Abe Saffer Email & Phone Number

Washington, District Of Columbia, United States

• Lead policy and strategy development on issues portfolio, which includes: K-12 general and special education, early intervention, higher education, Medicaid, workforce, diversity, appropriations, mental health, child and family welfare, and disability.• Serve as co-chair the National Alliance of Specialized Instructional Support Personnel (NASISP) and on the executive board of the Title IVA Coalition.• Organize coalitions as needed to advocate for issues, including joint letters, meetings, and coordinated advocacy efforts.• Deliver presentations on issues in my portfolio at national conferences, academia, and other venues.• Communicate with association members and stakeholders via articles, blog posts, email newsletters, and direct contact.• Serve as a mentor for the AOTA occupational therapy doctoral capstone program. • Subject matter expert on the Individuals with Disability Education Act, Higher Education Act, Elementary and Secondary Education Act, and Medicaid in schools. • Key legislative accomplishments:- Drafted and secured passage of legislation to create the Allied Health Workforce Diversity program.- Successfully led the advocacy campaign to secure an additional $3 billion for the IDEA in the American Rescue Plan.- Increased Congressional appropriations for, and successfully added occupational therapy to multiple federal health workforce programs.- Helped secure first ever school mental health workforce grants from the Department of Education for occupation therapy totaling $9.1 million.

• Represent the Association in all advocacy matters with state legislatures and regulatory agencies in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Tennessee, and the District of Columbia. • Key legislative and regulatory accomplishments include:- Drafted legislation and obtained introduction of multiple bills- Directly lobbied on ten legislative and regulatory issues resulting in outcomes consistent with Association priorities- Built and managed multiple coalitions, as well as maintain preexisting coalitions, in order to support advocacy efforts- Coordinated five grassroots lobbying days and served as primary advisor for training of participating volunteers- Provided legislative testimony as well as prepared testimony, fact sheets, and other materials for advocates• Organize increased grassroots and grasstops involvement in Association advocacy efforts by working closely with local advocacy volunteers and staff to recruit new advocates, develop advocacy leaders, facilitate coordination between local and national advocacy work, and integrate advocacy into all Association events. • Coordinate state lobby days and other advocacy events. • Select and supervise contract lobbyists.

Alexandria, Virginia

SENIOR MANAGER, GRASSROOTS AND INTERNAL ADVOCACY (February 2013 - July 2014)To further the Association's advocacy goals, I manage a variety of activities designed to engage and inspire Diabetes Advocates across the country to, including:• Executed overall strategy for grassroots & grasstops advocate recruitment, engagement, cultivation, training and development.• Planned and implemented grassroots campaigns on specific legislative and legal advocacy issues.• Created and executed compelling online action alerts and content for taking action, developing and implementing grassroots strategies using social media, and tracking the success of such efforts.• Assisted in planning and executing federal lobbying and training events (including bi-annual fly-in lobbying event) and providing support for state lobby days.• Developed and maintain advocacy content for Association website.• Assisted in developing resources and training materials for grasstops advocates.• Managed National Youth Advocate program to further involvement among youth.• Gathered and analyze information and data to determine success of efforts and areas for improvement.• Served as initial point of contact for all communications sent in to grassroots email address and responds to constituents accordingly.• Integrated advocacy initiatives throughout the Association.• Worked with other internal department and external consultants.

Montgomery County Maryland

Millennial Strategies provides everything an advocacy or electoral campaign will need to win. We work with you to develop a cutting edge communications strategy including, social media, messaging, and speech writing, a sophisticated campaign organization, accurate research and analysis, as well as a volunteer recruitment and training program. Your effort will rival any campaign.

Annapolis Maryland

Researched, tracked and briefed the Delegate on pending and introduced legislation, liaised with other legislative offices, and the Governor’s administration, regarding policy proposals including health care, criminal justice and education. Managed constituent relations, sending over 150 responses daily.

Washington D.C. Metro Area

In addition to crafting talking points, floor speeches, and voting memos on issues such as education, healthcare, child and family welfare, arts, agriculture, natural resources and foreign affairs, fielded press calls, set up media interviews and briefed the Member on interview topics and questions.

Washington D.C. Metro Area

Managed national grassroots advocacy program, planning and implementing multiple national and statewide grassroots campaigns using E-advocacy software resulting in an increase in volunteer activity by 30% in the first year. Additionally, directly lobbied state and federal policy makers on health care issues.

Master’S Degree, Political Management

Activities and Societies: Teaching Assistant – Semester in Washington Politics

Bachelor’S Degree, Political Science - Concentration In Public Policy, Advocacy And Lobbying

Activities and Societies: Selected to 2004 Capital Scholars Program - Washington D.C. education and internship program