A Toolkit for Child Advocacy 101 Table of Contents
A Toolkit for Child Advocacy 101 Table of Contents Introduction Learning Targets Module 1: Decision-Maker Advocacy o Government 101: Local, State and Federal o How to Visit Your Legislator o Sample Action Alert Module 2: Community / Person-to-Person Advocacy o o o o Role Playing: Advocacy Scenarios Sample Conversation Starters Practicing Advocacy: My Self, My Family, My Community The 1-2-3’s of Applying/Renewing CHIP or Children’s Medicaid Module 3: Media Advocacy o Speaking Up! How to Tell Your Story o How to Communicate with Reporters o Practicing the 1-2-3’s of Social Media for Social Good Additional Resources o o o o Overview of Children’s Health Coverage in Texas The Texas Well and Healthy Campaign CDF Cradle to Prison Pipeline® Campaign – Texas Factsheet About Children’s Defense Fund–Texas Training Materials o Advocacy Training 101 [PowerPoint Presentation] o My Advocacy Action Plan o Evaluation Introduction: A Toolkit for Child Advocacy 101 Advocacy matters. Each of us advocates on a daily basis—for our children, our families, and our communities. Advocacy can be defined as active support for a cause. Changes that benefit our lives occur when people advocate for a particular cause, whether it is for better funding of our schools, safer streets, or in helping more kids to be able to see a doctor by expanding children’s health care coverage. While advocacy can take many forms, this toolkit will focus on training you to become a stronger and more effective advocate in three areas: Decision-maker advocacy, Community or Person-to-Person Advocacy, and Media Advocacy. Who is this Toolkit intended for? This toolkit is intended for anyone that is interested in growing their advocacy skills in order to make positive change for their children and all Texas children. What is the Children’s Defense Fund (CDF)? The Children's Defense Fund of Texas (CDF) is a non-profit child advocacy organization that has worked relentlessly for over 10 years to ensure a level playing field for all Texas children. CDF advocates for children by raising awareness about the condition of Texas children, connecting children and families to programs and services to help meet their needs, and by working with partners statewide to form policy and cultivate broad support for legislative action that improves the lives of children. This advocacy toolkit was made possible with funding from Methodist Healthcare Ministries. Learning Targets The learning targets listed below describe the intended learning outcomes for participants in CDF’s Advocacy 101 training and this accompanying toolkit. This toolkit is divided into several modules each with specific learning targets. Our hope is that by the end of this training you will be able to say with confidence: ―I know why advocacy for Texas children is important. I know how to advocate and feel comfortable doing it. I have identified specific actions I can take for effective advocacy and when I see a problem or when I am called upon, I will step up and take appropriate action.” Module/Topic Learning Target Understanding the state of Texas Children o I can explain how Texas children fare today and why advocate for children is important. Module 1: Decision-Maker Advocacy o I understand why voting matters. o I can identify and contact decision-makers in my community, at the state and national level. Module 2: Community/ Person-toPerson Advocacy o I can encourage friends, family, and community members to join me in advocating for particular issues. o I can connect children and families in my community to needed resources. Module 3: Media Advocacy o Action o I have developed a personal Advocacy Action Plan that outlines the specific steps I plan to take to advocate for an important cause. I understand why media advocacy is important for raising awareness about an issue. o I know how to be an issue spokesperson for media. Government 101: Local, State, and Federal Government Why Should You Vote? With very few exceptions, voting is the right, privilege and responsibility of every U.S. citizen, age 18 years and older. Your vote helps determine who represents you in local, state and federal government. The most fundamental way to influence the policies that shape our lives is to vote for leaders that represent your interests. How Do You Register to Vote? Register to vote by picking up a voter registration card at any public library, U.S.P.S., or government office. You can also download the form at http://www.sos.state.tx.us/elections/voter/reqvr.shtml and mail it to the address provided, at least 30 days prior to any election in which you intend to vote. You can register just prior to your 18th birthday if you will be turning 18 within the 30 day pre-election day period. ..……………………………………………………………………………………………………………… Bookmark this website for info in English and Spanish on HOW and WHERE to vote, PLUS local election information! http://www.votexas.org ………………………………………………………………………………………………………….