1. Engaging Policymakers on Early Childhood: Effective Strategies and Opportunities Rep. Nora Slawik, Chair, Early Childhood Finance and Policy Division, Minnesota Stephanie Rubin, Senior Officer, Pew Center on the States September 2009

2. 1 Effective Advocacy: It’s a Contact Sport! Hearing directly from business and other community leaders sends a strong message. Policymakers gauge voter interest in an issue in part based on whether and what they hear from their constituents and community leaders. Personal stories and local perspectives are very persuasive. Early childhood issues need more legislative champions from both political parties. Build a pipeline of supporters: local and state policymaker champions may rise to more powerful state or federal positions in the future. October 13, 2015

3. 2 As in the Corporate World: Preparation is Critical Understand and leverage the legislative process, however slow and frustrating. Be familiar with the policymaker’s background and interests (e.g. he was a pediatrician, she sat on the local United Way) and tie it to your issue. The background of spouses may also be relevant. Be educated about who the key policymakers are on early childhood issues: governor and relevant agency directors chairs and vice chairs of relevant committees caucus leaders, majority and minority leaders your representatives October 13, 2015

4. 3 For Long Term Success: Build a Relationship To ensure proven programs are well implemented and scaled up with high quality, also meet with the regulators: agency directors and staff, commissioners, board members, etc. If your industry association or group has taken a support position on early childhood and employs a lobbyist, ensure that he/she lobbies on early childhood issues at the Capitol. Invite policymakers to join you on a tour of a high quality early childhood program in their district: seeing is believing. Educate legislative and gubernatorial candidates.

5. 4 October 13, 2015 Meeting with Policymakers: Timing is Key Ensure the timing of your call or meeting is appropriate: Meet with legislators in the Fall before legislative session begins, when they prefer to meet in their district. These pre-session meetings are a perfect opportunity to discuss the issues at length and build a personal relationship; and Meet during session before legislation is heard in committee or on the House or Senate Floor.

6. 5 Winning at the State Capitol: Making Your Case Attend legislative meetings with an advocacy partner who knows the intricate policy details (so you don’t have to). Good to meet with staff (with or without the policymaker); they are critical conduits of information to policymakers and manage legislative efforts. Bring materials to leave behind: policy briefs, copies of key media coverage, letters of support, etc. Your “ask” should align with what the early childhood groups and legislative champions are advocating. Veering off course will cause confusion. October 13, 2015

7. 6 Winning at the State Capitol: Bring the Issue Home Explain why early childhood issues are meaningful to you and an urgent issue: discuss your involvement in local programs, the academic research including relevant local data, how early childhood builds human capital and promotes economic development, etc. Indicate your willingness to stand with that legislator at a public event in support of early childhood or reach out to other legislators who may be on the fence. Follow up with a thank you letter, call and/or invitation to a meeting of your colleagues. They appreciate opportunities to publicly highlight their hard work. October 13, 2015

8. 7 Common Pitfalls in Engaging Policymakers Clash of realities: how does your policy ask fit into the budget and political environment? Believing you need to answer the question commonly asked by policymakers: “how should we pay for this?” when you don’t. Making a policy request that does not align with what the early childhood community seeks or where legislators are headed. Be on target. Avoiding the Capitol due to the frustrating committee schedule. Weighing in too late in the legislative process. Not reaching out in a bipartisan manner. October 13, 2015

9. 8 The Business Leader Voice Attracts Attention October 13, 2015 August 9, 2007June 14, 2009