Tips to Make Capitol Hill Days a Success! Session: 1.03–Capitol Hill Day: Make Your Voice Heard NAEH Conference July 2017 Tips to Make Capitol Hill Days a Success! Sarah Fox, LMSW CCEH Director of Advocacy & Community Impact Think Change • Be Change • Lead Change

Map out a timeline

Do Your Homework Know Your Member: Member’s Leadership/Committee assignments and recommended policy asks from NAEH. Any other information relevant to your advocacy issues or which may bridge a personal connection.

Do Your Homework Know the Issues: Identify key points and anticipate likely questions or reactions. Know and be able to respond to your opposition’s arguments. Have a consistent message. Thank Members for his/her past support on key issues.

Prepping for Meeting Work with your state captain to select a spokesperson who knows the issue(s) well and can do introductions. Coordinate who will speak to issues during meeting.

Be Brief and Focused Decide in advance which issues are most important to cover for each particular Member and cover it first. Don’t try and cover more than 3 priorities per meeting. Deliver a focused, brief message. Meetings typically last 10-15 minutes.

Localize the issue Impact of funding: what it means to you and the people you serve. Successes, challenges, and barriers from your Congressperson’s District should be highlighted. Share the cost of homelessness in your community.

Make the Ask Tell the member or staffer exactly what you would like the Member to do. Ask if more information is needed and offer assistance. Let the office know you will follow up on any key questions.

Cultivate Relationships Send Thank You letters outlining key points from meeting. Send any follow-up information. Build relationships with staff. Conduct In-District Site Visits and/or public forums to keep Member’s engaged locally.

Questions? www.cceh.org Sarah Fox, LMSW Director of Advocacy and Community Impact Connecticut Coalition to End Homelessness sfox@cceh.org Think Change • Be Change • Lead Change