…… Local Government: Local government in Texas refers to the general-purpose governments at the county or city level and specialpurpose governments, which include special districts and school districts. School District Most Texas public schools are run by independent school districts which are special-purpose governments, independent from state and local government control School districts are governed by an elected or appointed school board, board of trustees, or board of education that appoints a superintendent to function as the district’s chief executive for carrying out daily decisions and policy implementations. Individuals can influence school policies by attending and speaking publicly at local hearings and meetings of the School Board, by phone, email and visits with local school officials, and by VOTING City Cities vary widely in their local administration, typically managed by some combination of elected or appointed authority: mayor, city council, and/or a city manager Councils include members elected to represent individual voting districts and/or at-large members representing the diverse interests of voters across a city Depending on the city, policies are enacted by a mayor and council, and implemented by a city manager; in smaller cities and townships a city manager functions as a mayor Individuals can influence city policies by attending and speaking publicly at local hearings and meetings of City Council, by phone, email and visits with local authorities, and by VOTING County Texas has 254 counties, by far the largest of any state. Each county is run by a five-member Commissioners' Court consisting of four commissioners elected from single-member districts (called commissioner precincts) and a county judge elected at-large. In Texas, areas within a county are either incorporated or unincorporated. Unincorporated areas are not part of a city; in these areas the county has authority for law enforcement and road maintenance. State Government (Austin, Texas): Texas House of Representatives The Texas House is led by a Speaker of the House: Speaker Joe Straus Each Texan has one State Representative in Austin Your State Representative may be reached using the following email format: [email protected] Texas Senate The Texas Senate is led by the Lieutenant Governor: Lt Gov David Dewhurst Each Texan has one State Senator in Austin Your State Senators may be reached using the following email format: [email protected] Texas Governor The Governor of the State of Texas is: Governor Rick Perry You can contact Governor Perry by visiting: governor.state.tx.us or by calling: (512) 463-2000 ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… Federal Government (Washington, D.C.): United States House of Representatives (aka Congress) Each Texan has one Congressman/woman from their home district Your Member of Congress may be reached through their official website or: www.congress.org The U.S. House of Representatives is led by the Speaker of the House: Speaker John Boehner United States Senate All Texans have the same two U.S. Senators that represent the entire state Our U.S. Senators from Texas are: Senators John Cornyn and Kay Bailey Hutchison The U.S. Senators from Texas may be reached through their official websites or: www.congress.org The U.S. Senate is led by the Vice President of the United States: Vice President Joe Biden President The President of the United States is: President Barack Obama You can contact the White House by email (http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/submit-questions-andcomments) or by calling (202) 456-1111 To find your lawmakers, and tell them what you think, visit the website below and enter your zip code: http://www.congress.org With just a click you can contact all of your officials at once on issues that matter to you! And, did you know? You can also contact your elected officials on Facebook and Twitter! Be sure to “like”, “friend” and “follow” their official pages to stay connected, comment on their wall, and “tag” them in your own posts whenever necessary. How to Visit Your Legislator (and other Decision-Makers too!) 1. Call your legislator’s office to request an appointment. Be prepared to say: a. Who you are: name and descriptor A descriptor is a role you play in your community Examples: Role in your family: father, mother, care-taker, grandparent Role in your community: president of your neighborhood association Role at your work: manager of a small business, an employee of… b. Whether or not you are a constituent Are you registered to vote in the legislator’s district? A constituent is a voter in a district represented by an elected official; legislators usually pay special attention when a constituent calls. Their office will usually ask that when setting appointments. c. Who you represent If you represent other people through associations or coalitions, make sure to let them know that you are calling on behalf of a larger group of people. 2. Prepare for your appointment. Before your visit, review your issue. What are you asking for and what is your legislator’s position on the issue? Prepare for difficult questions. You may find it helpful to write down a few notes as talking points and review these before your meeting. Note: It’s always a great idea to connect with an advocacy organization that champions children’s issues. A child advocacy organization can help you by: a. Sharing background information and data that may help prepare you for your visit; b. Providing you with answers to any tough questions that might arise during your visit; c. Offering you an opportunity to contribute to broader advocacy efforts by sharing what you learned with other advocates! 