Policy Advocacy Navigating the Legislative Process & Ensuring Your Voice is Heard

A Little About Voices for Virginia’s Children... We are: Statewide, nonpartisan research & advocacy organization that champions public policies to improve the lives of Virginia’s children Independent advocates for children, especially those who are disadvantaged or otherwise vulnerable Primarily covering policy areas of: child welfare/foster care; children’s mental health; and early childhood care & education Voices is also Virginia’s KIDSCount Data Center, part of the Casey Network, providing state-specific data on a wide variety of child well-being indicators.

What Is Policy Advocacy & Why Is It Important? Policymakers are influenced by YOU, and rely on YOU to help them develop expertise. Policymakers need to know how laws are put into practice—the “real world” effect of what they do. Civic Engagement means more than just voting. Others who don’t have much of a voice in the process (including kids!) count on the rest of us to help amplify their message.

Structure of State Government Branches of Government Administration/Executive Branch Legislative: Senate/House of Delegates Judicial Bills, Resolutions Committees Commissions The Budget Process The Regulatory Process

Talking to Legislators Doing your homework: Who are your legislators? Use Find how long in office, full-time profession, region and demographics of their districts, voting record, interests, background, etc. Develop some questions you might ask them about their knowledge and interest in your issues.

Talking to Legislators Some Helpful Hints: Be positive and nonpartisan Be personal Be persistent and patient Stay on message Never give inaccurate information/Don’t be afraid to say “I don’t know, but I’ll find out and get back to you.” Relax

Talking to Legislators There are multiple ways to communicate with policymakers : Meeting with them directly when the General Assembly is not in session Meeting with them directly during the legislative session, on specific bills or budget items Telephone calls, letters and s Offering testimony and comment at hearings, committee meetings, public forums, etc.

How Can You Help Before the Legislative Session? Before Your Meeting: Write a letter of introduction. Make an appointment. Develop an agenda. Consider a group visit. Bring a fact sheet. During and After Your Meeting: State your purpose clearly & simply; stay on topic Make the issue local, and make it personal Listen, and ask questions about what more you can do. Leave materials Follow-up with a thank-you note. Stay in touch and send updates.

How Can You Help During the Legislative Session? What happens, and how you can participate: During Budget hearings During Committee meetings During Floor sessions After a bill has passed both houses After the Governor signs a bill into law

Talking to the Media Reporters want to know from you: Why are you at this event? What specific action are you asking policymakers to take? What is the aspect of your personal experience that connects you to this event/request?

How to Prepare to Talk to A Reporter It’s extremely important to: Be brief. Reporters usually don’t have time to speak with individuals for very long, especially if they are on-site at an event or hearing. Keep it simple. Reporters want to pick up on sound bytes & easy explanations, and they need to understand your point of view quickly. Practice what you will say. You don’t have to sound rehearsed—in fact, it’s often better if the flow is more conversational, but clarity and brevity are critical, and easier to demonstrate if you’ve gone over your main points ahead of time.

Talking to the Media: An Example “I am here today to help lawmakers understand that we need more community-based services for children with mental health disorders. Specifically, they need to fund crisis response and child psychiatry services across the state. Here’s why: my 9-year-old daughter is diagnosed with bipolar disorder. We had to wait 12 weeks to see a child psychiatrist because the demand is so high. Within 2 weeks of making the appointment, my daughter’s condition deteriorated and she had to be hospitalized. We could have avoided that family trauma and the 2 weeks of missed school if there were better access to mental health services like child psychiatry and mobile crisis teams in my community.”

Talking to the Media: An Example Q: Why are you here today? A: “I am here today to help lawmakers understand that we need more community-based services for children with mental health disorders.”

Talking to the Media: An Example Q: What are you asking policymakers/ legislators to do? A: “Specifically, they need to fund crisis response and child psychiatry services across the state.”

Talking to the Media: An Example Q: What is the aspect of your personal experience that connects you to this event/ request? A: “Here’s why: my 9-year-old daughter is diagnosed with bipolar disorder. We had to wait 12 weeks to see a child psychiatrist because the demand is so high. Within 2 weeks of making the appointment, my daughter’s condition deteriorated and she had to be hospitalized.”

Talking to the Media: An Example Q: What problem will your proposed actions solve? A: “We could have avoided that family trauma and the 2 weeks of missed school if there were better access to mental health services like child psychiatry and mobile crisis teams in my community.”

Talking to the Media Remember: Try to speak clearly and not too fast. Try to use simple terms, and try to explain “jargon”– remember that reporters and the general public might not know terms like “IEP,” etc. Use a “crib sheet” loaded with the few main points you want to make. Get the reporter’s card or info, and ask when the story might appear/air.

Voices for Virginia’s Children: Our Legislative Agenda Child Welfare, Foster Care and Juvenile Justice Children’s Mental Health Care Early Childhood Care and Education

Voices for Virginia’s Children: Our Legislative Agenda Opportunities to help: Share your stories with us Follow our work through our s & social media networks Contact your legislators via , phone, letter and/or your testimony at hearings

Contact Us: Amy L. Woolard Senior Policy Attorney 701 E. Franklin St., Suite 807 Richmond, VA