Voices Leadership Training Michigan's Children Advocacy in Public Policy Making Role and Function of Advocacy Organizations Strategies to Impact Policy

Voices Leadership Training Michigan's Children

Advocacy in Public Policy Making

Role and Function of Advocacy Organizations Strategies to Impact Policy

Change Coalition Building for Advocacy

Connecting Fellows’ Work to Advocacy


Public Policy Change Elected Officials Implementers of Public Policy Lobbyists Advocacy=Constituency Voice

Turning Concerns into Action Using Influence for Change


Why Advocacy? We Can

Not a specialized skill It doesn’t take that many of us

We Should There are things we want changed Democracy=Responsibility Decision-makers REALLY need our

help


How do advocates make change?

Get the attention of the people who can make the change we want

Talk to Decision-Makers A concern that we have about our lives A concern that we have about their work

Talk to Other People About an issue About policy-maker’s views or positions About how to act to make policy change


Michigan’s Children

Works Directly With Policy Makers Guided by Legislative Priorities Individually and in Partnership

Provides Tools for Other Advocates Information Training Opportunity


Structure of MC Advocacy 501 (c) 3 Organization Governed by Board of Directors Part of National Network Funded Privately

Foundations Corporations Individuals


Lobbying Is… Governed by Federal and State

Regulations Direct Contact With Public Officials Encouraging Others to Directly

Contact Public Officials To Influence A Specific Action

Vote Yes on HB 4378


Ways to Lobby In House

Staff register as lobbyists Hire It Out

Multi-client lobbying firms


Advocacy Is… Everything Else! Education on Issues vs. Legislation Building Relationships With Policy

Makers Providing Resources for Policy

Makers Information on Geography or Issues Site Visits to Programs Opportunities to Talk With Constituents


Advocating for What? Seriousness of the Need Relevance to Mission and

Goals Resource Capacity for Action Potential for Making Change Potential for Joint Action


How Do You Move An Issue Who can make the change What influences them Who Do We Know Who Do We Need


What Influences You?


What Influences Decision Makers

Friends Title or position Information Numbers Constituents Money


“When you need a friend, it’s too late to make one.”

Mark Twain


Who Do We Need? Relationships Information Partners

Researchers, Evaluators Titled Partners

Experts, Professionals Constituent Partners

Based on Geography and Experience


Framing Our Resources We use mental shortcuts to

make sense of the world Based on our life experiences,

including the media We use “frames” to filter new

information


Cat Frame

Cat

FurAffection

Costliness

Sneezing

Shedding

Kitty Litter

Cleanliness

Cat Food

VetsScan


Why Do Frames Matter?

When the facts don’t fit the frame, it is the FACTS that are rejected, not the frame.


Successful Advocacy

Effective Policy MakerCommunication

InformationPartners

Titled Partners Constituent

Partners

AdvocacyStrategy


Who Is Out There Advocating?

So Many People for So Many Things…

National Partners State-Level Partnerships

Shared Youth Vision Partnership Michigan Coalition for Children and

Families Coalitions and Associations for Every

Issue


Working it Through Prioritizing an Issue Building Relationships Providing Information and

Education Calling On or Developing Partners Lobby Directly and Encourage

Grassroots Networks to Lobby


Advocacy In Your Work

As you think about your own work…

Who do you think that you could or should connect with around the issues that you see or experience?

Where can what you know be useful in advocacy work?


Michele CoreyMichigan’s Children

428 W. LenaweeLansing, MI 48933

517/485-3500; 800/330-8674FAX: 517/485-3650

[email protected]

www.michiganschildren.org

Documents

Voices Leadership Training Michigan's Children Advocacy in Public Policy Making Role and Function of Advocacy Organizations Strategies to Impact Policy