Capitol Hill Day 2015 NATIONAL MENTORING SUMMIT WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 28 | CAPITOL HILL, WASHINGTON, DC @MENTORNational |

Capitol Hill Day 2015NATIONAL MENTORING SUMMIT

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 28 | CAPITOL HILL, WASHINGTON, DC

@MENTORNational | www.mentoring.org

Agenda for today’s webinar

Capitol Hill Day goals and logistics Materials for Capitol Hill Day How to prepare before coming to DC Legislative issues – to be discussed in your meetings Questions and Answers


Capitol Hill Day 2015The goals for successful meetings during Hill Day are: Strengthen or establish a relationship with Representatives and Senators (including their staff); Educate Members of Congress and staff about mentoring and the issues mentoring programs are facing; and, Encourage Members of Congress to support key policies supported by youth mentoring and youth development communities.


Capitol Hill Day agendaWednesday, Jan. 28

7:30 a.m. Bus will deliver participants to Capitol Hill (Renaissance Downtown DC)

8 – 10 Breakfast and Capitol Hill Day training (Rayburn House Office Building)

10:15 Group Photo (West Front, U.S. Capitol Building)

10 – 4 Capitol Hill Day (lunch on your own)

6 – 8 Welcoming Reception (Renaissance Downtown DC)


Security on Capitol Hill Similar to security in airports you’ll have to pass through metal detectors and have your bags searched at every entrance. Be prepared to remove your coats and outerwear to be screened, as well

Sealed boxes, closed envelopes, and weapons of any kind, including mace and knives of any size, are prohibited

Additionally, no cans, bottles (including reusable water bottles) and any food or beverages of any kind are permitted in the Capitol Building and Capitol Visitors Center

“When in doubt, leave it out.”


Attire Business and business-casual attire is recommended. MENTOR will provide all Capitol Hill Day participants with a t-shirt to wear on the Hill. (Pick up Tuesday at the hotel).

Wear comfortable shoes. You’ll be walking on marble floors inside and damp (maybe even slushy) sidewalks outside.

Wear layers to protect against unpredictable January weather in DC.

Avoid wearing jeans and any shirts or buttons with political affiliation, partisan positions and/or lewd language.


But Why Advocate? Youth mentoring needs passionate and knowledgeable advocates. That’s you. Personal experiences and stories can make a concept “real” to Members of Congress and their staff.

Carry the flag for youth mentoring!


Why Participate in Capitol Hill Day? Generally, in-person advocacy is the most effective form of advocacy More personal and conversational It can elicit a reaction; you can discuss detail that written communications miss; and, answer questions on the spot You may get an immediate response (“Yes, I will support that bill” or “Let me and my staff look into this bill and get back to you”)


Capitol Hill Day Materials Hill Day participants will be provided one folder for each scheduled meeting: Folders will include: Legislative leave-behind document and fliers About MENTOR and About Mentoring Partnerships Each folder will have an empty side to be filled by participants with materials about their local/state programs and efforts Participants will also be provided a feedback form for each meeting to be returned to MENTOR


Before Coming to DC Sharpen your message. Know what you want to ask the legislator to do (co-sponsor a bill; visit a local mentoring program; etc.). This is your goal. Gather your facts, stories and local touch-points. Plan your group strategy, if applicable. Who will talk about what? Who will be the contact name you leave with the office? Prepare enough materials and bring business cards.


During Your Hill meetings Introduce yourself and the group, if applicable. Stay on topic. Engage in some chit-chat, but don’t waste too much time.Tell your story. You have one or the youth you’re advocating on behalf of do. Get a commitment – or at least an understanding of your request from the legislator or aide. Follow up if they don’t commit. Allow time for questions. Leave behind your supporting materials and contact information. Don’t forget to get a picture! Use #CapitolHillDay on social media.


