Presented by: Diana Ragbeer, Director Department of Public Policy & Communications The Children s Trust

Transcription

1 It s s Role in Early Childhood Development and Care Presented by: Diana Ragbeer, Director Department of Public Policy & Communications The Children s Trust

2 Presentation Objectives Discuss the importance of advocacy for early childhood issues Understand everyone has a role as an advocate Identify actions individuals can take to advocate for related issues Build partnerships to enhance advocacy action Develop and apply advocacy skills

3 Section One: The Importance of Advocacy

4 Why Is Advocacy Important? Promotes change at the systems level and works to overcome system barriers Enhances the impact of individual efforts

5 Why a Child Care Provider should be an Advocate? YOU. Are keenly aware of the needs of children and parents Bring credibility Are generally seen as trustworthy Are seen most often as working on behalf of children Can see trends/effects of the early child care and development system changes and their impact on children and families

6 Early Childhood Education and Care More than 45,000 children are waiting for subsidized childcare Quality early child care and education programs enable children to enter school ready to learn and succeed in life Brain research proves that in the first three years of a child's life, brain development virtually explodes Investing in programs focused on the earliest years of a child's life yields the greatest dividend. Invest early for the best reward.

7 Barriers to Advocacy Lack of time Lack of understanding of the value of advocacy Lack of comfort with/knowledge of advocacy process

8 Section Two: An Individual Advocate s s Role

9 Steps in Achieving Advocacy: For an Individual

10 Step 1: Develop a Foundation of Knowledge Support issues that are of particular importance to you, and really get to know them Identify all players that are involved in the issue

11 Step 2: Join Key Advocacy Groups or Coalitions/Partnerships

12 Value of Coalitions/ Partnerships Working together, people and agencies are more likely to be effective Increased resources, shared workload Variety of perspectives and areas of expertise are brought to the table

13 Develop Your Message Meaningful Clear & Unambiguous Understandable Persuasive & Convincing

14 Clarify Your Message by Telling a Story Identify the urgent problem Avoid using technical language Briefly describe a story that best illustrates this problem State your proposed solution clearly

15 Become a Credible & Trusted Source of Information Keep up with key contacts/advocates Send information without asking anything in return Identify, work with, and encourage new persons with an interest in this population

16 Step 5: Develop a Good Relationship With the Media (ie, newspaper, radio, TV) Many organizations have how-to packets on establishing good media relations Develop news releases related to issues that can be published in local papers Send thank-you letters to the media after you are interviewed Become a filed source

17 SECTION: THREE Application of Advocacy Skills

18 Identify Potential Opposition and Attempt to Influence Their Position Explain how your position can be beneficial to their position; identify mutual gains Help them recognize that investing in children s early education and care makes good sense Remember that your adversaries may be your future partners

19 Don t t Burn Bridges With Legislators; Treat Them With Respect Don t personally attack Don t play one legislator against another Don t question their integrity Never assume a position of active opposition without attempting to compromise Consider including the other side in defining your problem and developing solutions

20 Be Pragmatic and Willing to Compromise Prioritize issues Identify issues of lower priority to your group that seem to have greater value to your adversary Assess the possibility of regaining the lost element at a later time in the process or in subsequent legislation

21 Be Seen as an Advocate for Others and Not for Yourself Focus on benefits to children and families Use real-life examples to personalize messages Explain impact on the community

22 Building an Advocacy Plan Who will invite other potential partners to join? Who will invite local/state groups to collaboratively advocate? What is the local/state legislative process? Where is your issue in this process? What key contacts do we need to make? What opportunities can we use to advocate for the issue? What opportunities do we have for media exposure? Who is our spokesperson?

23 Fitting Advocacy Into Busy Lives Talk share personal stories & experiences Get on an advocacy alert list Recognize the importance of little victories Identify opportunities to advocate for individuals as well as issues Build relationships, form human connections Respond to Advocacy Action Alerts Send a letter Send an Make a personal phone call Visit legislators in their district offices Make a trip to the Capitol to appear before legislative committees; visit members of key committees

24