How to Reach out to Policy Makers From Your Place of Work A Grassroots Advocacy Workshop for Child Care Professionals. Presented By: Tony Solari, North Carolina Partnership for Children

Smart Start Vision Every child in North Carolina will arrive at school healthy and prepared for Success.

Advocacy Middle English from Middle French from Latin: “Advocare” to summon, to call 1: One that Pleads the cause of another, specifically before a tribunal or judge 2: One that defends or maintains a cause or proposal

How Legislator’s Make Decisions

What do Legislators Want? Legislators run for office and seek re-election Because they are motivated by many of the same things you and I are. They desire: –To do good in the world. –Want to be good public servants. –Money. –Power. –Prestige, honor, and the respect of others.

How do Legislators Keep These Things? Legislators only get to keep their money, power, prestige, and only get to keep doing good by: Getting Re-elected!!! Legislators who stay in office do so because they never forget this. Legislators who forget this are not in office long.

Each Decision is a Cost-Benefit One n Will this decision or vote put more resources into my bank or take some away? n The more people care about an issue, the more visible it is, and the greater the conflict surrounding it, the greater the potential gain or loss.

This Model Tells Us: 1.Advocates should be vocal, so legislators know the issue is important to their constituents (Saliency) 2.Advocates must send a clear message about what they want the legislator to do. 3.Advocates can get their legislator to vote their way. 4.If advocates do not do these things, legislators will move on to other priorities or be influenced by your opponents.

Grassroots Advocacy Primary Goal: To increase the level of knowledge about early childhood and childcare workforce issues among the public and to motivate them to voice their views and opinions to their representatives.

Grassroots Advocacy Goals n Promote Knowledge of and Support for Early Childhood Issues and Smart Start n Keep Early Childhood Issues and Smart Start in Legislator’s Minds and Agendas n Improve Understanding of Smart Start n Reach Out to Those Who Benefit From Smart Start But Do Not Know It

What You Can Do to Influence Policy Makers From Your Child Care Facility? Probably a lot more than you think!

Promote Democracy: Register Your Parents n Forms are easily available online at: n Not a partisan activity. n Most parents will vote to support your work and for candidates that will support programs that make their child’s child care experience better.

Take Five Campaign

Sample Take Five Card Child Care Provider Dear Senator__________: My name is ______________. I live at ____________________. I wanted to write and let you now how much of a difference Smart Start is making in quality child care at my facility. The Teach and WAGES programs have helped me hire and retain dedicated child care professionals. I ask you to continue your support for this important program. Children in our county and throughout the state are going to have brighter futures because of it. Sincerely, Your Name

Meet the Parents n Invite local and state officials to come to your facility while parents are dropping off their children. Have them come on different days. n You can have doughnuts and coffee for all. n Public officials love it. They can meet a lot of constituents in a very short time and parents can ask questions about their support for young children and the work you are doing.

Extend Your Hours on Election Day So Parents Can Vote n Offer to open an hour earlier and or stay open an hour later on election day so parents can vote. n Get parents to promise to vote in return for a later pick up time. n Parents must bring back “I Voted” sticker to prove participation.

Smart Start Tour “You’ve got to see it and feel it and then be moved and inspired to act.” Marian Wright Edelman Goals: n Raise Awareness n Help Policy Makers Understand What you do. n Inspire Action

A Smart Start Tour Will: n Move policy makers out of their offices and into the real world of families and children.  Personalize children and families.  Help policy makers understand what quality child care is. n Move then to actions that support your work.

Planning a Smart Start Tour n Contact your local smart start partnership.  Have their community outreach or advocacy person come for a visit.  Select dates, times & arrange for logistics.  Send invitations.  Mix of presentations and interaction is best.  Develop hand-outs – mission, vision, logo.  Confirm logistics.  Dry run.  Conduct the tour.  Send thank you notes to public officials who visited your facility.

Reaching Out From a Distance n Tuesdays for Tots n n Writing n Phone Calls

We Make Grass-Tops Advocacy Easy! Tuesdays for Tots n Choose a Tuesday to visit your legislators n Parents, child care providers, business people, faith leaders all participate. n NCPC Staff help you coordinate your visit and are there to assist you n Extremely effective initiative

Contacting Legislators Letters n Hand written ones that are personalized are best. n Make them short with a clear message. n These can arrive any time. Telephone Calls n Can be more personal than a letter. n Can be timed to arrive at key times in the legislative process n Might be difficult to reach legislators this way. s n Should be used very sparingly and only at key times before a vote n Short and to the point.

Join Professional Organizations n Join the Covenant with North Carolina’s Children. Contact Brian Lewis at (919) n Join the child care coalition. Contact Roz Savitt at (919) n Join local Chambers of Commerce, Rotary Clubs, and provide input to local planning decisions. These organizations are working for you and need your support.

VOTE!! n Nothing prevents you from voting or actively working for candidates who will do the right thing by children, their families, and you! n Whether Democrat or Republican, elect the candidate who does more than “talk a good game.” They have to walk the walk!” n Let your legislator know you will vote your interests n Vote for people who will work for systemic change. We need to change the rules of the game!!