URGENT ACTION: Ask Your Residents to Make Valentines to Send an Important Message to State Legislators

Dear WHCA Supporter

Educating key Washington lawmakers and their staff about the critical need to close the funding gap and increase the Medicaid operating budget is at the top of our priority list for the 2023 legislative session. To help get their attention, we are delivering Valentines made by residents from facilities like yours as one attention-getting activity in our comprehensive advocacy campaign.

Why should you and your facility participate?
When we deliver your valentines on Capitol Hill, it is an important reminder about the grandparents, parents, and loved ones who rely on long term care support, and about the people who deliver that care. This is a tangible way to add your voice to our advocacy work for long term care funding. 

Here are two ways you can help:
  • First, start working right away with you residents and staff to make valentines for legislators. Pull out the glue and glitter and work with us on this nostalgic reminder for legislators to “Have A Heart” for our residents and caregivers. Please send your valentines to Eric Negomir, WHCA, 303 Cleveland Ave. SE, Suite 206, Tumwater, WA 98501, for arrival no later than Monday, February 13, so that we can distribute them on Valentine’s Day. IMAGES: We'd love for you to take pictures or videos of your valentine-making activities to share with us. Please have each resident who appears in a digital image sign this release form. Please email images and releases to Eric Negomir.

  • Next, connect with your legislators. Write a letter, send an email, make a phone call, or schedule a meeting with lawmakers, either in person or virtually. Include other members of your care teams, and spend 15 minutes briefing key policymakers and/or their staff. Our Advocacy Toolkit will be ready early next week. In the meantime, check out our advocacy webpage or email Eric Negomir at WHCA for information and support. 

Thank you, together we can make a difference in the lives of seniors and people with disabilities.

My best regards,

Lauri St. Ours
Executive Vice President for Governmental Affairs