Policy and Advocacy Consultant

Community Health Commission of MissouriRequest for Proposal (RFP)Issue Date: Tuesday, December 2, 2025Response Application Deadline: Wednesday, December 17, 2025Contract Duration: January 2025-May 2026About CHCMAs a statewide organization, the Community Health Commission of Missouri (CHCM) works to advance health equity by acknowledging and addressing the individual and structural trauma that impacts health outcomes and access to care. Vision: CHCM envisions achieving zero health disparities through community and health system partnerships.Mission: We power the connection of community and systems to co-create innovative solutions that yield health equity in all policies and outcomes. Grounded in four areas of impact—Community-led Equity and Healing, Policy and Systems Transformation, Workforce and Capacity Building, and Data, Accountability, and Collaboration—CHCM advances initiatives that improve access to high-quality health care, increase public trust, and enhance health outcomes across Missouri. We bring impact areas to life through our 6Ps of Practice:• Centering community voice through a Participatory framework,• Applying an equity-centered Policy screen to all initiatives,• Investing in Pipeline programs to cultivate diverse leadership,• Empowering People in our communities to heal and thrive,• Advancing Place-based strategies that strengthen community health, and• Sustaining strong Partnerships to drive collective impact.CHCM serves as a trusted partner in advancing health equity by connecting the communities most impacted by structural inequities with healthcare providers, public health institutions, legislators, education systems, social service providers, and statewide coalitions. Project DescriptionOur work is rooted in Equity-Centered Trauma-Informed Care (EC-TIC), which integrates an understanding of trauma’s effects, the risk of re-traumatization, and the multiple pathways to healing. EC-TIC adds a crucial equity lens, centering communities historically marginalized by systemic inequities and working to transform the cultures, systems, policies, and institutions that shape health and well-being.CHCM is actively seeking a short-term policy partner during the 2026 Missouri Legislative Session while we are restructuring and preparing to hire a full-time team leader in Policy and Advocacy. This partnership will support our Policy and Systems Transformation impact area and ensure CHCM is positioned as a trusted, equity-centered intermediary in state policy discussions. We seek the following skills in a contracted partner:• Demonstrated experience in Missouri legislative advocacy, public policy, or government relations• Knowledge of health equity, SDOH (social determinants of health), and public health systems• Familiarity with trauma-informed care• Demonstrated experience creating policy communications (e.g., briefs, alerts, testimony)• Understanding of 501c3/c4 lobbying compliance• Strong relationships with statewide partners• Ability to translate complex policy into accessible language for diverse stakeholders• Timely and rapid response during legislative session• Ability for statewide travel preferred; remote participation is acceptable with timely availability for hearings and partner meetingsScope of WorkLegislative Strategy and Session Support• Conduct ongoing monitoring of Missouri General Assembly activity related to CHCM’s priorities (SDOH, Medicaid, CHIP, behavioral health, mental health, public health, education, and workforce development).• Provide weekly bill tracking, analysis, and recommendations. • Draft talking points, testimony, and timely response analyses that reflect an EC-TIC lens by centering community perspectives, identifying harmful consequences, and addressing equity impacts of proposed legislation. • Prepare CHCM leaders and CHCM’s policy and advocacy committee for legislative engagement. • Co-develop a Missouri Legislative Session Strategy in alignment with CHCM’s four areas of impact. Communications and Messaging• Create a comprehensive 2026 Legislative Calendar.• Co-develop policy one-pagers, briefs, and action alerts for diverse and key audiences (e.g., community-based organizations, community members, legislators, health care institutions, education partners, etc.). • Refine and finalize a Policy Screen grounded in EC-TIC and CHCM’s 6Ps of Practice. • Provide communications guidance for partner-facing social media channels. Statewide Policy Leadership• Recommend partnerships, coalitions, and advocacy networks aligned with CHCM’s mission, vision, and policy goals.• Identify opportunities for community voice, testimony, and storytelling to shape policy narratives. • Serve as a technical advisor to inform statewide policy and advocacy priorities. • Provide recommendations for how CHCM can build long-term visibility and credibility as a statewide intermediary on health equity, EC-TIC, and community-informed policy. Deliverables• 2026 Missouri Legislative Session Strategy and Calendar• Policy priorities messaging framework and Policy Screen aligned to CHCM’s four areas of impact• Weekly policy analysis summaries (1-2 pages) with precise bill tracking, implications, and recommended actions• Minimum of 3 policy communications per month to include (briefs, alerts, one-pagers, or testimony as needed and based on legislative activity, etc.)• Testimony templates with regional messaging and talking points• End-of-session summary report and recommendations for sustaining and deepening CHCM’s Policy and Systems Transformation area of impactBudgetUp to $30,000 ($5,000 per month), including time and expenses.Payments will be structured in a Memorandum of Understanding and aligned with deliverables. Proposal Requirements• Cover letter summarizing relevant experience• Proposed approach and timeline for the scope of work• A proposed budget and fixed fee rate• Three relevant examples of similarly situated policy briefs, projects, action alerts, policy recommendations, etc. • Two professional references or clients familiar with the consultants’ policy workEvaluation Criteria• Alignment with CHCM’s mission and vision• Familiarity with EC-TIC principles• Budget feasibility and value added• References and submission strength• Capacity to meet rapid-response demands during sessionSubmissionPlease email your proposal materials to Velva Hollimon, Chief Operating Officer, [email protected] by December 17, 2025.Equal Opportunity Statement:The Community Health Commission of Missouri is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. Pay: Up to $5,000.00 per monthWork Location:Remote Apply tot his job