1. Legislative Advocacy 101 September 19, 2006 MIHV Community Health Workers David Zander

2. Voting and Advocacy Voting is for Citizens Voting is for Citizens Citizenship classes teach you about the Federal level of American Government Citizenship classes teach you about the Federal level of American Government Advocacy is for both citizens and non citizens Advocacy is for both citizens and non citizens Advocacy can be at different levels of government (federal, state, county, city and school board) Advocacy can be at different levels of government (federal, state, county, city and school board)

3. Democracy Democracyisnot a Spectator Sport! Learning to play the game Learning the rules of the Game

4. Definition of Advocacy Advocacy is the act of arguing for, supporting, or recommending a cause or course of action Advocacy is the act of arguing for, supporting, or recommending a cause or course of action Advocate (verb) Advocate (verb) To support or urge by argument To support or urge by argument Recommend publicly Recommend publicly To advocate for higher standards and training for medical interpreters To advocate for higher standards and training for medical interpreters To advocate for help for parents on homework To advocate for help for parents on homework

5. Levels of government Federal Federal State State County County City City School Boards School Boards

6. As an Advocate you would Speak or write in support of a cause Speak or write in support of a cause Plead for or on behalf of another person or group (e.g. elders) Plead for or on behalf of another person or group (e.g. elders) Talk to your elected officials Talk to your elected officials Talk to candidates running for political office Talk to candidates running for political office Attend and speak up at town hall meetings Attend and speak up at town hall meetings Visit, call or write to your legislators Visit, call or write to your legislators Participate in events at the state capitol or host your own CHW Day at the Capitol (Feb-March 2007) Participate in events at the state capitol or host your own CHW Day at the Capitol (Feb-March 2007)

7. CHW Legislative Agenda What issues do you care about What issues do you care about What are your concerns What are your concerns What challenges do you face as a community health worker What challenges do you face as a community health worker What are the solutions to these issues, concerns, challenges What are the solutions to these issues, concerns, challenges Examples from a Lao Town Hall Meeting June 2006 Examples from a Lao Town Hall Meeting June 2006

8. Advocacy at the State Capitol Samples of Legislative Advocacy - some issues the SE Asian agencies are working on Samples of Legislative Advocacy - some issues the SE Asian agencies are working on Human and Sexual Trafficking Human and Sexual Trafficking HIV AIDS Awareness in the Asian Communities HIV AIDS Awareness in the Asian Communities Meth. Addiction among SE Asian Youth Meth. Addiction among SE Asian Youth Early Childhood School Readiness Early Childhood School Readiness Casino Problem Gamblers Casino Problem Gamblers Help for foreign born social workers unable to pass the board of social work license exam Help for foreign born social workers unable to pass the board of social work license exam

9. Advocacy Groups Hmong Mental Health Providers Network (HMHPN) (Xiong Vue at Wilder Southeast Social Adjustment Program) Hmong Mental Health Providers Network (HMHPN) (Xiong Vue at Wilder Southeast Social Adjustment Program) Hmong School Readiness Coalition (Jesse Kao Lee / Ready4K) Hmong School Readiness Coalition (Jesse Kao Lee / Ready4K) Affirmative Options Affirmative Options Interpreter Group (Carol Berg at UCARE) Interpreter Group (Carol Berg at UCARE) New American Employment Initiative New American Employment Initiative

10. Invitation to Town Hall Forums Legislative Training and a Meet the Candidates for School Board Forum Legislative Training and a Meet the Candidates for School Board Forum Saturday, October 7 th Saturday, October 7 th 1 – 3 p.m. 1 – 3 p.m. Lao Cultural Center Lao Cultural Center 2648 West Broadway 2648 West Broadway MPLS, MN 55411 MPLS, MN 55411 League of Women Voters (Mpls) League of Women Voters (Mpls)

11. CHW Day at the Capitol Reserve the Rotunda Reserve the Rotunda Speakers Speakers Invites to legislators Invites to legislators Booths Booths Letter writing Letter writing Sign and deliver letters to legislators Sign and deliver letters to legislators Schedule brief office visits to legislators Schedule brief office visits to legislators Stop by and tell them why you, their constituents, were there Stop by and tell them why you, their constituents, were there

12. CHW Issues What concerns are you wanting to speak up about? What concerns are you wanting to speak up about? Chose one or more issues you want to be advocates on for yourselves and for your clients Chose one or more issues you want to be advocates on for yourselves and for your clients Health? Health? Education? Education? Adult Basic Education? Adult Basic Education? Employment? Employment? Housing? Housing?

13. Talking to a legislator The green book The green book The red book The red book The blue book The blue book Legislative website Legislative website Using the District finder Using the District finder Senators Senators Representatives Representatives

14. Process of Legislative Advocacy “Getting a Bill passed into law” Researching an issue Researching an issue Hearing from Clients Hearing from Clients Talking to legislators Talking to legislators Getting A Bill Introduced Getting A Bill Introduced A key author A key author House and senate House and senate Getting support from other legislators Getting support from other legislators Testifying in committee hearings Testifying in committee hearings Conference Committees Conference Committees

15. Examples of getting a bill passed Restoring funding cuts Restoring funding cuts Asian Juvenile Crime Prevention Asian Juvenile Crime Prevention Problem – unexpected funding cuts Problem – unexpected funding cuts Governor Ventura vetoed $1 million to AJCP Governor Ventura vetoed $1 million to AJCP Solution – ‘We will write a bill and get the money re-appropriated” Senator Linda Higgins Solution – ‘We will write a bill and get the money re-appropriated” Senator Linda Higgins Key authors House and Senate Key authors House and Senate SUCCESS! SUCCESS!