3. On day of appointment: a. Dress professionally and arrive on time. b. Notify the front desk that you have arrived and who you are there to see. c. Sometimes your legislator will not be available and a staff member will meet with you. That is OK! Educating staff is very important for influencing policy because they are the ones who elected officials rely on for information. Developing a relationship with staffers can be of great value. 4. When speaking with your legislator: a. Introduce who you are, your descriptor, and who you represent. b. Speak from the heart. c. Tell them what you want. d. Ask if you can count on their support. e. If they ask a difficult question, it is okay if you ever have to say ‘I don’t know.’ Just let them know that you will get back to them. If needed, contact a child advocacy organization to help you get the information you need. Be sure to follow up with your legislator once you have the information! 5. Wrapping up: a. Say thank you. b. For extra impact, mail a thank you card after your visit! Include a brief reminder of who you are and what you spoke about. c. Call the advocacy organization you have a relationship with and share what you learned from the visit! d. Feel free to call your legislators frequently to follow-up on your request or to ask for progress updates on the issues you care about. Remember your elected officials work for you! Sample Action Alert Problem seeing this message? View this email online Urgent Action Alert! Today and tomorrow: Call the Capitol switchboard at 1-866-922-4970, ask for Representative Jeb Hensarling, and deliver the following important message: "Protect Texans by protecting Medicaid." Here’s Why: He's one of the most powerful members of Congress right now, and he's from Texas. As a chair of the "super committee", Rep. Hensarling is making big decisions about the future of health care for millions of Texans. It's a subject he reportedly doesn't know a lot about. He needs to hear what's at stake for Texans, and how people, our hospitals and communities need Medicaid to be strong to be successful. Today and tomorrow, our friends at Families USA have organized a toll free call-in effort so people across the country can deliver the important protect Medicaid message that members of the Congressional "super committee" need to hear. Together, we can urge the "super committee" to reduce the deficit without harming seniors, children, and people with disabilities. Any debt deal that undercuts health care services in Texas to preserve tax breaks for Wall Street is a raw deal for us all. Want to say more but unsure of what to say? Here’s more talking points Prefer to send an email? Click this link to email Rep. Hensarling about why Medicaid matters. Tell your friends on Facebook and Twitter. Sample message: "@RepHensarling: Protect Texans by protecting Medicaid." Thanks for making your voice heard! Forward to a Friend | Unsubscribe | Update Your Account Copyright © 2011, Children's Defense Fund–Texas. All Rights Reserved. 4500 Bissonnet St., Ste 260, Bellaire, TX 77401 | (877) 664-4080 [email protected] Follow us: Role Playing: Advocacy Scenarios Sometimes just knowing where to begin to advocate for issues that touch your life and that you care about is tough. The following are some lead-ins to help you start putting your skills into practice and role play advocacy scenarios with friends or colleagues about important children’s issues. A Healthy Start Your sister recently got laid off from work. Your niece and nephew will be without health insurance effective March 1, 2012. A Head Start You are going back to work part-time and your three-year old will need childcare. Every recommendation you have received is out of your price range. A Fair Start You recently learned that several of the parents at your child’s school lost their job and are now living in a local shelter. A Safe Start An elementary student was recently shot in a drive-by shooting. A Moral Start Your congregation was invited to join a local coalition addressing high rates of child abuse in the local community. Sample Conversation Starters Sometimes just finding the right words to start talking to someone about the issues you care about is tough. The following are some lead-ins to help you start putting your skills into practice and role play casual conversations with friends or colleagues about important children’s issues. I was at the PTA meeting at my child’s school and the principal said that there are several struggling students who need mentors. Do you think we know some people who might want to volunteer? Maybe our sorority could help? My daughter’s best friend is being teased a lot on Facebook. The situation has gotten out of hand and now the local authorities are involved. Do you know if your child was ever teased or bullied on Facebook? I read this article about the high number of uninsured children in Texas that really got me thinking about some of the children in our congregation. What could our church do to make sure these children know about health insurance programs like CHIP? It seems like there are so many negative reports in the media. I want to write a letter or something but I’m a little nervous. Would you consider working with me to write a letter to the local newspaper about two of my students who won a state math award after our math department budget