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ADVOCACY STRATEGIES FOR FIGHTING POVERTY IN YOUR COMMUNITY AND YOUR COUNTRY
TERRITORIAL SOCIAL SERVICES CONFERENCE
CENTRAL TERRITORY
SABRINA KISER
NATIONAL PATHWAY OF HOPE COORDINATOR
THE SALVATION ARMY- NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS
ADVOCACYWhat comes to mind when you think of the word advocacy?
Definition- the act or process of supporting a cause or proposal
BIBLICAL GUIDANCE
Proverbs 31:8-9 – “Open your mouth in behalf of the mute, and for the rights of the destitute; Open your mouth, judge justly, defend the needy and the poor!.”
Proverbs 14:31- (NIV) “Whoever oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors God.”
Psalms 82:3- (NIV) “Defend the weak and the fatherless; uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed.”
Matthew 25: 40,45- (NIV) “‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me…Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’”
WILLIAM BOOTH’S CALL TO ACTION“While women weep, as they do now, I’ll fight;While little children go hungry, as they do now, I’ll fight;While men go to prison, in and out, I’ll fight;While there yet remains one dark soul without the light of God,I’ll fight – I’ll fight to the very end.”
“These are the two points of the Cab Horses’ Charter. When he is down he is helped up, and while he lives he has food, shelter, and work. That, although a humble standard, is at present absolutely unattainable by millions of our fellow men and women in this country.”- The Darkest England
ADVOCACY
Tell the person next to you about it.
How did you feel during the process?
What was the outcome?
How did you feel about the outcome?
How long did it take to solve the issue?
Think of a time you advocated for yourself or a family member.
SELF ADVOCACY―Effective self advocacy
―Know your rights and responsibilities―Know the facts―Be able to clearly articulate the issue―Have possible solutions―Ask questions―Go through the chain of command
― It’s ok to ask for a supervisor
SELF ADVOCACYWays to encourage self advocacy
Model advocacy with clients
Teach basic civics and government
Help clients register to vote
Inform them of self advocacy opportunities
THE DO’S AND DON'TS OF TSA ADVOCACYAs a Salvation Army employee you can join coalitions
• Coalition work is encouraged • Make sure there is a mechanism for removing TSA name/logo from sign
on letters or position statements
As a Salvation Army employee you cannot influence the election of a candidate
• You cannot produce scorecards or briefs that encourage people to vote for one candidate or another
As a Salvation Army employee you are allowed to share information with elected and appointed officials
• Tell them about your program and those you serve• Share how policies affect those you serve
As an individual citizen you have the right to participate in any type of advocacy you choose.
• You cannot use your Salvation Army e-mail address, physical address, or title
LOCAL ADVOCACY
Non-profits and service organizations
Businesses
Local government
YOUR COMMUNITY
How do you advocate for your clients on a local level?
Get into groups
Write down the ways you advocate
Be ready to report out
NON-PROFITS AND SERVICES ORGANIZATIONS
Coalition work
• Strengthen advocacy efforts• Increase trust and understanding• Let others be the expert
One on one meetings
• Get a direct contact• Advocate for clients to be seen quickly in
emergencies
BUSINESSES
Fair wage or scheduling advocacy
Hire people with non-violent criminal background
Start a training/intern/apprenticeship program
Provide lunch or dinner during classes
Landlords/property managers
Consumer choice
LOCAL GOVERNMENT School system
• McKinney-Vento homeless liaison • School social worker
Agency offices
• Housing authority • Economy and labor • Health and Human Services• DMV
Mayor’s office/City Council
• Referral to city wide programs• Informing elected officials of issues • Town Halls• VOTE
ADVOCACY MEETING HOW-TO
1) Set up your meeting
2) Prepare for meeting
3) Conduct your meeting
4) Follow-up
SET UP YOUR MEETING Call the scheduler
• May have to put something in writing (either e-mail or online web form found on website
• Offer possible dates/times• Inform them of your topic area (mental health, substance use,
homeless services)
Call to confirm
• A confirmation one week prior to is appropriate
A meeting with an aide is not a bad thing. They do most of the work!
PREPARE
Know the facts
• Do research on your issue• Prepare a fact sheet or notes to bring with you • Research the alternative positions• Find out how much funding your program gets from
local/state/federal dollars if possible
PREPARE
Know the government official/legislator
• Find out if the person has any personal connections to you or TSA
• Same religion? Kids play in same league?
• Figure out their position on your issue • What were their past votes
• Find out what committees they sit on• Appropriations and budget are typically important
PREPARE
Set the agenda (assuming 15mins, 30 if lucky)
Decide on roles
• Note taker• Lead• Story teller
Have a story ready
Have an “ask” ready if appropriate
THE MEETING
BE ON TIME
• Know where you are going and how to get there• Plan for security
• Don’t set off the alarm
Create a relationship
• Start with small talk • Don’t be offensive or defensive
Ask Questions
Use active listening skills
See what you can do to help
Talk about your program!
FOLLOW-UP
One person send a follow-up e-mail/letter
Thank the person for the meeting
Provide promised information
WHO REPRESENTS YOU?
Take out your smart phone or share with the person next to you
Who are your state Reps?
When is your state government in session?
Who is your Federal Representative?
Who are your Senators?
KEYS TO STATE AND FEDERAL ADVOCACYContact your Representative’s district office, not the DC office
“Advocacy Days” at the Capitol
• Usually organized by a coalition
Letter writing/e-mails/petitions/call-ins
• Get approval by the necessary channels to publicly support a piece of legislation or sign onto a letter from a coalition. This can take a while, so be patient and follow the process!
VOTE
