Mary Dunne StewartVoices for Virginia’s Childrenmds@vakids.org

Cate NewbanksFACES of Virginia Familiescnewbanks@facesofvirginia.org

How to be an Advocate…

What you will hear today:What you will hear today:

– What families can do to influence the laws and What families can do to influence the laws and policies that shape the services and supports they policies that shape the services and supports they need.need.

– Who are the “players”? How can families reach Who are the “players”? How can families reach them?them?

– What resources are available to help negotiate What resources are available to help negotiate

and navigate the system?and navigate the system?

Laws Do not Just HappenLaws Do not Just Happen

They start with an “idea” that spreads. And They start with an “idea” that spreads. And getting a law passed requires a lot of getting a law passed requires a lot of ADVOCACY.ADVOCACY.

Good laws also require constant vigilance to Good laws also require constant vigilance to preserve their intent. preserve their intent.

Who Can We Influence Who Can We Influence Through Advocacy?Through Advocacy?

Use Advocacy to educate and influence others including Elected Representatives, Media, and the General Public.

There are different types of Advocacy:

1) Self-Advocacy 2) Individual Advocacy3) Legal Advocacy 4) Legislative Advocacy

Today, we are talking aboutLegislative Advocacy.

Legislative AdvocacyLegislative Advocacy

Recognize the Power You Have !

If you are a foster, kinship, or adoptive parent,

YOU ARE AN EXPERT.

Legislators need to learn from YOU how issues affect foster families so that they can

respond by crafting policy and legislation that is helpful.

Preparing for your visitPreparing for your visit

Plan – like a lawyer preparing argumentsPlan – like a lawyer preparing arguments

Assume you will have only 10-15 minutesAssume you will have only 10-15 minutes

Assemble supporting materials (e.g. fact sheets, Assemble supporting materials (e.g. fact sheets, coalition documents, local newspaper articles)coalition documents, local newspaper articles)

Research your legislator – http://legis.state.va.usResearch your legislator – http://legis.state.va.us– Areas of interestAreas of interest– Past votes on early childhood billsPast votes on early childhood bills– Committee assignmentsCommittee assignments– Latest gossip (just kidding!)Latest gossip (just kidding!)

Advocacy Do’s –Advocacy Do’s – Meeting with Policymakers Meeting with PolicymakersMeet with legislators in their district when Meet with legislators in their district when the General Assembly is NOT in sessionthe General Assembly is NOT in session

If during session, try to limit your meeting If during session, try to limit your meeting to 1 (or 2 at most) issueto 1 (or 2 at most) issue

Leave succinct talking points with the Leave succinct talking points with the legislatorlegislator

Don’t be afraid to say “I don’t know, but I’ll Don’t be afraid to say “I don’t know, but I’ll find out and get back with you”find out and get back with you”

Winding upWinding up

Summarize your main pointsSummarize your main pointsAsk Ask ““Are there other early childhood issues you Are there other early childhood issues you

would like to know more about?”would like to know more about?”““How can we help you? Are you sponsoring any How can we help you? Are you sponsoring any

bills that we can help you with?”bills that we can help you with?”““Can you help our coalition by….?”Can you help our coalition by….?”

Follow up! Especially with a thank you Follow up! Especially with a thank you note if the legislator voted with younote if the legislator voted with you

Advocacy Rules to RememberAdvocacy Rules to Remember

Know your barriers.

Be non-partisan.

Know the legislative process.

Get to know the legislative aide.

Stay on message.

Don’t get discouraged.

RELAX!

Advocacy Don’tsAdvocacy Don’ts

Get angry if a policymaker disagrees with Get angry if a policymaker disagrees with youyou

Threaten – “I won’t vote for you if…”Threaten – “I won’t vote for you if…”

Be too “emotional” or “passionate”Be too “emotional” or “passionate”

ExaggerateExaggerate

Waste the legislators‘ timeWaste the legislators‘ time

Things To RememberThings To Remember

Part-time legislaturePart-time legislature

Time crunch during sessionTime crunch during session

Loyalty to their party, region, Loyalty to their party, region, profession, industry, religionprofession, industry, religion

Legislators want to do the right Legislators want to do the right thing (and get reelected!)thing (and get reelected!)

VocationAttorneys

Business ownersRetired

Business execsEducators

others

Ways to Communicate with Ways to Communicate with Your LegislatorsYour Legislators

A face to face meetingA face to face meeting is the most effective. is the most effective.

Personal letters or personal emailsPersonal letters or personal emails

Use Use telephone callstelephone calls when a critical vote is when a critical vote is imminent and you don’t have time to write.imminent and you don’t have time to write.

Petitions and form emailsPetitions and form emails are considerably are considerably less than personal lettersless than personal letters

Using an Using an online systemonline system is very easy and is very easy and takes the user less than one minute. takes the user less than one minute.

Using Personal StoriesUsing Personal Stories

WHY?WHY?

• Makes affected constituents visible- the issue is not Makes affected constituents visible- the issue is not abstract or just about a line item in the budget, but abstract or just about a line item in the budget, but real children and familiesreal children and families

• Legislators listen to their constituents more than Legislators listen to their constituents more than professional advocatesprofessional advocates

• Making it personal is a top communications tip from Making it personal is a top communications tip from national strategic communications and market national strategic communications and market research firmresearch firm

Using Personal Stories (cont’d)Using Personal Stories (cont’d)

HOW?HOW?Identify parents and families willing to speak up Identify parents and families willing to speak up and identify opportunities; identify your own and identify opportunities; identify your own personal connectionpersonal connection

Legislative Strategies:Legislative Strategies:– Team up parent and professional staff for a legislative Team up parent and professional staff for a legislative

visitvisit– Have parents/family members testify at public Have parents/family members testify at public

hearings and be available for mediahearings and be available for media– Invite legislators and committee staff for a visit that Invite legislators and committee staff for a visit that

involves meeting familiesinvolves meeting families

Using Personal Stories (cont’d)Using Personal Stories (cont’d)

Other Strategies: Other Strategies:

– Take youth to rallies (with permission, of Take youth to rallies (with permission, of course)course)

– Get creative! e.g. send artwork or photos with Get creative! e.g. send artwork or photos with advocacy letters advocacy letters

Don’t forget to use the MediaDon’t forget to use the Media

Letters to the EditorLetters to the Editor– Keep them short and simpleKeep them short and simple– Write to the major newspapers AND community Write to the major newspapers AND community

newspapersnewspapers

Be a source – Let advocacy organizations Be a source – Let advocacy organizations know if you are willing to speak to the pressknow if you are willing to speak to the press

ResourcesResources

FACES of Virginia’s FamiliesFACES of Virginia’s Families

www.facesofvirginia.org www.facesofvirginia.org

The Virginia Poverty Law CenterThe Virginia Poverty Law Center

www.vplc.org www.vplc.org

Voices for Virginia’s ChildrenVoices for Virginia’s Children

www.vakids.org www.vakids.org

Time to BrainstormTime to Brainstorm

Questions and DiscussionQuestions and Discussion

Thanks for coming!