Investing in Quality

Advocacy 101

Six Easy Steps: Advocacy for Everyone

Source: http://www.pennaeyc.org/

1. Register to vote!
   

   Here are two ways:
   
   - Call 800-552-VOTE for a mail-in registration form
   - Stop in at a legislator's office, courthouse or PennDOT
   

2. Find out who your legislators are, and decide which one or ones you will contact.
   

   - Contact Project VoteSmart at 1-888-vote-smart or www.vote-smart.org
   - Call a local political party office
   - Call or stop by a legislator's office in your community
   - VoteSmart and the League of Women Voters www.pa.lwv.org/ are two resources for finding out legislator's voting records.
   

3. Decide what types of contacts you will make and how often, and make a commitment to do it.
   

   - Write a letter
   - Send an email
   - Make a phone call
   - Set up an appointment to visit

   For tips on writing, calling, or visiting legislators, visit http://www.papartnerships.org/voice_toolkit.asp. Make a note for yourself on your refrigerator or other obvious place reminding yourself of your commitments. Jot down in your calendar the dates on which you have decided to take action.
   

4. Inform yourself.
   

   - Learn about the issues that are being considered.
   - Sign up for the Children’s Champions email list.
   - Visit VoteSmart, League of Women Voters, or other advocacy websites (see below).
   - Join an advocacy group that sends public action alerts.
   - Visit the state legislative website www.legis.state.pa.us.
   

5. Make a list of key points.
   

   - In your contacts, tell your legislator that you are a registered voter.
   - Tell your legislator what is important to you: your general concerns and desires regarding young children and/or your opinions on specific issues and legislation.
   

6. Make the contacts that you've committed to.
   

   - If you can, get at least one other person to do these six simple steps.
   

DEVELOP RELATIONSHIPS. State legislators and government officials say that they do not hear from constituents on early childhood education. Visit your legislator! Introduce yourself as a professional early educator (and a parent, if you are one), offer NAEYC brochures about quality programs and costs, include a personal experience about how quality has made a difference, and ask for his/her views on early childhood education. Periodically keep in touch, especially when you can compliment the official on his/her support for quality early childhood measures.