increased? I know that you belong to the local chamber of commerce. Would your group be interested in having a speaker come discuss the connection between early childhood education and employee preparation for the job market? I didn't realize you raise funds for local charities in your spare time! Have you ever considered supporting new groups? I volunteer for a local nonprofit that is always looking for new donors. I would love to introduce you to the Executive Director. I heard on the news that next week the school board is going to vote on closing the local elementary school my kids attended. This is the first I’ve heard about this. Do you think our civic club president can call the school’s principal and see if we can help? Practicing Advocacy: My Self, My Family, and My Community MY SELF 1. I can share what I learned today with someone else, such as a friend or relative. 2. I can help my friends and family find their decision-makers and program the numbers into their cell phone. 3. I can volunteer and be a mentor to a child. 4. I can make a donation in any amount to support the work of a child advocacy organization. MY FAMILY 1. My family can spend quality time together. 2. My family can attend our child’s school activities and/or volunteer in the classroom. 3. As a family we can talk to our child about his or her goals. Reinforce the importance of being successful in school and going to college. 4. Our family can establish and maintain a supportive home learning environment. Create daily homework routines and limit television viewing, internet time, and video games. 5. My family can communicate with and listen to our children. MY COMMUNITY 1. In my faith community, we can find ways to link every child to a permanent caring family or adult mentor who can help to keep him or her on track. 2. My community can help to promote out of school time learning by initiating an after-school program for children or support an organization that provides this service. 3. My community can encourage families to spend quality time together by hosting a movie or game night at our church or community center. 4. My community might be able to start a support group for single-parents or kinship care families. 5. My community might be able to provide job opportunities and guidance for families and youth in need. 6. I may be able to organize my community to reach out to youth who are homeless or in foster care or support a group that already does. 7. My community can prepare care packages of new clothes, personal toiletries and/or a welcome gift for children placed into foster care homes. 8. My community can hold an event to celebrate the strengths of our children and provide leadership opportunities to youth. The 1-2-3’s of Applying /Renewing CHIP or Children’s Medicaid Eligible Children? How to apply? Children ages 0-18 yrs Fax: 877-542-5951 (must have Social Security No.) U.S. Citizen, Legal Permanent Resident or Refugee Children Documents needed? Copy of: Recent pay stubs, Incoming Child Support, SSI, or Tax Returns Internet: www.chipmedicaid.com Copy of: Child's Birth Certificate Mail: Living with parents, on their own, or with friends/relatives HHSC, P.O. Box 14200, Midland, TX 79711-4200 Copy of: Child Care Expenses A family of 4 making ≤ $44,700/yr (income of the child, parents or stepparents living in the home) Phone: 1-800-647-6558 Copy of: Child Support Expenses (if applicable) (if applicable) Make sure to answer every question on the application or put ‘N/A’ if the question does not apply! To make an appointment to receive help with the application and/or renewal process, contact: Carolyn DeVaughn at Children’s Defense Fund-Texas (713) 664-4080 • [email protected] www.cdftexas.org • Facebook and Twitter: @CDFTexas 1-2-3 de Solicitar / Renovar CHIP o Medicaid Para Niños Documentos Los niños elegibles? Formas de aplicar? Niños de 0-18 años Fax: 877-542-5951 Niños ciudadanos de EE.UU., Residentes permanentes legales o los Refugiados Copia de ingreso: Comprobantes de pago recientes, SSI, Manutención de Menores, o declaraciones de impuestos Internet: www.chipmedicaid.com Viven con sus padres, por su propia cuenta o con amigos/ familiares Familia de 4 que 44.700 dólares / año o menos (el ingreso del niño, los padres / padrastros que viven en el hogar) Correo: HHSC, P.O. Box 14200, Midland, TX 79711-4200 Copia de: Certificado de Nacimiento Copia de: Gastos de manutención de los hijos (si procede) (debe tener Número de Seguro Social) Teléfono: 1-800-647-6558 necesarios? Copia de: Gastos de cuidado de niños (si procede) ¡Asegúrese de contestar todas las preguntas sobre la aplicación o poner "N/A" si la pregunta no aplica! Para hacer una cita para recibir ayuda con la aplicación y póngase en contacto con el proceso de renovación: Carolyn DeVaughn, El Fondo para la Defensa de los Niños (713) 664-4080 • [email protected] www.cdftexas.org • Facebook and Twitter: @CDFTexas Speaking Up! How to Tell Your Story Sharing your story is one of the most effective ways to influence popular opinion and shape public policy. Every one of us has a story to tell. By talking about real and often personal experiences, we can help to humanize important policy issues and create personal connections and reactions for people to concepts that are often too abstract for the general public, the media, and especially politicians to