1. Preparing for the 2015 Family Voices of California Legislative Advocacy Day 1 The Nuts & Bolts and How Your Voice Makes a Difference

2. W EBINAR PRESENTERS Michele Byrnes, Project Leadership graduate Angela Blanchard, Political Solutions Allison Gray, State Leadership Liaison, Family Voices of California 2

3. WEBINAR OUTLINE By the end of the webinar, you will know: The purpose of the Legislative Advocacy Day The important role of families in legislative visits The nuts and bolts of Legislative Day: Who you will meet with How to set up appointments with your state legislators How visits will be organized How to tell your story The key issues to be addressed at the Health Summit & Legislative Advocacy Day 3

4. GOALS OF THE 2015 LEGISLATIVE ADVOCACY DAY o To educate our state legislators about the key issues discussed at the Health Summit. o To demonstrate how the proposed policy changes impact real families. o To ask for support on specific issues/policies related to children with special healthcare needs. 4

5. H OW YOUR STORY WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE o Legislators consider thousands of issues each year; dozens each day. o Many causes are worthwhile; they are looking for ways to prioritize them. o Your story personalizes the issue, and will stay with the legislator/staffperson far longer than statistics alone. o Last year, legislative visits and testimony by parents highlighted importance of CCS. 5

6. P REPARING FOR LEGISLATIVE ADVOCACY DAY 6

7. W HO ARE YOU MEETING WITH ? o Families will meet with elected representatives: members of the California State Assembly and State Senate and/or their designated staff- person. o The State Assembly and State Senate represent California’s legislative branch. o Focus is creating state laws and representing constituents in Sacramento. o Meetings will be at their Capitol offices; can range from 10-30 minutes. o Meeting with a staff-person can be just as/more effective than meeting with representative. 7

8. MEETING STRUCTURE o Families will be assigned groups of 3-5 people through Council Member Agencies o Group leaders will be Council Member Agency staff and/or Project Leadership staff responsible for: o Scheduling appointments (in most cases) o Identifying speakers for particular visits o Acting as timekeeper o Any follow-up/thank-you notes 8

9. MEETING STRUCTURE ( CON ’ T ) o Group introductions (facilitated by 1 person) o Personal story (1-2 families/visit) o Thank the legislator/staff-person for his/her time, leave behind materials (1 person) o Thank-you note and follow-up (group leader) 9

10. H OW TO FIND YOUR ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES o www.legislature.ca.gov. www.legislature.ca.gov o Search by your home address to find your district number and your State Senator & Assemblymember; you may need 4-digit zip code extension (www.usps.com/zip4).www.usps.com/zip4 o Click on the links for the representatives’ web pages. o Alameda County residents: email your district number or home address to micheleoakleybyrnes@gmail.com. micheleoakleybyrnes@gmail.com 10

11. H OW TO SCHEDULE A MEETING o Call Capitol office of elected representative. o Ask for staff-person who deals with healthcare policy and/or family policy. o Introduce yourself, explain that you are a constituent and that you will be a participant in the Family Voices of CA legislative advocacy day on March 17. o Explain that you’ll be part of a group of 3-5 parents. o Ask to schedule a 20-30 min appointment with your elected representative or staff-person to share your legislative priorities for the coming year. o Exchange contact information in case of scheduling changes. o Schedule appointments >30 minutes apart. 11

12. H OW TO PREPARE YOURSELF o Practice telling your story. o During the Health Summit, think about how the policy changes discussed will affect your family: o Transition of care from pediatric to adult healthcare settings o ABA services for children on Medi-Cal o The future of CCS o Your story matters, even if it’s not a perfect fit! 12