Apply Now for Online 2021 Young Adult Advocacy Summit
Applications are now open for the Hemophilia Federation of America’s 2021 Young Adult Advocacy Summit, or YAAS, which will be held virtually Sept. 19-20. The deadline to apply is Aug. 20.
The summit targets adults between the ages of 18 and 30 who have a bleeding disorder such as hemophilia. The goal of YAAS is to train participants in personal and legislative advocacy on behalf of the bleeding disorders community by offering peer support and hands-on training.
Participants will learn about federal and state policy issues that affect people with bleeding disorders, as well as about health insurance for young adults. Training will focus on how to share one’s personal story in a communications workshop and how to use social media for legislative advocacy. There will be opportunities for participants to practice their advocacy and communications skills in virtual Congressional office meetings.
The YAAS participants also will have a chance to meet and connect with other young adults with hemophilia and other bleeding disorders. The summit is intended to build networks across the bleeding disorders community and encourage advocacy at the local level.
YAAS 2021 was originally intended to be held in-person in Washington, D.C. Based on recent guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention concerning the Delta variant of COVID-19, however, the event will be held entirely online. The summit’s agenda will remain the same and all sessions will be held via Zoom.
The Sept. 19 session, running from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET, will be an advocacy training workshop. On Sept. 20, YAAS participants will visit with members of the U.S. Congress.
Summit attendees will receive a $30 gift card for a meal delivery service of their choice for use during the Sept. 19 advocacy training workshop. Before the summit, they also will receive a toolkit via email, which will contain background information and resources to prepare for the legislative visits.
The Hemophilia Federation of America is a national nonprofit dedicated to addressing the needs of the bleeding disorders community. A patient education, services, and advocacy organization, it works to improve quality of life for people with hemophilia, von Willebrand disease, and other rare bleeding disorders. The federation conducts a range of adult outreach initiatives and offers a variety of assistance programs.
For more information about YAAS or other young adult activities, reach out to HFA’s policy and advocacy team at [email protected] or call (202)-675-6984.
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