Mission-based Advocacy Toolkit from Alliance for Children & Families

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Part III: Helpful Advocacy Techniques and Framework To make sure the letters generated by your Take Five tables fall in the “real” category, even when the heart of the letter is identical, have senders do three things: • sign and print their names • put their home address • add a personal note – even something as brief as “I really care” or “this means a lot to me” sends a message to the staff opening the mail. The possibilities are endless. 30 © January 2006 The Alliance for Children and Families
Lobbying by Telephone Part III: Helpful Advocacy Techniques and Framework Making Calls When the legislature is in session you can call your legislators at their offices in the state Capitol. Lists of members’ names, office addresses, and telephone numbers are available from the Capitol, or the internet - often just www.(your state).gov, or www.state. (2-letter abbreviation)us. Here are some tips for making calls to your legislators and/or their aides: • Identify yourself by name and address. • Identify the bill you wish to talk about, by name and number (if possible). • Briefly state your position and how you wish your legislator to vote. • Ask for your legislator’s stance on the bill or issue; ask for a commitment to vote for your position; don’t argue if the legislator has an opposing view or hasn’t yet decided. • If your legislator needs further information, supply it as fast as possible. • Do not be abusive; don’t threaten your legislator. • Recognize that legislators are often away from the office, at Committee business or on the floor of the chamber, so you may talk instead to an aide. That’s great. Use these same basic rules. Staff are very reliable and will pass along what you said. • Follow the call with a note restating your position, and thanking them for their time. Using A Legislative Hotline Some Legislatures have a toll-free, Legislative Hotline. If your state has such a line, it is a fast way for citizens to convey their views on bills. For the time it takes to make a single phone call, you can reach one or all of your legislators, and the Governor! When using a Hotline: • State your name, address, and who should get the message (the name of your legislator(s) and/or Governor - they can tell you who your legislators are); • Identify the specific bill(s) your are calling about - use the bill number if you know it; • Briefly state your position - either support, opposition, or some combination. • Keep the message simple – just a sentence or two. © January 2006 The Alliance for Children and Families 31
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Page 3 and 4: Where Can I Find … © January 200
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Page 7 and 8: Welcome to “mission-based advocac
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Page 15 and 16: How a Bill Becomes a Law © January
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Page 75 and 76: Thinking About Media Part III: Help
Page 77 and 78: Framing a Story Part III: Helpful A
Page 85 and 86: As you embark on your advocacy effo
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Review the Coalitions you belong to
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In 2002, within the context of dram
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Sometimes the advocacy potential of
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agency built diverse coalitions of
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The Board unanimously endorsed the
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programs. FSW joined a coalition of
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FSW is already meeting with editori
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have an influential voice and they
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the two groups. Hurricane Katrina v
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public policy. The agency will prom
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Expanding Health Care for Children
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• Independent Sector’s Web site
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Hill, Frances R., “Public Benefit
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© January 2006 The Alliance for Ch
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Guidance for 501 (c)(3)’s During
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Committee on Public Policy A. PURPO
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Lobbying Issues Dates Lobbying Cont
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Sample Documents Model Charter for
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The following draft Job Description
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Providing Parity for Mental Illness
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Alert on Health Savings Accounts an
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Sample Press Release Release Date:
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• Through experience, trauma rese
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The Alliance for Children and Famil
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Alliance for Children and Families,
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Legislative Reports, the internal t
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Mission-based Advocacy Toolkit from Alliance for Children & Families

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