be able to relate to. If people don’t speak out on important issues and challenge current thinking, politicians can end up supporting policies harmful to children! How Can Stories Make a Difference? They ground policy in real life. They can help ensure policy is based on real life needs of real people. They help people understand the issues. It is easier for people to grasp complex technical concepts when policy changes are tied to real life experiences and things people can generally relate to. They de-politicize the issues. It's not about a particular candidate or political party, it's about an issue and how people’s lives will be impacted by a policy change. They open doors for dialogue. At times when it is difficult to discuss certain policies, sharing a simple story is a way to open a dialogue. How to Tell YOUR Story When telling your story, it’s important to include the following elements: Introduce yourself in a way that helps your audience connect with you. For example: I am a local businesswoman and mother of two. I am the primary care-taker of Amanda, a straight-A student at Teakwood Elementary School; I am also her grandmother. Tell your story as if you we re talking to just one person. Don’t just tell what happened but, also the financial, physical, and emotional impacts on you, your family, and/or your community. Connect your story to the larger community. For example: Amanda is just one of 1.2 million children in Texas that is uninsured and cannot see a doctor when she gets sick. Always finish by telling how a particular policy change can fix the problem – s how the light at the end of the tunnel. Never leave your audience feeling like nothing can be done about a sad situation. Tell them how the problem can be fixed! For example: Texas policy-makers can adopt best practices for Medicaid and CHIP which will allow 600,000 uninsured Texas children, including Amanda, to start getting the healthcare they need to grow up healthy. Be a Spokesperson for Children! If you want to share your story publicly or become a spokesperson for children’s issues, no prior experience is required! Just email [email protected] with the subject line “SHARING MY STORY” and CDF will gladly guide and support you in amplifying your voice. How to Communicate with Reporters **The following tips are intended for the more confident advocate. CDF will gladly work with any individuals or groups wanting to submit a Letter or Op-Ed to the newspaper in support of children.** There are 101 excuses for not writing or calling the media when you see unfair, biased or inaccurate news coverage: "I don't know enough"; "I'm too busy"; "My computer crashed." Communicating with journalists makes a difference. It does not have to be perfect; not all letters to journalists need to be for publication. Even a one-sentence, handwritten or email note to a reporter can be helpful. If you take the time to type a substantive letter, send copies of it to two or three places within the media outlet-perhaps to the reporter, his or her editor, as well as to the letters-to-the-editor department. How to Write a Letter to the Editor Newspaper "letters to the editor" are usually short comments that make one simple point. They are usually a response to something that has appeared in the op ed page, an editorial, or in a news story. Regardless, if you send a letter to the editor, remember most newspapers get many more letters than they can print and your letter on a topic may help to bump others up. Because newspaper space is usually at a premium, keep it short. Check the guidelines for word count (usually 150-200 words) and how to submit (usually email like [email protected]). Useful Tips: Identify your target publications and programs. Research the letters policy for each venue on for your target list. Reference a recent print or broadcast article. Write your letter as a direct response to recent coverage, building on the focus presented or emphasizing how your perspective wasn’t presented (and presenting it clearly). Respond as quickly as you can. Hone your opinion letter writing style, before you’re on deadline to submit it. Be concise. Include a maximum of 150-200 words. State your point early and clearly. Use the inverted pyramid scheme, leading with (and maintaining focus on) your most important point. Include your contact information. Your contact information is a prerequisite for most publications to print your letter. Include your full name, address, phone number and email. Don’ts o Don’t write too often. Once every three months is as often as you should write. o Avoid being abusive or strident. Follow up. Make a follow-up phone call to the editor in question to make sure your letter has been received. How to Write an Op-Ed Op-eds are longer than letters to the editor, and there is more competition for space. Check with the paper for length requirements (usually 600-800 words) and who to send to (usually an email like: [email protected]). Try to write on a controversial issue being covered at that time. If you can use a professional title that suggests authority, do so. If you work for an organization, get permission to sign the op-ed as a representative of that organization. Feel free to send it to papers far from where you live, but avoid sending it to two newspapers in the same "market." (Sending to the Houston Chronicle and