Advovacy

Advovacy

You are a key player in the ongoing effort to increase support for quality school-age care. With just a little effort you can be involved in lobbying local, state, and national policy makers to affect the outcome of legislation that is positive for children and families.

No degree in political science is necessary. You already know a lot about the needs of families and the work your organization does to meet these needs, Share these thought s with your representatives which include: local school board members, mayors, and city council members, county officials, as well as state and federal legislators. Write a letter, make a phone call, and/or arrange a visit. Tell your success stories and your needs. Make your voice heard and you will make a difference.

This tip sheet provides the information and tools you need to be an effective advocate for school-age programs.

General Tips for Contacting Your Legislator

When you plan on contacting your legislator regarding a bill or an issue the following suggestions can help your encounter go smoothly.

Don't be shy. Legislators are people from your community who want and need to know what their constituents are thinking.

Make sure you have accurate reliable information.

Don't assume legislators are as knowledgeable as you about a particular issue. Legislators must deal with hundreds of bills and cannot remember the details of each one.

Don't expect a legislator to remember your name. Introduce yourself at each meeting.

Always have a positive attitude. Never make demands or insult a legislator.

Don't be afraid to ask your legislator where they stand on a particular bill. As a constituent you have a right to know.

Whenever possible try to give your legislator favorable publicity in newsletters and correspondence.

Face to face contact is better than a telephone call and a telephone call is better than a letter.

Avoid hectic days. Opening and closing days of a session are chaotic. Plan to talk to them when they can devote the time that you need and want.

Always thank your legislator for their time. How To Effectively Telephone Your Legislator
Phone calls to a legislator during the session are usually handled by staff. Phone calls by a large number of people can have an impact on how your legislator decides to vote on a particular bill. Developing a telephone tree can be helpful. This allows you to gather constituents quickly. Here are some important tips:

Identify yourself and your legislative district.

Know what you want to say.

Cover the most important information first.

Have notes in front of you so that you can be clear and concise.

State your support for/against the bill or issue.

Keep your conversation brief - no more than 5 minutes. * If your legislator is not available, ask to speak to their aide. Remember to record the name of the aide you speak with for future reference and to thank them.

If you are calling about a specific piece of legislation, know the name and number of the bill.

Inform the person you are speaking with how you feel about the issue and supply any other information requested.

Leave your name, address, phone number, E-Mail address and fax number if you have them. This lets them know you would like to have a reply to your question. Meeting Your Legislator
Getting to know your legislators is the first step in having your voice heard in the decision making process. Legislators have busy schedules so it's important to get your message across quickly. Here are some important tips:

Call for an appointment, explaining the purpose of your visit. If your legislator is unable to meet with you, schedule an appointment with their aide.

Arrive on time or a little early.

If no one is available to meet with you leave your card, letter, a note, or an information page outlining your concern. Include a list of names and addresses of concerned constituents.

Be articulate. The meeting should be brief and concise. If you go with a group, choose a spokesperson ahead of time.

Briefly state who you are and why you are there. Introduce others who may be with you. State why you want the meeting. Briefly talk about the successes of your program and cite specific criteria to support your claims. This will lend you credibility.

Ask for their position on a particular bill or issue.

Leave your card or information sheet.

If the legislator disagrees with you, stay clam, so that you can keep the door open for future encounters and offer to provide further information.

Write a thank you note promptly after your meeting.

If you are at the capitol for any reason, check to see if your representative is available and stop for a visit. Writing To Your Legislator
Legislators are impressed when they receive just five letters on one topic because most people don't take the time to tell them what they think. Legislators are even more impressed when the letters come from the people who live in their own voting district. Your letter can change the way they vote.

TIPS for writing to Legislators:

Build a relationship with your legislator, refer to past meetings, mutual friends or past support.

When referring to bills make sure you have the correct name and number.

Avoid professional jargon. Use your own words.

Relate real-life examples to illustrate your point.

Focus on one issue per letter. Be succinct.

If you're opposing legislation, make sure you have constructive alternatives to offer.

Always keep the tone of your letter cordial and polite. Never threaten! Open and close with statements that will establish rapport, such as, "I know you are concerned with the welfare of children and will take appropriate action on this issue."

Show your strength. Mention numbers of children and families served.

Avoid form letters.

Write (or call) more than once. Your input is critical at three stages:

Initially to urge sponsorship.

Next, to encourage passage of proposed legislation.

Before it comes to a full vote, to urge your legislator to vote for or against the bill. Ask for a response. Write a letter of appreciation when your legislator acts in accordance with your Recommendations. * The following is an example of key points when writing concerning a specific bill:

I am an educator in the ___________ Program in the __________ School District which serves __________ families.

State the bill's name and House or Senate File Number.

State how the bill affects school-age care.

State how the bill affects your program personally.

Tell the benefits the bill has made for your program.

Conclude with "For the above mentioned reasons, I would ask you to support (or not to support) bill name and number. Thank you for your time and attention."

Sign your full name and address.* The following is an example of key points when writing concerning a specific issue:

I am an educator in the ___________ Program in the ___________ School District which serves ____________ families.

Clearly state what you want your legislator to know. Relate the facts to yourself and your program.

State what action you want taken.

Conclude with "Thank you for your time and attention."

Sign your full name and address.

E-Mailing Your Legislators

Write an E-Mail message just like you would write a personal note.

Put a salutation at the beginning of your message, e.g., "Dear Senator Smith."

Add your name at the end of the message.

Be brief and to the point.

Even though your address will appear on the message sheet, you should always include it separately, especially if you would like a response.

DO NOT put anything in an E-Mail message that could not be read by everyone.

How to find a legislator's E-mail address?

Resources:
Minnesota School-Age Care Alliance Advocacy Handbook: Speak Out for Kids' Sake, 1997.
Children's Defense Fund: School-Age Care Federal Funding Opportunities, Blank, Helen and Wade, Kim. Washington, D.C., 1999.

WCCIP • 2109 S. Stoughton Road, Madison WI 53716 • Ph 800.366.3556 • Fx 608.224.6178
These tip sheets developed by WCCIP, March 1998 with funding from the WI Dept. of WFD, Office of Child Care, and DHFS