If you’d like to get involved with U.S. Pain’s recognition of Migraine Awareness Month in June, please consider beginning the process now to obtain a proclamation in your state or town. Some government offices require several months of advanced notice. Here are the steps to take:

1. In order to be considered as the State Migraine Awareness Month Leader for your region, you must first email Shaina Smith, director of state advocacy & alliance development, with the subject line “Migraine Awareness Month,” by April 30.
2. If no one else has signed up prior to your request, you will be sent the official proclamation template to present to your governor. If someone has already signed up in your state, you will be encouraged to submit the request to your town/city government officials. Remember, the more exposure the proclamations receive at the local and state levels, the better!
3. The template can then be emailed to your governor’s office through your state website. Contact requirements for towns and cities vary based on the municipality and its website capabilities. If a proclamation request email is not available, you may call your town leader’s office (mayor, first selectman, town council chair, etc.) or stop by his or her office and ask how to submit a proclamation for consideration. Shaina can provide support throughout the submission process.
4. Once your state, city, or town has approved the request, you must again email Smith with the news and send her another email including a photo of the proclamation itself as soon as it is received. This is an essential part of the process that is necessary to highlight your accomplishment for the pain community on social media, websites, and at events.

By submitting the proclamation request to your state governor’s office and/or town officials, you are supporting the millions of Americans affected by migraine disease. We encourage you to get started today! If you have any questions, please contact Shaina.