the Shreveport Times is OK, but not to the Dallas Morning News and the Fort Worth Star Telegram.) "National" newspapers like the New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Washington Post, Christian Science Monitor and USA Today generally do not accept opeds that are also being offered to other papers. Assure the op-ed editor in your cover letter or body of your email that the piece has not been submitted to any other paper in their market. If, on the other hand, you sent it to only one paper, let that paper know you are offering them an exclusive. In writing op-eds, avoid excessive rhetoric. State the subject under controversy clearly, concisely and professionally. You are trying to persuade a middle-of-the-road readership. If you rely on facts not commonly found in mainstream media, cite your sources, hopefully as "respectable" as possible. Try to think of a catchy title. If you don't, the paper will be more likely to run its own—which may not emphasize your central message. (Even if you do write your own headline, don't be surprised if it appears under a different one.) Be prepared to shorten and re-submit your article as a letter to the editor in case it does not get accepted as an op-ed. Don’t be discouraged if your op ed does not get printed, consider it good practice and try again! Practicing the 1-2-3’s of Social Media for Social Good 1. “Find” groups on social networks like Facebook and Twitter that address the issues you care about. Both CDF-Texas and the Texas Well and Healthy Campaign have Facebook & Twitter profiles. 2. “Like” and “Comment” on Facebook posts from the groups you follow to echo important advocacy messages to others in your network. Respond to Tweets and use the organization’s “Twitter Hashtag” (i.e. #Medicaid) to boost visibility and awareness of important issues. On Facebook: On Twitter: 3. “Share” posts on your Facebook wall and “Re-Tweet” about issues and topics you care about to your own followers. This helps spread the word and build a social media movement for children. On Facebook: On Twitter: Overview of Children’s Health Coverage in Texas Texas is the uninsured capital of the United States… More than 5.8 million Texans – including 1.5 million children – lack health insurance. Texas’ uninsurance rates are 1.5 to 2 times the national average, creating significant problems in the financing and delivery of health care to all Texans. Those who lack insurance coverage typically enjoy far-worse health status than their insured counterparts. Texas workers are less likely to have employment-based health insurance coverage. In 2007, Texas ranked 50th in the nation, with only 46.7 percent of Texans having employment-based health insurance coverage. --Texas Medical Association Texas business leaders support kids’ health coverage… “The need for Texas’ children to have unimpeded access to healthcare is absolute. They are our future and the true measure of Texas’ success. If we don’t protect their welfare, Texas will be the worse for it. We strongly urge the Legislature to protect our children and the future of Texas.” --Richard E. Dayoub, President and CEO, Greater El Paso Chamber of Commerce The Metro 8 Chambers “oppose any cuts to CHIP and Medicaid. The State of Texas should not cut state expenditures for these programs, which, in reality, shift the burden of those costs to local businesses, taxpayers, and providers.” --Metro 8 Chambers of Commerce 2011 Legislative Agenda “Affordable high quality healthcare is an important factor in recruiting businesses and talent to the DFW area.” --Dallas Regional Chamber, 2011 Legislative Position We all know that children and families need affordable health coverage… Families USA: “Eighty percent of the uninsured have at least one family member who works either full-time or parttime.” Texas Hospital Association: “Medicaid provides anywhere from 50% - 80% of funding for children's hospitals in Texas—which serve our entire community.” Commonwealth Fund: “Private health insurance is simply too expensive for many hard-working Texas families, costing on average over $14,500 a month for a family of four.” Without Medicaid and CHIP 3 Million MORE Texas children would be uninsured… Over 2.5 million Texas children are enrolled in Medicaid. That’s 1 in every 3 Texas children. Another 533,000 children in families just above the Medicaid limit are enrolled in the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). Without Medicaid and CHIP, Texas would likely have an additional 3 million uninsured children and 1 million Texas adults and elderly with disabilities or in nursing homes. Texas Medicaid also provides basic health care and life-saving supports to: 70 percent of seniors in nursing homes; Nearly all Texans with intellectual disabilities and other serious lifelong developmental or acquired disabilities; Prenatal care and delivery for 55 percent of Texas newborns; Hundreds of thousands of seniors and younger people with disabilities who avoid institutional care through Medicaid community supports; and Over 1,600 women every month who undergo treatment for breast or cervical cancer. --Center for Public Policy Priorities Texas CANNOT afford to cut Medicaid and CHIP funding… The federal government pays just under 60 cents of every dollar of Texas Medicaid health care spending and about 70 cents for every dollar of Texas