Advocacy Toolkit

Communicating With Your Legislator
Letters, personally drafted emails, and even phone calls at critical times before votes are effective ways to share information, concerns and personal stories with lawmakers.  Legislators especially want to hear the views of their own constituents.  Do not underestimate how important a short letter or email is to a legislator.  Many individuals do not take the time to write, so just a few letters on a particular issue can seem like a groundswell of interest to a state legislator!
Click here to read more...

Ten Easy Tips for Legislative Visits
Face to face visits are the best way to build a relationship with lawmakers and to share information and personal stories.  You do not need to be an expert on an issue to have an effective meeting with a legislator.  Legislators want to hear why their constituents care about an issue. Legislators are your neighbors. They work next to you, worship with you, and raise their children in your community.  Meetings with them should not be intimidating, and there are some easy steps to ensure that they are productive.
Click here to read more...

Tips for Building Relationships with Legislators
The most effective advocates understand the need to build long term mutually beneficial relationships with the lawmakers that represent them.  If you become a trusted resource for the legislator, you will be able to ensure that your voice will be heard through the drone of other legislative issues, interest groups, and competing constituents.  By working to build relationships, you will ensure that children’s issues are always on the mind of your elected officials.  Your legislators are elected by constituents just like you and they want to get to know you and to gain your support.
Click here to read more...