How Advocacy Shapes the Laws that Determine Rights and Responsibilities

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How to be an Advocate
Mary Dunne Stewart Voices for Virginias
Children mds_at_vakids.org Cate Newbanks FACES
of Virginia Families cnewbanks_at_facesofvirginia.org

2
What you will hear today

• What families can do to influence the laws and
  policies that shape the services and supports
  they need.
• Who are the players? How can families reach
  them?
• What resources are available to help negotiate
  and navigate the system?

3
Laws Do not Just Happen

• They start with an idea that spreads. And
  getting a law passed requires a lot of ADVOCACY.
• Good laws also require constant vigilance to
  preserve their intent.

4
Who Can We Influence 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 Advocacy 3)
Legal Advocacy 4) Legislative
Advocacy Today, we are talking about Legislative
Advocacy.
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Legislative 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.

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Preparing for your visit

• Plan like a lawyer preparing arguments
• Assume you will have only 10-15 minutes
• Assemble supporting materials (e.g. fact sheets,
  coalition documents, local newspaper articles)
• Research your legislator http//legis.state.va.u
  s
• Areas of interest
• Past votes on early childhood bills
• Committee assignments
• Latest gossip (just kidding!)

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Advocacy Dos Meeting with Policymakers

• Meet with legislators in their district when the
  General Assembly is NOT in session
• If during session, try to limit your meeting to 1
  (or 2 at most) issue
• Leave succinct talking points with the legislator
• Dont be afraid to say I dont know, but Ill
  find out and get back with you

8
Winding up

• Summarize your main points
• Ask
• Are there other early childhood issues you would
  like to know more about?
• How can we help you? Are you sponsoring any
  bills that we can help you with?
• Can you help our coalition by.?
• Follow up! Especially with a thank you note if
  the legislator voted with you

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Advocacy Rules to Remember

• Know your barriers.
• Be non-partisan.
• Know the legislative process.
• Get to know the legislative aide.
• Stay on message.
• Dont get discouraged.
• RELAX!

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Advocacy Donts

• Get angry if a policymaker disagrees with you
• Threaten I wont vote for you if
• Be too emotional or passionate
• Exaggerate
• Waste the legislators time

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Things To Remember
Vocation Attorneys Business owners Retired Busines
s execs Educators others

• Part-time legislature
• Time crunch during session
• Loyalty to their party, region, profession,
  industry, religion
• Legislators want to do the right thing (and get
  reelected!)

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Ways to Communicate with Your Legislators

• A face to face meeting is the most effective.
• Personal letters or personal emails
• Use telephone calls when a critical vote is
  imminent and you dont have time to write.
• Petitions and form emails are considerably less
  than personal letters
• Using an online system is very easy and takes the
  user less than one minute.

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Using Personal Stories

• WHY?
• Makes affected constituents visible- the issue is
  not abstract or just about a line item in the
  budget, but real children and families
• Legislators listen to their constituents more
  than professional advocates
• Making it personal is a top communications tip
  from national strategic communications and market
  research firm

14
Using Personal Stories (contd)

• HOW?
• Identify parents and families willing to speak up
  and identify opportunities identify your own
  personal connection
• Legislative Strategies
• Team up parent and professional staff for a
  legislative visit
• Have parents/family members testify at public
  hearings and be available for media
• Invite legislators and committee staff for a
  visit that involves meeting families

15
Using Personal Stories (contd)

• Other Strategies
• Take youth to rallies (with permission, of
  course)
• Get creative! e.g. send artwork or photos with
  advocacy letters

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Dont forget to use the Media

• Letters to the Editor
• Keep them short and simple
• Write to the major newspapers AND community
  newspapers
• Be a source Let advocacy organizations know if
  you are willing to speak to the press

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Resources

• FACES of Virginias Families
• www.facesofvirginia.org
• The Virginia Poverty Law Center
• www.vplc.org
• Voices for Virginias Children
• www.vakids.org

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Time to Brainstorm

• Questions and Discussion

Thanks for coming!