2. WEBINAR OVERVIEW
• #1 Question: Campaign Overview
• Tips and suggestions for local events
• Guidance for Messaging
• Stipend reimbursement process
• Group Sharing of Events

3. #1 QUESTION:
CAMPAIGN OVERVIEW
• Public policy campaign led by Prevent Child Abuse West Virginia.
• Our goal is that lawmakers and people from all walks of life use the
question “Is it good for children?” as a litmus test for their actions.
• Replaces annual Children’s Day at the Legislature event.
• Provides stipends to support up to 25 local events.
• Statewide kick-off on Jan. 11, 2011 (1.11.11)
• Legislative breakfast at Charleston Marriott
• Press Conference at State Capitol at 1:11 p.m.
• Campaign updates will be distributed throughout Legislative Session.

4. PCA-WV
2011 Proposed Policy Agenda
PCA-WV is asking the state legislature make a
$1.1 million investment in FY 2011-2012 to
strengthen families, communities and support
effective programs that prevent child abuse and
neglect BEFORE it occurs.
Funding would support:
– $300,000 for In-Home Family Education.
– $200,000 for training and education.
– $600,000 for community prevention projects.

5. GOALS FOR LOCAL EVENTS
• Mobilize grassroots activity for children’s
issues,
• Educate lawmakers about local priorities,
• Build relationships with lawmakers,
• Distribute information about #1 Question:
Is it Good for Children? campaign

6. TOP 5 REASONS TO SPEAK
OUT
1. You can make a difference
2. It is easy
3. You are seen as a credible messenger
4. Policy makers need our expertise
5. It advances our cause

7. GETTING LAWMAKERS TO
YOUR EVENT
• Events should be scheduled BEFORE 1/11/11.
• Check with one legislator to get good time for the
meeting with lawmakers.
• Send invitations ASAP.
• Within 1 week of invitation, follow-up to ensure they
received invitation AND PLACED event on their
calendar.
• Week before event, follow-up calls to remind.

8. DAY OF THE EVENT
• Make sure there is adequate signage for parking
and directing to the meeting location.
• Provide opportunity for a brief tour of facility, if
applicable.
• Provide light refreshments.
• Personally welcome lawmakers as they arrive.

9. DURING THE EVENT…
• Be on time, prepared, and polite.
• Start by concisely introducing your organization.
Include the following information:
• Who you are
• What your organization does
• What you need from your legislator(s)
• A reference to the fact sheet you have
prepared

10. SUGGESTED AGENDA
(OPTIONAL)
• Welcome by Executive Director
• Make a role for your Board chair - suggest that
they introduce elected officials.
• Provide brief summary of your top 3 policy issues
• Hand out materials and info about your program
• Open up for questions
• Allow elected officials to speak, if time allows.

11. AFTER THE EVENT…
• Follow up with a thank you note along with any
information that you promised during the visit.
• Keep in touch during legislative session – contact
your legislator on issues of interest to your
organization, and remind him/her of his/her visit
to your facility.
• Send Event Feedback Form to PCA-WV.

12. MESSAGING:
BEFORE YOU GET STARTED…
Know…
• What you want – what is your issue and “ask”?
• Who you should ask – who are your targets?
• How you should ask – develop your message and
a plan to deliver it.
• How are you going to follow-up?

13. PCA-WV REFRAMING
GUIDELINES
• Focus on what works and provide examples.
• Center messages on basic values we all share – opportunity,
fairness, ingenuity, responsibility – and connect them to our
issue.
• Counteract the “family bubble”. Messages should show
community involvement with children and their parents.
• Give your audience a positive mental picture to start. Don’t
begin with “child abuse”.
• Demonstrate the essential role of community.
• Give the audience specific actions. Make it very clear what
they can immediately do after hearing the message.

14. THE ASK
• Be specific
• Be clear
• Two kinds of asks:
• Policy
• Relationship building
• What would your ask be?

15. WHO SHOULD YOU ASK?
• What does your legislator care about?
• Why are you relevant?
• What about their staff?
• Do your homework…be informed about your
legislators.

16. How Should You Ask?
Developing Your Message
 Know your facts – provide good information
 Be specific
 Provide solutions – not just issues/problems
 Be ready to tell your story
 Be brief
 Remember to frame issue effectively
 Use social math

18. Social math is the process of translating
large numbers to be interesting to
journalists and meaningful to audiences.
Using familiar things, break down numbers by:
Time (# per year, month, week, day, hour)
Place (enough people to fill classrooms, school
buses, a stadium, a specific city)
Dollars (spent on ice cream, shoes, coffee)
Ironic comparisons (highlights value by
comparing to less important things)

19. DELIVERING YOUR MESSAGE
• Face-to-face meetings – most effective!
• Visits to local programs
• Personal letters
• Telephone calls
• E-mails
• Postcards
• Petitions
• Public hearing/public forums
• Lobby days at the State Capitol

20. FACE-TO-FACE MEETINGS
• Have a 3-minute, 10-minute, & 20-minute
version
• Use a 2-3 constituent team
• Use personal stories and facts
• Keep it short and simple
• Remember to follow-up with a thank-you!

21. COMMUNICATION MISTAKES
TO AVOID
• Angry or threatening communications
• Surprises
• Waiting too late to voice support/concern
• Providing different messages
• Not having a specific “ask”
• Using messages that generate support for punitive
solutions instead of investments in children.

22. MORE MESSAGING TIPS
• Don’t attack the legislator for his/her record on
your issue(s).
• Don’t use technical terms or acronyms, unless
you are certain that your legislator will
understand them.
• If you don’t know the answer to a question, say
you’ll find out and get back to him/her – and
follow through.

23. Staying Up to Date
& Taking Action
PCA-WV facilitates the Legislative Action
Team for Children & Families
Weekly meetings during Regular Session
Legislative Action Alerts
Online legislative action center - CAPWIZ

24. Legislative Action Center
http://www.capwiz.com/preventchildabusewv/

25. ADDITIONAL TOOLS AND
RESOURCES
 www.legis.state.wv.us
 www.congress.org
 www.advocacyguru.com
 www.ncsl.org
 www.afj.org
 www.01-11-11.org
 www.capwiz.com/preventchildabusewv
 www.preventchildabusewv.org
 http://www.preventchildabuse.org/advocacy/position_s
tatements.shtml

26. Stipend Reimbursement
Process
 Funding will be provided on a reimbursement basis.
 Funding may NOT be used for the purchase of alcohol,
equipment, or election campaigning.
 Submit Stipend Report Form and ALL receipts to:
Florence Tabor, Office Manager
TEAM for WV Children
P.O. Box 1653
Huntington, WV 25717
304-523-9587
florence@teamwv.org

27. Local Updates and
Group Sharing

28. For More Information Contact:
Jim McKay
1-866-4KIDSWV
304-697-0340
Email: jim@teamwv.org
Twitter: @TEAM4WVChildren
http://www.01-11-11.org
http://www.preventchildabusewv.org