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Who Is In Charge Here, Anyway?

Public Policy, Advocacy, and Weighing In: Participating in the Creation of Child and Family Policy By Becky Miller Updike. Who Is In Charge Here, Anyway?. Pop Quiz:. Describe your level of knowledge about the policy- making process: I never heard of it before.

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Who Is In Charge Here, Anyway?

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  1. Public Policy, Advocacy, and Weighing In: Participating in the Creation of Child and Family Policy By Becky Miller Updike Who Is In Charge Here, Anyway?

  2. Pop Quiz: Describe your level of knowledge about the policy- making process: • I never heard of it before. • I know some things and vote most of the time. • I have quite a bit of experience and like the topic. • I learned about it from School House Rock.

  3. Why should I care about public policy… my opinion can’t change anything anyway.

  4. Politics vs. PolicyIn simple terms, if policy is the end, then politics are the means to the end.

  5. The 3 Big Ideas: • To help you find your advocacy VOICE, and to help you empower others to find theirs. • To find HOPE and help you BELIEVE in the political system. • To help you keep the COURAGE to be the voice for the voiceless.

  6. Where is policy being made? • Federal Level -- Executive Branch (President), Legislative Branch (House of Representatives and Senate), and Judicial Branch (Supreme Court) • State Level -- Executive Branch (Governor), Legislative Branch (House of Representatives and Senate), and Judicial Branch (State Supreme Court) • Local Level -- City (Mayors), County, School Board, Agencies • Who runs for office? -- The concept of a “citizen legislature”

  7. Colorado • Executive Branch (Charged with making sure laws passed by legislature are properly executed. includes Governor and Lt. Governor, whose seats will be up in 2010. Also includes Attorney General, State Treasurer) • Legislative Branch (Makes and revises laws for the state, includes House of Representatives and Senate) • Judicial Branch (Interprets and administers the law. Includes State Supreme Court, District Courts, County Courts, and Court of Appeals) • See www.colorado.gov for more information on State Government

  8. Long story short: A pie of money comes to each state every year from the feds. We have to feed everyone and everything with that pie.

  9. The Creation of Policy • How does policy impact children and families? • How is it created?

  10. Jumping Into the Process • Ideas for legislation usually come to “solve a problem” • Proactive, research based ideas rarely become bill drafts • Citizens approach legislators with an issue to solve and viola`-- a bill gets drafted

  11. Tracking a Bill Citizens and special interest groups can track a bill and “weigh in” by • Discussing it with legislators • Educating stakeholders so they are moved to action • Write letters, make calls, send emails • Provide public testimony on the bill

  12. How To: Lessons on Weighing In • Letters do matter… keep it brief and get to the point. Include your name and address. • Contact YOUR representatives. They pay the most attention if you are from their district because YOU can VOTE • Public Testimony– keep it to 2-3 minutes, get to the point, and balance data with emotion. Keep it to 2-3 KEY POINTS.

  13. How to find my legislator? • FOR MORE INFO: http://www.leg.state.co.us/ is the Legislature homepage. You can track bills, calendar, and find your legislator’s contact info • FIND YOUR REPS: http://www.vote-smart.org/index.htm • You’ll need your zip code plus 4 digits… if you don’t know those, go to http://www.usps.com/ and go to “Find a Zip Code”

  14. Other Resources • Every Child Matters www.everychildmatters.org • Children’s Defense Fund www.childrensdefense.org • Colorado Children’s Campaign www.coloradokids.org • Child Welfare League of America www.cwla.org • Project Vote Smart www.vote-smart.org • Colorado State Website www.state.co.us • US House of Representatives www.house.gov • US Senate www.senate.gov

  15. Voter Registration Drives • In Colorado, following the 2004 election, all Voter Registration Drives must be registered with the Secretary of State’s Office.

  16. How to Organize a Voter Registration Drive in CO • First, get legal. Register and train. • To register with the Secretary of State, go to the website: www.sos.state.co.us • Then click on the Elections Center tab. • From there, sign up for a training on VRDs. • Fill out a VRD Statement of Intent

  17. Tips for a Good VRD • Arrange to be at a place where people already are. Examples include: fairs, conferences, meetings of special interest groups, child care centers, Family Resource Centers, etc. • Get permission in advance to have a table there. • Have information available to attract visitors and to educate them about your cause. • Invite them to register to vote. If they are already registered, encourage them to make sure they vote. • Give free stuff if you can! (Stickers, etc.)

  18. WHAT NEXT? • Vote • Register your staff, parents, others • Volunteer for a cause (EVERY CHILD MATTERS??!!) • Attend candidate forums & ask questions • Yard signs & other materials • Host an event or candidate tour • GOTV with ECM… • SIGN UP TODAY!

  19. Contact Info: Becky Miller Updike Office of Strategic Initiatives & Every Child Matters CO Tennyson Center for Children 2950 Tennyson Street Denver, CO 80212 (720)855-3455 Ofc (720)560-3810 Cell beckyupdike@hotmail.com

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