Lay the groundwork
- Learn about the medical world, including the culture, language, and realities of the medical providers in your community.
- Build relationships with providers, clinics and organizations over time.
- Recognize and acknowledge barriers, and clearly define the role you are asking the provider to play.
- Be able to explain why a provider is essential to the work.
Define the type of medical provider you think you need
- Who has the necessary knowledge or experience?
- Consider someone in pediatrics, someone in a particular organization, or someone with a specific skill set.
Contact local affiliates to help identify potential partners
- State AAP chapter-https://www.aap.org/en-us/about-the-aap/chapters-and-districts/Pages/Chapters-and-Districts.aspx
- Reach Out & Read affiliate-http://www.reachoutandread.org/about-us/our-organization/affiliates/
- Contact Help Me Grow-https://helpmegrowks.org/contact/
Make your work understandable
- Make it easy for a medical provider to help you– be clear what you are trying to do by explaining things in simple terms, providing context, background information, and key concepts.
- Explain overall strategy and potential benefits to the provider, their organization, and the community.
Make specific request and facilitate success
- Make personal asks to a provider or an organization.
- Make the time commitment explicit, and plainly explain goals and impact.
- Ask what the provider needs from you; offer support and coaching.
- Say thank you, follow up and let them know the impact of their efforts.