the power of the home visitor in legislative advocacy madeline duhaime mcclure, lcsw
DESCRIPTION
THE POWER OF THE HOME VISITOR IN LEGISLATIVE ADVOCACY Madeline DuHaime McClure, LCSW Executive Director, TexProtects April 4, 2014. Can Non-Profit O rganizations Advocate? Advocacy verses Lobbying. Advocacy. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
THE POWER OF THE HOME VISITOR IN LEGISLATIVE ADVOCACY
Madeline DuHaime McClure, LCSWExecutive Director, TexProtectsApril 4, 2014
1
Can Non-Profit Organizations Advocate? Advocacy verses Lobbying
Advocacy
Lobbying
ADVOCACY: To speak up, to educate or inform, to plead the case of another, to champion a cause.
LOBBYING: Attempting to influence legislation.(Refers to specific legislation or action)
TEXPROTECTS, THE TEXAS ASSOCIATION FOR THE PROTECTION OF CHILDREN 2
Nonprofits Can Lobby IRS
No substantial part of activities – generally, 5% or less (h) election – sliding scale based on a 1976 law.
Nonprofits cannot spend public funds on lobbying
Nonprofits cannot endorse a candidate for office
Resource: Center for Lobbying in the Public Interest http://www.clpi.org/the-law/irs-rules
TEXPROTECTS, THE TEXAS ASSOCIATION FOR THE PROTECTION OF CHILDREN 3
How Does it Work? The Legislative Process Simplified
4TEXPROTECTS, THE TEXAS ASSOCIATION FOR THE PROTECTION OF CHILDREN
Laws
Governor
Senate
House of Representa
tives
How Does it Work? The Legislative Process Simplified
5TEXPROTECTS, THE TEXAS ASSOCIATION FOR THE PROTECTION OF CHILDREN
Bill is filed
Hearing is held - Committee votes
Goes to Calendars - Entire chamber votes
Process starts over in opposite chamber
The Five “I’s” of ADVOCACY
7TEXPROTECTS, THE TEXAS ASSOCIATION FOR THE PROTECTION OF CHILDREN
Identify
Interest
Inform
Investment
Involve
You must work through the 4 or 5 I’s in this order!
1. IDENTIFY Identify your legislators.
• Who represents your interests?
• Know at least your 2 elected state officials: Representative and Senator
• Higher level: Chairs of HHS and Finance/Appropriations committees, Governor, Speaker, Lt. Governor
8TEXPROTECTS, THE TEXAS ASSOCIATION FOR THE PROTECTION OF CHILDREN
Who Represents Me?
http://azredistricting.org/districtlocator/
1. IDENTIFY Identify with your legislator-Helps shape your message:• Learn about your representative’s political affiliation, career and interests: Website • Higher Level: Volunteer for their political campaign or attend an event where they are
speaking and introduce yourself.
Legislators respond to:• STORIES that they can re-tell! • Active members of their districts: Volunteering• Organizations that are engaged and understand process• Organized efforts
9TEXPROTECTS, THE TEXAS ASSOCIATION FOR THE PROTECTION OF CHILDREN
2. INTERESTInterest legislators with a story
Write to your legislators: o # abused kids in their county/district: o Get information from your local child protection data book or KIDS
COUNT Data Center. (2013). Arizona Indicators. Retrieved from http://datacenter.kidscount.org/data#AZ/2/0.
Tell a personal story / Relate concern from the news: Always reading/watching media
Remember they were elected to serve their community and most of
them are very in tune with trying to serve their district.10TEXPROTECTS, THE TEXAS ASSOCIATION FOR THE PROTECTION OF CHILDREN
2. INTERESTBuild Interest for you issueHIGHER LEVEL ADVOCACY:Collaborate with organizations or individuals that have similar goals/missions.
Organize an event centered around your issue and invite your legislators to attend.
Try to get your local media outlets to cover your issue.
Op-edHuman Interest StoryBlogs
11TEXPROTECTS, THE TEXAS ASSOCIATION FOR THE PROTECTION OF CHILDREN
3. INFORM: This is where YOU have the Power! Meet with them and Inform your legislator of your solution!
Develop a focused and consistent message: Need to expand HV services to serve the ______waiting list: Requires an additional $________.
Bring your client and her baby! Let the client speak about the HV program (choose a sympathetic, articulate client….turned around her life).
Talk about YOUR experience in watching the clients transform their lives.
