CHILDREN’S ADVOCACY DAY AT THE CAPITOL GROUP LEADER TIPS

Child advocacy group leaders to do list before the February 8th, 2007 Children’s Day at the Capitol

• Recruit 3 or more co-workers, friends, family members, or a small group of youth to come with you to the Capitol on February 8th. If people are not registered to vote, you may want to encourage them to do that before February. Feel free to bring your children as well. If you have not registered or the number that you are bringing has changed from the time you registered on www.kyyouth.org please update by going to the website, calling Jenessa Bryan at 502-895-8167, or emailing her at jbryan@kyyouth.org. People in your group can also register for the event on the Kentucky Youth Advocates website. The attendance goal for the event is 700 people from at least 70 counties – we can do it!
• Help your group make individual appointments with both their local state senator and representative by using the internet, phone, or letter (see www.lrc.ky.gov to get contact info and to find out who your legislators are). This is a very important step in preparing for the February event. You can make appointments with 2-3 people together, but try to avoid having more than three people in the room at once. The legislative offices are not that large and it is difficult to get your point across with that many people in the room. Don’t become discouraged by either playing phone tag or not getting a response quickly, become persistent - remember that the squeaky wheel gets oiled!
• Figure out what issues each person in your group wants to talk about with their legislators (children’s health, safety, early care and education, or preventing child abuse or other children’s issues). Let Jenessa Bryan know the number in your group and the issues that each will work on so we can all be better prepared in February. You can do this by registering on the Kentucky Youth Advocates website at www.kyyouth.org.
• You should begin building a relationship with your legislators now, before the session starts. You can do this by inviting them to your organization to see what children’s services are available in their community or by meeting them for coffee to discuss children’s issues. Sometimes starting that process is more difficult once the session starts as they have hundreds of issues to think about and hundreds of people to meet.
• Encourage your legislator to attend the rally in the morning of February 8th. If you get interest from a legislator, please let Jenessa Bryan know and she can assist you in getting all the information you need.
• If you would like to help in getting a press release out about the event, you can let us know and we can help you in getting it to your local paper, newsletter, or local meeting.
• Encourage your group members to do their homework before coming to the Capitol. This means being up on the legislation that you are interested in and being mentally prepared to speak with your legislator. Remember that legislators generally really enjoy meeting with their constituents. You can find out more about legislation at www.lrc.gov.

Child advocacy group leaders to do list during the February 8th, 2007 Children’s Advocacy Day at the Capitol

• Make sure everyone knows where they are going and where we are to meet (in the Capitol Rotunda). Check www.kyyouth.org for the most up to date information on the event. This will be a lively event with a lot of people, so stick together and have fun. Remind everyone to bring their picture ID so they can get into the buildings. If you need overnight accommodations, see http://www.visitfrankfort.com.
• Since there will be many people participating in the Children’s Advocacy Day at the Capitol, you will essentially be the “tour guide” for your group. This means that you will show your group where the small issue groups will meet (this will be mapped out for you beforehand), where the committees are meeting, where the legislative offices are, and where the cafeteria is located. The training on November 14th is designed to give you the basic skills to be a group leader on February 8th. If you did not attend the November 14th training, simply get in touch with any of the event sponsors for more information. There will be members of the planning committee spread out across both the Capitol and the Annex to give everyone support, encouragement, and directions.
• During the day of the event, remind your group that even if they made appointments with their legislators, sometimes the meetings do not happen. This is normal, February is a very busy time at the Capitol and legislators have meeting after meeting all day long. Again, don’t get discouraged, instead be proactive and leave a Children’s Dollar for your legislators with a personalized note on them. You can also leave a children’s dollar for the Governor, other committee chairs, or leadership.
• Make sure that the members of your group sign the registration sheet at the Capitol, fill out the legislative visit forms and return them to a member of the planning committee, and fill out an evaluation of the event before they leave.

Child advocacy group leaders to do list after February 8th, 2007 Children’s Advocacy Day at the Capitol

• Make sure that the members of your group send a thank you card to all of their legislators after they get home. If your legislator had a bigger role in Children’s Day at the Capitol, be sure to thank them for helping us pull off this special event.
• Track your legislators’ votes on children’s bills by using a bill tracker like those offered by Kentucky Youth Advocates and others. You can also see how your legislator voted by using the Legislative Research Commission’s website at www.lrc.ky.gov.

Widely distribute the children’s dollars to everyone you think will send it to their legislators with a personal message about a children’s issue that is important to them. You will receive many of these to take home with you, but you can also download them off the web at www.kyyouth.org.  These can be sent all throughout the session.