CHIP. Deep cuts to Medicaid and CHIP would hurt our most vulnerable children, seniors, Texans with disabilities, and expectant mothers. We would also lose more federal health care matching dollars than we save if we cut Medicaid and CHIP. Proposals to opt out of Medicaid and CHIP or treat them as fixed pot of money that doesn’t grow with need would leave Texas unprotected in recessions and natural disasters. Medicaid costs are growing at the same pace as private insurance, and much slower than Medicare. Medicaid’s health spending must be controlled, but through system-wide reform across our whole U.S. health care system: Medicare, Medicaid, and private insurance. We support real reforms to Medicaid and CHIP—as an alternative to cuts—that incentivize accountability of providers and insurers for cost effective care, producing good outcomes that build coordination, continuity of care, and medical homes. --Center for Public Policy Priorities Compiled January 2012 by Children’s Defense Fund–Texas 713.664.4080 • www.cdftexas.org • Facebook and Twitter: @CDFTexas A statewide, grassroots campaign to improve the health and wellbeing of Texans Texans should be able to see a doctor when they need to. When that happens, we are healthier as a people, children miss less school, employees report to work, and all of us are better off for having good, preventive care. That’s why Texas Well and Healthy is building a movement: Our community education and grassroots organizing aim to make health care better for Texans. Texas ranks last in the U.S. in health coverage. It’s a trend we’re here to end. Join with us to get your questions answered, your friends and family motivated, and your community’s health care options changed for the better. Your voice has never mattered more. 5 Ways to Join the Movement A FREE 1-hour training from Health advocates, faith groups, nonprofits, and Texas Well and Healthy = ordinary Texans can build power and improve Your group up to speed on changes access to health care, starting right now. to health care and the movement 1. Bring us to you for a free 1-hour workshop. for a healthier future. Give us an hour, and we’ll give your group an engaging, fun training on what folks need to To bring our team to you, contact: know about the Affordable Care Act, Mimi Garcia, Organizing Director, Medicaid, and CHIP—and effecting change in [email protected] OR Texas. Cheasty Anderson, Community Education Coordinator, 2. Join Texas Well and Healthy online. [email protected]. Sign up for our emails, Facebook group, or Twitter feed via www.kidswelltexas.org. 3. Invite us to meet your local media. Introduce us to your favorite local radio or TV show to raise the profile of health care issues. 4. Ask about our Train the Trainer program. Get equipped to lead health care trainings in your area. 5. Spread the word. Use resources from our monthly e-updates to write letters to the editor, contact lawmakers, mobilize friends online, and make some noise for better health care in Texas. Get started now! Contact Mimi Garcia, Organizing Director, [email protected], or Cheasty Anderson, Community Education Coordinator, [email protected] The Texas Well and Healthy Campaign is a statewide grassroots initiative of the Cover Texas Now coalition, KidsWell Texas, and the Texas Finish Line project’s combined efforts to improve health care for Texans. Leading organizations include Engage Texas, Texans Care for Children, the Center for Public Policy Priorities, and Children’s Defense Fund – Texas, with funding from both Atlantic Philanthropies and the Packard Foundation. Children’s Defense Fund Cradle to Prison Pipeline® Factsheet Texas October 2011 ® The Children's Defense Fund Cradle to Prison Pipeline Campaign is a national and community crusade to engage families, youths, communities and policy makers in the development of healthy, safe and educated children. Povert y, racial disparities and a culture of punishment rather than prevention and early interve ntion are key forces driving children into the pipeline. Poverty Poor children lag behind their peers in many ways beyond income. They are less healthy, trail in emotional and intellectual development, and do not perform as well in school. The challenges that poor children face accumulate and interact, casting long shadows throughout their lives. A 2007 study estimated that each year we keep children in poverty costs our nation half a trillion dollars in lost productivity, poorer health and increased crime. In 2010, among all of Texas’ children, almost 1 in 4 (25.8 percent or 1,751,189) was poor. For White, non-Hispanic children, almost 1 in 10 (10.7 percent or 243,805) was poor. For Hispanic children, 1 in 3 (35.6 perc ent or 1,175,886) was poor. For Black children, nearly 1 in 3 (33.5 percent or 279,857) was poor. In Texas, a baby is born poor every 5 minutes. E very 7 minutes a Hispanic baby was born poor E very 31 minutes a Black baby was born poor E very 34 minutes a White non-Hispanic baby was born poor Health Care The United States is the wealthiest nation in the world, yet children’s health status in our cou ntry is among the worst in the industrialized world. In 2009, an estimated 1, 392, 000 children (19.2 percent ) were uninsured in Texas. In 2008, 34,194 babies (8.4 perc ent) were born at low birthweight in Texas. This included: 7.6 percent of Hispanic babies. 