First-year members of the Missouri House of Representatives have to hit the ground running at the start of each term. Often, that means diving into topics that are nuanced and sometimes unfamiliar, such as the state’s health policy landscape. That’s why we created the Legislative Learning Cohort to provide nonpartisan information that helps lawmakers make informed decisions.
Spearheaded by MFH’s Health Policy team, along with leadership from long-time collaborator David Winton, Founder and President of Winton Policy Group, the cohort idea began with a simple objective: give incoming legislators a baseline working knowledge about health policy.
“In order for someone to have a 360-degree understanding of health care, you have to have a common set of terms,” said Winton. “Acquiring that knowledge can be hampered by term limits and the complexity of health care issues. We wanted to be proactive and partner with leadership to share neutral information.”
Initial sessions focused on topics like insurance regulation, drug pricing, and Medicaid.
“We focused on first-term House members the year after they were elected. Our goal was to engage legislators with evidence-based material,” added Jessica Petrie Thelemaque, Senior Associate at Winton Policy Group, who also helped launch the project.
Ceremonial signing of HB-115 in the Governor's Office. From left: Rep. Bennie Cook (R-Houston); Jennifer Carter Dochler; Gov. Mike Parson (seated); Kyna Iman, Government Relations for the Missouri Nurses Association (MONA); Rep. Gretchen Bangert (D-Florrisant); Rep. Travis Smith (R-Dora).
At the time, Thomas McAuliffe, former MFH Policy Director, and Alexandra Rankin, former Government Affairs Manager, rounded out the team. They approached (former) House Speaker Todd Richardson to identify potential attendees for the first session. By 2019, 11 Republican House members had participated in the first two cohorts. To date, approximately 60 legislators from both parties have had the opportunity to participate in the workshops.
Some might consider the project a natural outgrowth of the Foundation’s work training community partners as advocates. In 2006, MFH launched the Link Project to help grantees understand the lawmaking process with the goal of building relationships with legislators, sharing knowledge about public health challenges, and sparking policy solutions. Educating legislators about health policy means that when they connect with trained advocates, the two groups are likely to have a shared vocabulary.
In 2006, MFH launched the Link Project to help grantees understand the lawmaking process with the goal of building relationships with legislators, sharing knowledge about public health challenges, and sparking policy solutions.
Today, we offer health policy education resources in many forms for various audiences. MFH Education Day at the Capitol encourages lawmakers and grantees to engage and learn from each other. MFH also creates and commissions numerous publications to inform policymakers and the public about a range of issues including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), paid leave, Medicaid, and harm reduction strategies. Legislative cohort members receive copies of select publications as part of their training. Additionally, the Foundation commissions surveys on health topics to provide a snapshot of public health issues; a recent effort revealed that many Missourians are confused about the legality of birth control.
The four-workshop series, held monthly from July to October each year, gathers experts to lead presentations and discussions. The Health Policy and Advocacy team works with each caucus’ leadership to identify potential members and invite them to participate – resulting in diverse cohorts. Previous participants may return and lead discussions, as well. Jennifer Carter Dochler, Director of Government Affairs, hosts the workshops. The 2023 workshops cover a wide range of topics, including broadband access, Medicaid, maternal health, and behavioral health.
The learning cohort continues to evolve in terms of delivery and topics, and MFH remains dedicated to giving legislators access to nonpartisan research on health and health policy-related issues for years to come. In a time of divided government at national and state levels, the program feels like a step toward cohesion.
Group photo of Jennifer Carter Dochler with the Introductory Capital Workshop attendees during a tour of the Missouri State Capitol (Sept. 2023).
“I’m proud to represent MFH in the Capital,” said Dochler. “Facilitating the learning cohorts, being a trusted source of information for our elected officials – all of it is part of our commitment to helping Missourians live their healthiest lives.”
© 2023 Missouri Foundation for Health