No need to overstate or understate the problem or solution12TEXPROTECTS, THE TEXAS ASSOCIATION FOR THE PROTECTION OF CHILDREN
Mom's labor force participation by child's fourth birthday
Reduction in premature delivery
Reduction in child arrests at age 15
Reduction in language delays at 21 months
Reduction in low birth weight babies
Reduction in child abuse and neglect
Fewer subsequent pregnancies
Reduction in months on welfare
Reduction in Out-of-Home Placements
Reduction in ER Visits
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90%
83%79%
59%50%
32%20%
44%35%
28-48%48-50%
Outcomes Among Multiple Evidence-Based Home Visiting Programs
Home Visiting= Most Effective Defense
TEXPROTECTS, THE TEXAS ASSOCIATION FOR THE PROTECTION OF CHILDREN 13
Home Visiting: A Sound Investment*
Higher-risk families Savings Higher-risk families Cost Lower-risk families Savings Lower-risk families Cost$0
$5,000
$10,000
$15,000
$20,000
$25,000
$30,000
$35,000
$40,000
$45,000
Cost Increased Participant Income
Reduction in Crime Losses Savings to Government
$41,419
$7,271 $9,151 $7,271
*RAND Corporation Analyses of the Nurse-Family Partnership Program (2008)
TEXPROTECTS, THE TEXAS ASSOCIATION FOR THE PROTECTION OF CHILDREN 14
4. INVESTMENT Investment is commonly referred to as the “ask”.
It is getting your legislator to commit to help by:• Supporting your bill that will help the cause
• Support funding for your major issues
• Vote against legislation that will hurt your cause
• Connect you to individuals that can help your cause: Comptroller, Governor, etc.
15TEXPROTECTS, THE TEXAS ASSOCIATION FOR THE PROTECTION OF CHILDREN
þ x
5. INVOLVE HIGHER LEVEL: It is getting your legislator to be a leader in Home Visiting Policy or funding
• File a bill, co-sponsor a home visiting bill
• Champion funding for home visiting
• Lead the Fight against legislation that will hurt home visiting
• Raise awareness of the issue-Speak to a group
16TEXPROTECTS, THE TEXAS ASSOCIATION FOR THE PROTECTION OF CHILDREN
Putting the 5 “I’s” to Work Setting up a meeting Preparing for the big day Helpful Tools Meeting with your legislator
TEXPROTECTS, THE TEXAS ASSOCIATION FOR THE PROTECTION OF CHILDREN 17
Setting up the Meeting Ask to speak to the person who schedule’s for the legislator. State your name, the organization you belong to and let them
know are a constituent (you live in the legislator’s district or your organization is located in the legislator’s district). (Utilize Board Members to Join you).
Topic you want to discuss. Ask for 20 minutes. If booked, ask for 5 minutes. If not, ask to
meet with the person who handles the issue - policy analyst , legislative director, or chief of staff.
Follow-up with an email request.
18TEXPROTECTS, THE TEXAS ASSOCIATION FOR THE PROTECTION OF CHILDREN
Preparing for the Big DayMake sure you know where you are going.• Follow-up with an email to the scheduler.
Bring your materials:Business dress (wear your uniform if you have one!)• Client should dress as usual-presentable.
If at the capitol - wear comfortable shoes.Rehearse what you are going to say.
19TEXPROTECTS, THE TEXAS ASSOCIATION FOR THE PROTECTION OF CHILDREN
Visiting Your LegislatorFIRST TWO TO THREE MINUTES:Thank them for the meeting. Acknowledge the commitment they’ve made.Tell them who you are. “I’m a Home Visitor with_____(briefly describe organization) volunteering to advocate for our clients: Vulnerable children and families.” Discuss Why this is important to you.
NEXT 3-20 MINUTESGet to the Point Quickly: Your Advocacy Agenda
• Keep your message simple (Speak in 3’s)• Listen well (verbal and non-verbal)• Never be disagreeable: compliment objections• Complete Honesty Always! If you don’t know an answer, tell them you will find out and get back to
them.
Ask for their support (investment).Leave Behinds
20TEXPROTECTS, THE TEXAS ASSOCIATION FOR THE PROTECTION OF CHILDREN
Use of this Presentation
TEXPROTECTS, THE TEXAS ASSOCIATION FOR THE PROTECTION OF CHILDREN 21
TexProtects encourages you to reproduce and distribute these slides. If you reproduce these slides, please give appropriate credit to TexProtects and/or appropriate cited authority.
If you have questions about this presentation or require it electronically please contact Madeline McClure, Executive Director, [email protected]
TexProtects The Texas Association for the Protection of Children
2904 Floyd St., Suite C | Dallas, TX 75214214-442-1672