THE POWER OF THE HOME VISITOR IN LEGISLATIVE ADVOCACY Madeline DuHaime McClure, LCSW

THE POWER OF THE HOME VISITOR IN LEGISLATIVE ADVOCACY

Madeline DuHaime McClure, LCSWExecutive Director, TexProtectsApril 4, 2014

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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


http://www.clpi.org/the-law/irs-rules

http://www.clpi.org/the-law/irs-rules

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


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


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


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


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

http://datacenter.kidscount.org/data#AZ/2/0

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


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


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)


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.


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


Putting the 5 “I’s” to Work Setting up a meeting Preparing for the big day Helpful Tools Meeting with your legislator


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.


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.


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


Use of this Presentation


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

THE POWER OF THE HOME VISITOR IN LEGISLATIVE ADVOCACY Madeline DuHaime McClure, LCSW

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