ADVOCACY STRATEGIES FOR FIGHTING POVERTY IN YOUR COMMUNITY AND YOUR COUNTRY TERRITORIAL SOCIAL SERVICES CONFERENCE CENTRAL TERRITORY SABRINA KISER NATIONAL PATHWAY OF HOPE COORDINATOR THE SALVATION ARMY- NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS

ADVOCACY What comes to mind when you think of the word advocacy? Definition- the act or process of supporting a cause or proposal

BIBLICAL GUIDANCE Proverbs 31:8-9 – “Open your mouth in behalf of the mute, and for the rights of the destitute; Open your mouth, judge justly, defend the needy and the poor!.” Proverbs 14:31- (NIV) “Whoever oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors God.” Psalms 82:3- (NIV) “Defend the weak and the fatherless; uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed.” Matthew 25: 40,45- (NIV) “‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me…Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’”

WILLIAM BOOTH’S CALL TO ACTION “While women weep, as they do now, I’ll fight; While little children go hungry, as they do now, I’ll fight; While men go to prison, in and out, I’ll fight; While there yet remains one dark soul without the light of God, I’ll fight – I’ll fight to the very end. ” “These are the two points of the Cab Horses’ Charter. When he is down he is helped up, and while he lives he has food, shelter, and work. That, although a humble standard, is at present absolutely unattainable by millions of our fellow men and women in this country.”- The Darkest England

ADVOCACY Tell the person next to you about it. How did you feel during the process? What was the outcome? How did you feel about the outcome? How long did it take to solve the issue? Think of a time you advocated for yourself or a family member.

SELF ADVOCACY ― Effective self advocacy ― Know your rights and responsibilities ― Know the facts ― Be able to clearly articulate the issue ― Have possible solutions ― Ask questions ― Go through the chain of command ― It’s ok to ask for a supervisor

SELF ADVOCACY Ways to encourage self advocacy Model advocacy with clients Teach basic civics and government Help clients register to vote Inform them of self advocacy opportunities

THE DO’S AND DON'TS OF TSA ADVOCACY As a Salvation Army employee you can join coalitions Coalition work is encouraged Make sure there is a mechanism for removing TSA name/logo from sign on letters or position statements As a Salvation Army employee you cannot influence the election of a candidate You cannot produce scorecards or briefs that encourage people to vote for one candidate or another As a Salvation Army employee you are allowed to share information with elected and appointed officials Tell them about your program and those you serve Share how policies affect those you serve As an individual citizen you have the right to participate in any type of advocacy you choose. You cannot use your Salvation Army address, physical address, or title

LOCAL ADVOCACY Non-profits and service organizations Businesses Local government

YOUR COMMUNITY How do you advocate for your clients on a local level? Get into groups Write down the ways you advocate Be ready to report out

NON-PROFITS AND SERVICES ORGANIZATIONS Coalition work Strengthen advocacy efforts Increase trust and understanding Let others be the expert One on one meetings Get a direct contact Advocate for clients to be seen quickly in emergencies

BUSINESSES Fair wage or scheduling advocacy Hire people with non-violent criminal background Start a training/intern/apprenticeship program Provide lunch or dinner during classes Landlords/property managers Consumer choice

LOCAL GOVERNMENT School system McKinney-Vento homeless liaison School social worker Agency offices Housing authority Economy and labor Health and Human Services DMV Mayor’s office/City Council Referral to city wide programs Informing elected officials of issues Town Halls VOTE

ADVOCACY MEETING HOW-TO 1)Set up your meeting 2)Prepare for meeting 3)Conduct your meeting 4)Follow-up

SET UP YOUR MEETING Call the scheduler May have to put something in writing (either or online web form found on website Offer possible dates/times Inform them of your topic area (mental health, substance use, homeless services) Call to confirm A confirmation one week prior to is appropriate A meeting with an aide is not a bad thing. They do most of the work!

PREPARE Know the facts Do research on your issue Prepare a fact sheet or notes to bring with you Research the alternative positions Find out how much funding your program gets from local/state/federal dollars if possible

PREPARE Know the government official/legislator Find out if the person has any personal connections to you or TSA Same religion? Kids play in same league? Figure out their position on your issue What were their past votes Find out what committees they sit on Appropriations and budget are typically important

PREPARE Set the agenda (assuming 15mins, 30 if lucky) Decide on roles Note taker Lead Story teller Have a story ready Have an “ask” ready if appropriate

THE MEETING BE ON TIME Know where you are going and how to get there Plan for security Don’t set off the alarm Create a relationship Start with small talk Don’t be offensive or defensive Ask Questions Use active listening skills See what you can do to help Talk about your program!

FOLLOW-UP One person send a follow-up /letter Thank the person for the meeting Provide promised information

WHO REPRESENTS YOU? Take out your smart phone or share with the person next to you Who are your state Reps? When is your state government in session? Who is your Federal Representative? Who are your Senators?

KEYS TO STATE AND FEDERAL ADVOCACY Contact your Representative’s district office, not the DC office “Advocacy Days” at the Capitol Usually organized by a coalition Letter writing/ s/petitions/call-ins Get approval by the necessary channels to publicly support a piece of legislation or sign onto a letter from a coalition. This can take a while, so be patient and follow the process! VOTE