advocacy101: advocacy in action
DESCRIPTION
Description: Learn the ABC’s of advocacy: this webinar will cover the basics of advocating for your agency and the clients that you serve. Facilitator: Matthew Hamilton-Kraft, Director of Youth Services, Chautauqua Opportunities, Inc., Jamestown, NYTRANSCRIPT
Getting Started:
Giving Your Vision a Voice
“How wonderful that nobody need wait a single moment
before starting to improve the world.” - Anne Frank
Webster’s Definition –
to speak or write in support of
something
Practical Definition –
Providing information in a
manner which will generate
concern, interest AND action.
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What concerns or barriers do you have regarding your advocacy efforts?
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People can be moved enough by a particular story, issue or experience that motivates them to make an effort to affect change.
Crisis Center story...
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Inspiration
Anger We act because Frustration we choose to Excitement react to an internal Job Requirement or external stimulus. Personal Experience Exposure to Need
What else?
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Local, state and federal policies do not impact local programming
Only my administrators can be the “voice” of our agency
You have to be an expert to talk to policymakers
You have to be a lobbyist to have an impact on policymakers
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Other people will speak to the policymakers about this issue
Non-profit charitable 501(c)(3) organizations and those who work in them are not allowed to do policy work
Policymakers only listen to the rich, famous or people in their own party
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Talk with your supervisor about your interest.
Review existing your organization’s policies and procedures.
Create a list of options for involvement that would fall within those policies and procedures.
Know that you can and should consider taking part in advocacy activities, as they represent your opinion, on your own time when necessary. National Safe Place Program 8
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Advocacy is a critical piece of
creating policy. Legislators at all
levels rely on the expertise of
others to help inform their
decisions. The time you spend
educating and increasing
awareness of your program and
youth issues is time well spent.
Each story, each letter, each call,
and each visit are part of the
wheel that keeps the process
moving.
A D V O C A C Y
Know Your Audience Who do you want to get your message to?
Who has the power to make the needed change?
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A D V O C A C Y
Deadlines are important. When will the policy/law etc. be voted on?
When will it be introduced and sent to committee?
What are other important times/dates that you need to remember?
What reasonable time lines need to be set for your efforts?
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A D V O C A C Y Utilizing a Variety of communication methods are key to reaching the right person at the right time in the right way. write letters or opinion editorials create petitions make phone calls hold a press conference sponsor a community rally get the story featured on a television program do a radio interview
What can your group do that will call attention to your efforts in positive
ways?
A D V O C A C Y
Opposition doesn’t mean enemy. Who will be those on the opposite side of your
issue? How do you create a response? Remember that you do not want to create
adversaries. Someone who may disagree about one issue may be your strongest ally on another.
If two people agree on everything all the time – only one of
them is doing the thinking.
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A D V O C A C Y
Change can be a challenge and yet it is
rarely as bad as we feared. Uncertainty supports reticence to stray from the norm.
What are you working toward and why is
there a change needed? What evidence supports you? What stories do you have?
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A D V O C A C Y
Action Plans are important for individual and group
efforts.
What is the timeline for who will do what? When will they do it and where? What contingency plans are in place for the
unexpected? How will you evaluate your progress? While action plans are not written in stone, an approach that
demonstrates coordination and cooperation can also influence policymakers.
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A D V O C A C Y
Collaboration brings multiple voices and increased opportunity to efforts.
Who can you call on to lend support? What are other groups, organizations,
businesses, government or media entities that are potential partners? How will you make them aware of your issue and
gain their support? Who plays what role in the collaboration and why? Working with others can be successful when the common goal is put before individual agendas. Safe Place programs have long been recognized as models for collaborative efforts between the public and private sector. How can these existing partnerships be maximized?
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A D V O C A C Y Your level of Commitment can inspire
others. What will each member of your team do to make
the vision a reality? How do you demonstrate your willingness to get
involved and make a difference?
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The line is open for questions regarding the topic at hand, personal experiences in advocacy efforts or assistance regarding a current situation.
What’s on your mind – or on your to do list?
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www.thomas.loc.gov
www.senate.gov
www.house.gov
www.allianceforjustice.org Are there other
www.independentsector.org resources that
www.nn4youth.org you utilize or
www.nydic.org can identify?
www.ncmec.org
www.1800runaway.org
www.cwla.org
http://clpi.org
http://www.endhomelessness.org
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Forward legislative alerts
Provide templates for letters, calls, etc.
Forward media opportunities
Letters of support
Training and networking opportunities
NOLA 2012 Conference
What else?
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Executive Director: Laurie Jackson [email protected]
Organizational Advancement Director: Susan Harmon
Program Development & Research Director: Robin Donaldson
Program Coordinator: Sherry Casey
Communications Coordinator: Hillary Bond
Grantwriter: Amy Sanders
Office Manager: Julie Arney
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The staff of the National Safe Place Program and the members
of the National Safe Place Advisory Board appreciate your commitment, dedication and ongoing efforts on behalf of youth and families in every community. Please don’t hesitate to contact us if we can be of further assistance. Until next time – Best Wishes!
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.”
Margaret Mead, American Anthropologist
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