Capitol Hill Day 2015 NATIONAL MENTORING SUMMIT WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 28 | CAPITOL HILL, WASHINGTON, |

Agenda for today’s webinar  Capitol Hill Day goals and logistics  Materials for Capitol Hill Day  How to prepare before coming to DC  Legislative issues – to be discussed in your meetings  Questions and |

Capitol Hill Day 2015 The goals for successful meetings during Hill Day are:  Strengthen or establish a relationship with Representatives and Senators (including their staff);  Educate Members of Congress and staff about mentoring and the issues mentoring programs are facing; and,  Encourage Members of Congress to support key policies supported by youth mentoring and youth development |

Capitol Hill Day agenda Wednesday, Jan. 28 7:30 a.m. Bus will deliver participants to Capitol Hill (Renaissance Downtown DC) 8 – 10 Breakfast and Capitol Hill Day training (Rayburn House Office Building) 10:15 Group Photo (West Front, U.S. Capitol Building) 10 – 4 Capitol Hill Day (lunch on your own) 6 – 8 Welcoming Reception (Renaissance Downtown |

Security on Capitol Hill Similar to security in airports you’ll have to pass through metal detectors and have your bags searched at every entrance.  Be prepared to remove your coats and outerwear to be screened, as well  Sealed boxes, closed envelopes, and weapons of any kind, including mace and knives of any size, are prohibited  Additionally, no cans, bottles (including reusable water bottles) and any food or beverages of any kind are permitted in the Capitol Building and Capitol Visitors Center “When in doubt, leave it |

Attire Business and business-casual attire is recommended.  MENTOR will provide all Capitol Hill Day participants with a t-shirt to wear on the Hill. (Pick up Tuesday at the hotel).  Wear comfortable shoes. You’ll be walking on marble floors inside and damp (maybe even slushy) sidewalks outside.  Wear layers to protect against unpredictable January weather in DC.  Avoid wearing jeans and any shirts or buttons with political affiliation, partisan positions and/or lewd |

But Why Advocate?  Youth mentoring needs passionate and knowledgeable advocates. That’s you.  Personal experiences and stories can make a concept “real” to Members of Congress and their staff. Carry the flag for youth |

Why Participate in Capitol Hill Day? Generally, in-person advocacy is the most effective form of advocacy  More personal and conversational  It can elicit a reaction; you can discuss detail that written communications miss; and, answer questions on the spot  You may get an immediate response (“Yes, I will support that bill” or “Let me and my staff look into this bill and get back to |

Capitol Hill Day Materials Hill Day participants will be provided one folder for each scheduled meeting:  Folders will include: Legislative leave-behind document and fliers About MENTOR and About Mentoring Partnerships  Each folder will have an empty side to be filled by participants with materials about their local/state programs and efforts  Participants will also be provided a feedback form for each meeting to be returned to |

Before Coming to DC  Sharpen your message.  Know what you want to ask the legislator to do (co-sponsor a bill; visit a local mentoring program; etc.). This is your goal.  Gather your facts, stories and local touch-points.  Plan your group strategy, if applicable. Who will talk about what? Who will be the contact name you leave with the office?  Prepare enough materials and bring business |

During Your Hill meetings  Introduce yourself and the group, if applicable.  Stay on topic. Engage in some chit-chat, but don’t waste too much time.  Tell your story. You have one or the youth you’re advocating on behalf of do.  Get a commitment – or at least an understanding of your request from the legislator or aide. Follow up if they don’t commit.  Allow time for questions.  Leave behind your supporting materials and contact information.  Don’t forget to get a picture! Use #CapitolHillDay on social |

Capitol Hill life. Be flexible.  Your meeting – especially if it’s with the legislator – may be held anywhere, even on the move! Go with it.  Hill staff are sometimes very young. Give them as much respect as you expect in return. They’re responsible for briefing their bosses.  Your meeting may be short. 15 minutes is normal. But if the legislator has the time and is engaged, he or she will try to extend your time together.  You may be interrupted. Hill offices are small, often noisy and busy.  Ask for a picture. Post that picture and link to the MOCs social media properties with a thank |

Covering the issues We’ll ask you to cover 4 bills total and 1 request to join a caucus on mentoring  Two funding-related bills (one House, one Senate)  Discussing funding is a necessary evil – some equate “mentoring” with “volunteering” and forget that there are still costs associated with running a quality program and/or scaling best practices  One legislative issue related to child safety  One legislative issue related to school-connected mentoring (House-only)  Finally, a request to join the House Mentoring Caucus |

Bills and Issues Increase investment in quality youth mentoring at OJJDP  Currently only 1 federal grant program funds youth mentoring (DOJ) at $90 million  The Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) manages program  In the past, grant programs from at least 3 federal agencies funded programs for mentoring but the programs and money have gone away over time  Increasing the amount of the grant program at OJJDP may encourage more mentoring organization to compete for funds  THE ASK: Co-sponsor Senate bill to increase funding for Youth |

Bills and Issues Support the America’s FOCUS Act The FOCUS Act funds youth mentoring and three other issue areas (medical R&D, justice reinvestments and STEM education) through civil and criminal penalties levied against corporations found guilty of wrong-doing by the federal government  The bill carries no expense to tax-payers and a percentage is reserved for deficit reduction  MENTOR joined a long list of organizations supporting FOCUS Act  The FOCUS Act has only been introduced in the U.S. House (not the Senate)  THE ASK: Co-sponsor H.R. TBD the America’s FOCUS Act (Rep. Chaka |

Bills and Issues Support the Child Protection Improvements Act (CPIA) CPIA provides access for all youth-serving organizations to national FBI fingerprint background checks for use as part of a comprehensive background screening of all adults wishing to work with children.  Provides universal, streamlined access to FBI fingerprint background checks (does not mandate their use)  Manages expense and timeliness of return to real-cost and reasonable turnaround  CPIA carries no taxpayer expense  THE ASK: Co-sponsor the Child Protection Improvements Act |

Bills and Issues Support the Transition-to-Success Mentoring Act The Transition-to-Success Mentoring Act creates a grant program to award grants to schools and nonprofit organizations for establishing school-based mentoring programs for at-risk youth transitioning between middle and high school.  The mentor (or “success coach”) would develop a plan for each mentee, enter into an agreement with the school and parents/guardians, meet with the student, and serve as the mentees advocate.  The bill also allows use of the grant funds to train mentors, cover materials needed and hire necessary staff to manage program  THE ASK: Cosponsor H.R. TBD, the Transition-to-Success Mentoring Act (Rep. Andre Carson |

Dividing the issues Bills to raise in House meetings  America’s FOCUS Act  Child Protection Improvements Act (CPIA)  Transition-to-Success Mentoring Act  Join the House Mentoring Caucus Bills to raise in Senate meetings  Increase mentoring funds at OJJDP  Child Protection Improvements Act |

When the work is done… If you wrap up your Congressional appointments and have free time before the Welcoming Reception:  Consider working with your Representative or one of your Senators to schedule a tour of the Capitol (do this before coming to Washington)  Check out one of the many Smithsonian museums within walking distance of both Capitol Hill and the hotel (they’re free!)  Learn more about things to do in DC at |

Have any questions? SELECT “CAPITOL HILL DAY” FROM THE LEFT-HAND |