Speak up! Use all of the tools available to you phone calls, the media, letters, in-person visits to inform legislators and the public about the problems children face. In communicating your message to elected officials and the public, be clear about what you are asking for. Make your message brief and to the point. Explain why the issue is important.

Call Your Elected Officials Ask to speak to the aide who handles childrens issues. Identify yourself and tell the aide why you are calling. List your reasons for your support or opposition to a certain position and be clear about what you want your senator or representative to do. Find contact information for Congressional officials visit: http://www.in.gov/apps/sos/legislator/search/. The U.S. Capitol Switchboard can connect you to your U.S. Senators and Representatives offices in Washington, D.C.: 202-224-3121 (http://www.senate.gov/reference/common/faq/How_to_contact_senators.htm). The government pages of your telephone directory have local phone numbers for your local, state, and federal elected officials. Find contact information for local governments by county visiting: http://www.in.gov/mylocal/map.html.

Write Letters to Your Elected Officials and Newspapers Many tips apply equally, whether you are writing to your elected official or a letter to the editor of a local or national newspaper. Your letter should be courteous and to the point. Your purpose for writing should be stated in the first paragraph. If you are writing on a particular piece of legislation, make sure to identify the bill number. Explain why the issue is important to you. Always include your complete name and mailing address. Tips for letters to Elected Officials: Personalize, Personalize, Personalize! The more personal your letter, the more compelling it is. If you use a sample letter, always include your own story or experience to make the letter more personal. Due to heightened security, many U.S. Senators and Representatives offices continue to experience a delay in receiving mail to their Washington, D.C. offices. If possible, please consider sending your letter via e-mail. The CDF Action Council Web site has several sample e-mail letters on a variety of issues at www.cdfactioncouncil.org that can be automatically directed to your elected officials. Remember to personalize! Tips for letters to the editor of local or national newspapers: Keep it short. Most letters to the editor that make it to print are very short and direct. In a maximum of 250 words, identify the news story that you are referring to, identify the problem with the story or the way that it was covered, and then present your viewpoint and any specific examples to illustrate your position. Do a little research. Good letters to the editor reflect recent articles or opinion pieces that have appeared in that paper. If you cant relate your message to a recent article, you can refer to the current state of affairs for a particular issue and the need for the editors and the public to pay attention to it. Once youve located an article that youd like to reply to, send your letter to the editor of that newspaper directly (the contact information is listed on the Editorial page).

Visit Your Elected Officials Meeting personally with your elected official is often the best way to communicate your interest in childrens issues. Plan your visit carefully and determine in advance what you want to achieve from the meeting. You dont need to be a policy expert your own experience can be a powerful testimony about the needs of children. Here are some quick tips for planning a visit or an event with your elected officials or their staff: Make an appointment to meet either in Washington, D.C. or in your local district office. Members are likely to be in their district offices when Congress is not in session. Do your homework. Review how your U.S. Senators and Representatives have voted on childrens issues in the past. If you are bringing along other people, decide in advance the role each person will play in the meeting. On the day of the appointment, be prompt and patient. Members have busy schedules, so be flexible if you are asked to wait or if you are asked to meet with an aide instead. Present your case. Show that what you are asking for is in the best interest of the elected official and other voters in the district or state. Bring materials to support your position. If the Member or Senator asks you questions that you cant answer, simply admit you dont know and promise to get back to him or her. Keep your goal in mind and dont leave the meeting without making your request (e.g., a commitment to a position, an agreement to co-sponsor a bill.) Follow up after the meeting. Get the name and phone number of the childrens issues aide. Send any additional materials the elected official requests. Send a thank you letter. Keep the elected official or their staff aware of any new developments.

Here are a few more ways to speak up for children: Involve Others! Enlist the help of your colleagues, neighbors, family, and community. Start small, with your personal networks. Then reach out to other potential allies to build your public policy network. Vote! The voting booth is the most important place to hold your elected officials to their promises. Keep at it! Policy change can come slowly but persistence pays off. Celebrate and share your victories, even the small ones. Every step forward counts! View the Policy Council Toolkit from Head Start