Jim Casey Initiative: “ Advocacy for Youth – A Better Path? ”

1. Jim Casey Initiative:“Advocacy for Youth – A Better Path?” Bruce Lesley President November 14, 2013

2. President Teddy Roosevelt “Each of our children represents either a potential addition to the productive capacity and the enlightened citizenship of the nation, or, if allowed to suffer from neglect, a potential addition to the destructive forces of the community.” – Theodore Roosevelt, Special Message to Congress, 1909

3. How Are We Doing By Our Kids?

4. A majority say the last decade has not been beneficial to children. “Compared to ten years ago, do you think the lives of American children have gotten better, gotten worse, or not changed?” 56% Gotten Worse 21% Not Changed 20% Gotten Better

5. Children’s Spending on Decline Spending on children in the federal budget declined 16% in last 3 years. - 16% 15%

6. Share of Total Federal Spending The share of the federal budget in 2013 for children fell nearly 8% from 2010. ARRA Non-ARRA - 8%

7. Children’s Budget 2013 -Kids’ Share of Federal Spending

8. Urban Institute Projects: Long-Term Disinvestment in Kids - 24% 2.5% Of GDP 1.9% Of GDP Source: Kids Share

9. The State Policy Advocacy and Reform Center (SPARC) Objectives • To improve child welfare outcomes for children and families by building the capacity of and connections between state child welfare advocates to promote policy solutions. • To advance a continuum of child welfare policy and communications strategies aimed at: • preventing abuse and neglect whenever possible; • intervening swiftly and effectively to keep families together when children are at risk, and; • ensuring that children who need the temporary safe haven of foster care can thrive while in care and beyond.

10. SPARC Strategies

11. How Do We Create Change? • Raising Awareness: sharing knowledge, data • Developing Policy: propose evidence-based change • Building Will: improving communications/creating champions • Taking Action: grassroots and direct advocacy Kids’ First

12. Raising awareness

13. Developing Policy

14. Current Federal Initiatives • Strengthening and Finding Families for Children Act (SAFF-Children Act) – Baucus • Reauthorize Adoption Incentive Payments program & the Family Connection Grants • Promoting Adoption and Legal Guardianship for Children in Foster Care Act (H.R. 3205) – Camp/Doggett • Passed the House on Oct. 22nd to extend and improve the Adoption Incentive program

15. Current Federal Initiatives • S. 1518, “Improving Outcomes for Youth At-Risk for Sex Trafficking” – Hatch • Identifying and screening of potential victims of sex trafficking • Establishes a “reasonable and prudent parenting standard” that a caregiver shall use when determining whether to allow a child…to participate in extracurricular, enrichment & social activities” • Restrictions on placements in settings other than family foster homes • Changes in youth involvement in transition planning • Mandates case plans for youth age 14 or older include a list of child rights & ensures foster youth obtain birth certificate, social security care, and bank account before leaving care • Post-secondary education access • Enhanced housing opportunities for transitioning youth • Authority for electronic caseworker visits for post-18 youth • Pilot project on financing support of therapeutic foster care

16. Building will

17. Lessons and Steps to Building Political Will • Information is not persuasion • Conscious raising is not policy change • Steps to Building Will • Demonstrate public support • Communicate to their values • Offer hope • Make them a hero  Champion

18. Voters Want to Invest in Kids What Voters Think What Voters Want Kids’ Share

19. Even Tea Party supporters oppose cuts that impact children. Funding Reduction Disapproval by Tea Party Supporters and Moderates

20. Voters prefer a budget choice of children over the elderly (but a plurality rather not choose). “Now, thinking about all of the priorities of the federal government and the budget, if you had to choose, do you think when making budget decisions the federal government should focus more on…the needs of children or the needs of the elderly?” Total Children 34% Total Elderly 20%

21. Voters also prefer a budget focus of children over the military. “Now, thinking about all of the priorities of the federal government and the budget, if you had to choose, do you think when making budget decisions the federal government should focus more on...the needs of the children or the needs of the military?” Total Children 42% Total Military 28%

22. Communications: Luntz: Advocacy Without Jargon Children at the Federal Level: “Words That Work and Don’t” • Words That Work • Access • Accountability • Future • Healthy • Impact • Invest now or pay later • Our kids • Priority • Progress • Renew • The American Dream • Words That Don’t Work • Capacity-building • Coordination • Infrastructure • Integration • Recommend • Request • Systemic • “We request additional funding to build infrastructure and capacity while simultaneously integrating program services in a systemic manner.”

