Mission-based Advocacy Toolkit from Alliance for Children & Families

Part III: Helpful Advocacy Techniques and Framework
Outline for a personal story.
Who you are: Your name and where you live (general area, not street address)
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Who you are connected to: If you are part of a group, mention it and the numbers
involved (e.g., "I’m one of about 150 community people who volunteer with the
________ family service agency. We have a paid staff of 80, and serve over 500 troubled
families a month," )
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Why you came: "I'm here because … " or, "I came all this way because…" (Then, in
two-three sentences, paint a brief "word picture" that conveys the personal experience
that caused you to make this appointment; if possible, relate it to a bill or budget item –
e.g., “Some of the families I’m helping are fine people, but they are struggling. I’m
especially concerned about families like the Gordons – two grandparents in their
seventies who live on fixed incomes. Recently they agreed to take in two of their lively
young grandchildren when their daughter, the children’s mother, was diagnosed with
leukemia.”),
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What you want the Senator/Representative to do: e.g.,” …that's why we want you to
vote to increase funding for services to kinship care families….” Or, that’s why we hope
you will vote YES on Senate Bill 453 – it will help grandparents like the Gordons….
_______________________________________________________________________
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NOTE: Hand over any Fact Sheet or Backgrounder on the issue you've just discussed. If
you are part of a group meeting, one member of the group can hand over all the Fact
Sheets or Position Papers.
Someone should hand over a list of everyone in the meeting, that includes contact
information. If you are part of a formal group, include that address.
© January 2006 The Alliance for Children and Families 53