Capitol Hill life. Be flexible. Your meeting – especially if it’s with the legislator – may be held anywhere, even on the move! Go with it. Hill staff are sometimes very young. Give them as much respect as you expect in return. They’re responsible for briefing their bosses. Your meeting may be short. 15 minutes is normal. But if the legislator has the time and is engaged, he or she will try to extend your time together. You may be interrupted. Hill offices are small, often noisy and busy. Ask for a picture. Post that picture and link to the MOCs social media properties with a thank you.


Covering the issues We’ll ask you to cover 4 bills total and 1 request to join a caucus on mentoring Two funding-related bills (one House, one Senate)

Discussing funding is a necessary evil – some equate “mentoring” with “volunteering” and forget that there are still costs associated with running a quality program and/or scaling best practices

One legislative issue related to child safety One legislative issue related to school-connected mentoring (House-only) Finally, a request to join the House Mentoring Caucus (House-only)


Bills and Issues Increase investment in quality youth mentoring at OJJDP Currently only 1 federal grant program funds youth mentoring (DOJ) at $90 million

The Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) manages program

In the past, grant programs from at least 3 federal agencies funded programs for mentoring but the programs and money have gone away over time

Increasing the amount of the grant program at OJJDP may encourage more mentoring organization to compete for funds

THE ASK: Co-sponsor Senate bill to increase funding for Youth Mentoring


Bills and IssuesSupport the America’s FOCUS Act The FOCUS Act funds youth mentoring and three other issue areas (medical R&D, justice reinvestments and STEM education) through civil and criminal penalties levied against corporations found guilty of wrong-doing by the federal government

The bill carries no expense to tax-payers and a percentage is reserved for deficit reduction

MENTOR joined a long list of organizations supporting FOCUS Act

The FOCUS Act has only been introduced in the U.S. House (not the Senate)

THE ASK: Co-sponsor H.R. TBD the America’s FOCUS Act (Rep. Chaka Fattah)


Bills and Issues Support the Child Protection Improvements Act (CPIA) CPIA provides access for all youth-serving organizations to national FBI fingerprint background checks for use as part of a comprehensive background screening of all adults wishing to work with children.

Provides universal, streamlined access to FBI fingerprint background checks (does not mandate their use)

Manages expense and timeliness of return to real-cost and reasonable turnaround

CPIA carries no taxpayer expense

THE ASK: Co-sponsor the Child Protection Improvements Act (CPIA)


Bills and Issues Support the Transition-to-Success Mentoring Act The Transition-to-Success Mentoring Act creates a grant program to award grants to schools and nonprofit organizations for establishing school-based mentoring programs for at-risk youth transitioning between middle and high school.

The mentor (or “success coach”) would develop a plan for each mentee, enter into an agreement with the school and parents/guardians, meet with the student, and serve as the mentees advocate.

The bill also allows use of the grant funds to train mentors, cover materials needed and hire necessary staff to manage program

THE ASK: Cosponsor H.R. TBD, the Transition-to-Success Mentoring Act (Rep. Andre Carson IN-07)


Dividing the issues Bills to raise in House meetings America’s FOCUS Act Child Protection Improvements Act (CPIA) Transition-to-Success Mentoring Act Join the House Mentoring Caucus

Bills to raise in Senate meetings Increase mentoring funds at OJJDP Child Protection Improvements Act (CPIA)


When the work is done… If you wrap up your Congressional appointments and have free time before the Welcoming Reception: Consider working with your Representative or one of your Senators to schedule a tour of the Capitol (do this before coming to Washington)

Check out one of the many Smithsonian museums within walking distance of both Capitol Hill and the hotel (they’re free!)

Learn more about things to do in DC at http://washington.org/


Have any questions?

WWW.MENTORING.ORG/2015_NATIONAL_MENTORING_SUMMITSELECT “CAPITOL HILL DAY ” FROM THE LEFT-HAND SIDE


Documents

Capitol Hill Day 2015 NATIONAL MENTORING SUMMIT WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 28 | CAPITOL HILL, WASHINGTON, DC @MENTORNational |