Tips for Effective Public Advocacy

If Westchester children are to have ready access to quality early care and education programs, more public and private resources are needed.    More vocal support for early learning investment as a priority for Westchester, New York State and the U.S. is needed too.   Here’s where you can help. 

First, two things to remember:

• Advocacy is not difficult to do
• Elected officials do listen

If you have ever worked with a teacher to improve your child's education, you have been an advocate.

Here are some guidelines:

	Use our website links to stay on top of advocacy issues in Westchester, New York and across the country, not only on early care and education, but also broader issues impacting children and families.   If you don’t see the information you need, contact Kathy Halas, Executive Director at kathyh@cccwny.org.
	Know your facts. Community leaders and elected officials have to be informed on a wide number of issues and value data.   Check out our Reports and Resources.
	Tell your story, “putting a human face” on the issue and how it has impacted you and your family.
	Offer suggestions about how the issue can be addressed.
	Thank community leaders and elected officials for their consideration of your issue, even if their actions fall short of your intended goal.
	Stick with the issue, as change always takes longer than expected.

There are all kinds of advocacy activities, some more complicated than others.   They all help.  Do as much as you can as often as you can.   Invite your family, friends and colleagues to join in. 

Here are some ideas: 

	Write a letter to your local newspaper about the importance of quality child care.
	Write letters to your county, state and federal elected officials on the importance of funding access to quality child care.
	Attend public budget hearings on child care and testify about your own experiences.
	Ask candidates for public office about where they stand on child care funding and what steps they have taken to support it.
	If you own, direct or work in a child care program, make sure that everyone is informed on public policy issues and has opportunities to advocate.
	Inform your community through open houses, tours, newsletters, speaking engagements, etc. about the contributions your child care program makes to a stronger, healthier community.
	Educate your friends on this issue and encourage them to become advocates.
	Invite the Child Care Council to talk with a group and/or organization about child care public policy and advocacy.

For more ideas and sample letters, view the Winning Beginning NY Advocacy Tools at www.winningbeginningny.org

Take advantage of new support for early childhood investment:
Increasingly, “non-traditional” supporters including corporate executives, business groups and economists are calling for more attention to and resources for quality early care and education.   They talk very powerfully about the short and long-term economic benefits derived from quality early childhood programs – this can be very useful in reaching new audiences. 

Here are a few web sites:  

The Committee for Economic Development is a non-profit, non-partisan business led public policy organization dedicated to policy research on major economic and social issues and the implementation of its recommendations by the public and private sectors. Membership is made up of some 200 senior corporate executives and university leaders who lead CED’s research and outreach efforts.
www.ced.org

Economist James J. Heckman is the Henry Schultz Distinguished Services Professor at the University of Chicago. Recipient of the Nobel Prize in Economics, Dr. Heckman has published and lectured widely on the wisdom of investments in early childhood development for children, families and our entire society.
www.heckmanequation.org

ReadyNation is a national coalition of executives, economists, policy experts, civic leaders and advocates mobilizing business leaders to improve tomorrow's economy through smart policy investments in young children today.
www.readynation.org

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is the world's largest business federation representing the interests of more than 3 million businesses of all sizes, sectors, and regions, as well as state and local chambers and industry associations. More than 96% of U.S. Chamber members are small businesses with 100 employees or fewer. Its Institute for a Competitive Workforce (ICW) is the Chamber’s education and workforce nonprofit, nonpartisan, 501(c)3 affiliate. ICW promotes the rigorous educational standards and effective job training systems needed to preserve the strength of America's greatest economic resource, its workforce.
www.icw.uschamber.com/

For more reports and resources, click here.