23. Communications: Westen: High Ground on Values Children at the Federal Level: “Words That Work and Don’t” • Core Values • American leadership • American Dream • Personal responsibility • Back to Basics • Investment • Security • Character • Opportunity • Hard work • Community • Accountability • Partnership • Common sense Connect w/ Aspiration Describe problem – Concrete, Visual End w/ a Solution that That Evokes Hope that Something Can Change Return to Central Theme/Value

24. Making Children a Priority Investment Investing in our children is investing in America. When we help children grow and succeed, we are paving the way for our country’s next generation of workers and leaders.Investing in our children means investing in a world-class education, making sure every child starts kindergarten ready to learn, every teenager who aspires to a college education and is willing to work for it can afford one, and making sure there are jobs waiting for them on the other end. Investing in our children means recognizing that children learn the values of respect and responsibility in strong families and safe communities. And investing in our children means investing in those who are most vulnerable, helping parents in poor communities protect their children from poverty, violence, and drugs; providing mentors and role models so all our nation’s teenagers finish high school; and caring for the millions of children who are abused and neglected, so every child stands a chance for a satisfying, productive life. Supporting our children isn’t just the right thing to do. It’s one of the best investments we can make as a nation. 82

25. Building Will: Hope is a Must Despair is disempowering

26. Building Will: Hope is a Must “Instead of mourning a genocide, what if we could STOP one?”

27. Lessons and Steps to Building Political Will • Information is not persuasion • Conscious raising is not policy change • Steps to Building Will • Demonstrate public support • Communicate to their values • Offer hope • Make them a hero  Champion

28. Building Will: Creating Champions for Children • Building Will • Make Them A Hero • Rewarding, Thanking, and Recognizing Champions for Children

29. Taking Action

30. Taking Action on Behalf of Children • Take Action • EngageAllies/Stakeholders • “Rule of Six” • Grassroots/Social Media • Identify/Create Windows of Opportunity • Listening/Injecting Self Into the Conversation • Opening Windows • Creating Accountability • Celebrate Wins

31. Taking Action with Social Media – “Tweet Chats”

32. Social Media: Reaching Political & Media “Elites” A report released this month by Jane Waldfogel of Columbia University and the London School of Economics paints a fascinating portrait of how smart policies and targeted investments in that country have produced stellar results.

33. Why Children? Opportunity and Challenges

34. Children First of Oregon – Success Story • On June 27, Oregon Gov. John Kitzhaber signed Senate Bill 123 into law, establishing a Foster Youth Bill of Rights in Oregon • Testament to the power of the youth – legislation had input of more than 100 current and former foster youth from across the state • Requires that youth be provided a copy of their rights, contact information for all those involved in their case, and materials for older youth regarding their transition from foster care to adulthood • Creation of a staffed hotline in the Governor’s Advocacy Office to take calls from youth regarding their care and rights

35. President Barack Obama “This is our first task, caring for our children. It's our first job. If we don't get that right, we don't get anything right. That's how, as a society, we will be judged…. Can we say that we're truly doing enough to give all the children of this country the chance they deserve to live out their lives in happiness and with purpose? I've been reflecting on this the last few days, and if we're honest with ourselves, the answer's no. We're not doing enough. And we will have to change.” - President Barack Obama, Sandy Hook Prayer Vigil, Dec. 2012

36. Thank You! Bruce Lesley 202-657-0670 www.firstfocus.net