Serve as a collective voice: ICA staff represent the needs of IC patients, researchers, and healthcare providers. Our team regular meets with legislators and key Congressional decision makers.

• Past ICA advocacy efforts resulted in an SSA ruling that makes it easier for people with IC to obtain disability benefits
  
  
• Regular communications with the National Institutes of Health allow the ICA to keep NIH research efforts focused on the needs of IC patients, researchers, and healthcare providers.

Raise awareness: Through a collaborative block grant, the ICA and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention partner to raise awareness about IC among the medical community and the public.

Build strategic partnerships: To increase our reach and organizational impact, the ICA works collaboratively with other organizations:

• Association of Reproductive Health Professionals (ARPH). Working with continuing medical education provider ARHP, the ICA collaboratively developments professional education programs that help to improve the knowledge of healthcare providers and optimize patient care.
  
  
• American Urologic Association’s IC Treatment Guidelines. As a member of this committee, the ICA gives the more than one million people with IC a voice in the development of standard treatment protocols.
  
  
• Coalition for Urologic Research and Education (CURE). In collaboration with hundreds of thousands of patients, researchers and health-care providers, CURE is committed to improving awareness of and research into urologic health. CURE has done much of the work to advance recognition and sponsorship for the Training and Research in Urology (TRU) Act.
  
  
• National Health Council. With the aim of improving the health of all people, particularly those with chronic diseases and/or disabilities, ICA membership in the National Health Council strengthens our efforts to better the lives of people living with IC.