

1. Let the Governor’s office know how you intend to use the proclamation. For example, let them know that recognition of September as Pain Awareness Month is a way to raise awareness about the under treatment of pain and the barriers to effective pain management. Give them examples of the types of outreach you plan to do in the community to highlight the proclamation, such as media coverage of the proclamation or a community outreach event. Be sure to let the Governor’s office know of any events which occur as a result of the proclamation, this will improve your chances of getting their attention for another proclamation in following years.

2. Ask them if they will issue a press release for PAM (see example at www.conqueringpaintogether.org) to the media and also on their official website.

3. Issue your own press release mentioning proclamation and/or signing ceremony where appropriate.

4. Ask any PAM collaborators who worked with you on submitting the proclamation request to issue their own PAM release, including an acknowledgment that the Governor issued a proclamation. Forward your press release and invite them to use any of the content they find helpful. Ask them to notify you if a release goes out.

5. If you submit an op-ed piece or letter to the editor, mention that the Governor/city official declared September as Pain Awareness Month. Think about using an op-ed as a way to promote your PAM events.

6. Use the proclamation as an opportunity to reach out to your elected officials and remind them of the important role they play in helping to remove the barriers to the adequate assessment and treatment of pain.

7. Give copies of the proclamation to non-profit health organizations, support groups, etc. so, they, in turn, can promote awareness month and their services to persons in pain as well.

GOOD LUCK! Together, we can make a difference!

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CA Sample Letter
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June 1, 2010

Dear Governor,

On behalf of the American Pain Foundation, Intractable Pain Patients United, For Grace, ThePainStore.com, as well as pain patients throughout the state of California, I am writing to you today to ask for your support in declaring September 2010, once again, as Pain Awareness Month in California.

Pain is a national healthcare crisis--affecting tens of millions of Americans. It is the number one reason people seek medical care. Women and minorities suffer disproportionately. Undertreated pain has serious physiological, psychological, and social consequences. Pain weakens the immune system and slows recovery from disease or injury. Uncontrolled pain diminishes quality of life.

Pain costs our economy $100 billion in medical costs and lost workdays. Undertreated pain drives up the cost of healthcare, because it extends lengths of stay in hospitals, increases emergency room visits, and leads to unplanned clinic visits.

When pain is treated properly, many people can resume their lives. Treatments are available today to manage or greatly ease most pain, so people with pain should not suffer needlessly. People often mistakenly believe that pain is something they “just have to live with.” They are often made to feel that the pain is “just in their heads.”

Unfortunately, many barriers prevent effective pain treatment. Limited access to health care systems, prescribed pain treatments, or sites of care is seriously impeding pain sufferers’ ability to get their pain appropriately assessed and treated. Furthermore, a dearth of trained pain specialists, overly restrictive regulatory policies, and the public’s negative stereotypes about pain are standing in the way of ensuring appropriate and effective pain care for all. THIS HAS GOT TO STOP. Now is the time to ensure appropriate pain treatment for patients everywhere!

Congress declared the 10-year period that began January 1, 2001, as the Decade of Pain Control and Research. While progress has been made, much is left to do. We hope that we can count on your support to let your constituents know that having their pain taken seriously is a concern we jointly share.

We hope you will find the enclosed draft language helpful in crafting a proclamation declaring September 2010 as Pain Awareness Month in California. Thank you for your attention to this very important issue. Please don’t hesitate to contact me, should you have any questions.

Sincerely,
Heather Grace
Member, IPPU
Founder, ThePainStore.com

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Draft - September 2010: Pain Awareness Month
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WHEREAS, physical pain affects tens of millions of Americans and untreated or inadequately treated pain can harm quality of life by diminishing the ability to function, socialize and be productive; and

WHEREAS, despite this prevalence, access to appropriate and effective pain care remains a barrier for many Americans due to limited access to health care systems, appropriately trained pain specialists, prescribed pain treatments, or sites of care or pharmacies, as well as, negative stereotypes about pain, and

WHEREAS, pain takes an economic toll on our country, costing billions of dollars each year in medical expenses, lost wages, reduced productivity, and other costs; and

WHEREAS, improved pain management education and an effective multi-disciplinary treatment approach can help reduce suffering and remove barriers to pain-free living; and

WHEREAS, the American Pain Foundation, Intractable Pain Patients United, For Grace, ThePainStore.com, and a variety of other professional and consumer organizations exist to advocate for people experiencing pain by increasing awareness and promoting access to appropriate pain treatment for all Californians,

NOW THEREFORE, I, Arnold Schwarzenegger, GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF California, do hereby proclaim September 2010 as:

PAIN AWARENESS MONTH

IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused to be affixed the Great Seal of the State of California, in the City of Sacramento, this 1st day of September, 2010.

*** Signature of the Governor and Seal HERE ****