7.7 percent of White, non-Hispanic babies. 14.0 percent of Black, non-Hispanic babies. 26.1 percent of two-year-olds in Texas did not receive all recommended immunizations in 2009. Early Childhood Education Studies reveal that those enrolled in high quality early childhood education programs are more likely to complete higher levels of education, have higher earnings, be in better health and be in stable relationships, and are less likely to commit a crime or be incarcerated. Yet many children are not enrolled in these programs. During the 2010-2011 school year in Texas, there were: 92,740 children attending Early Head Start or Head Start. 123,400 children participating in the Child Care Development Fund program. Education Attainment of a high school diploma is the single most effective preventive strategy against adult poverty. Yet a large portion of students do not graduate on time with a regular diploma. In 2009, a disproportionate number of Black fourt h graders could not read or do math at grade level. In Texas: th 57 percent of White 4 graders could not read at grade level. th 80 percent of Hispanic 4 graders could not read at grade level. th 82 percent of Black 4 graders could not read at grade level. 25 E Street Washington, DC 20001 p (202) 628-8787 f (202) 662-3510 www.childrensdefense.org th 39 percent of White 4 graders could not do math at grade level. h 74 percent of Black 4 graders could not do math at grade level. h 77 percent of Hispanic 4 graders could not do math at grade level. Students who are suspended or ex pelled are more likely than their peers to drop out of school altogether. In 2006 in Texas: For every 100 Asian/Pacific Islander students in public schools, there were 1.6 suspensions. For every 100 White students in public schools, there were 2. 9 suspensions. For every 100 American Indian/Alaska Native students in public schools, there were 3.1 suspensions. For every 100 Hispanic students in public schools, there were 5. 7 suspensions. For every 100 Black students in public schools, there were 12.7 suspensions. In 2009 in Texas, 7.3 percent of youths ages 16 to 19 were neither enrolled in school nor had earned a high school credential. Child Welfare Children left with no permanent family connections or connection with a caring adult often have no one to whom they can turn for social, emotional or financial support and face numerous barriers as they struggle to become self-sufficient adults. In 2009, there were 66, 359 victims of child maltreatment in Texas. In 2009, there were 26, 686 children in foster care in Texas. Juvenile Justice System and Incarceration The United States spends nearly two and a half times as much per prisoner as per public school pupil. Texas spends $17,140 per prisoner but only $7,850 per pupil. Unless we focus our efforts on early intervention and prevention, rat her than punishment, we are robbing thousands of youths each year of their futures and our country of vital human resources. In Texas, there were 145,129 juvenile arrests in 2010. Of the 7, 035 youths in residential placement in Texas in 2007: 1,497 (21 percent) were White. 2,535 (36 percent) were Black. 2,955 (42 percent) were Hispanic. There were 156 youths under age 18 incarcerated in adult prisons in Texas in 2009. Texas spends 2.18 times as much per prisoner as per public school student. Community Violence The eight children and teens killed by gun violence each day in our nation is the equivalent of one Northern Illinois University shooting every 15 hours or one Virginia Tech shooting every four days. Yet, unfortunately, it takes tragic events like these to remind us that gun violence in America has reached an epidemic level. In 2007, 250 children and teens in Texas died of firearm injuries. In 2009, 33.3 percent of Texas's high school students were involved in a physical fight at least one time in the previous 12 months. In 2009, 13.2 percent of Texas’s high school students were involved in a physical fight on school property at least one time in the previous 12 months. In 2009, 7.2 perc ent of Texas's high school students were threatened o r injured with a weapon on school property at least one time during the previous 12 months. In 2009, 18.2 percent of Texas's high school students carried a weapon at least one day in the preceding 30 days. In 2009, 6.4 perc ent of Texas’s high school students carried a weapon on school property at least one day in the preceding 30 days. At crucial points in these children’s development, from birth through adulthood, more risk s and disadvanta ges accumulate and converge to make a succe ssful transition to productive adulthood significantly less likely and involvement in the criminal justi ce system more likely. We have no time to waste. It is time to step up and take action. Together we can and will make a difference. For more information on the Cradle to Pri son Pipeline, please visit www.childrensdefense.org or contact us at 800-CDF-1200 (800-233-1200. 25 E Street Washington, DC 20001 p (202) 628-8787 f (202) 662-3510 www.childrensdefense.org Children’s Defense Fund–Texas A strong, effective, and independent voice for all Texas children With a statewide presence, and offices in Austin, Houston and the Rio Grande Valley, CDFTexas works to ensure every child a Healthy Start, a Head Start, a Fair Start, a Safe Start and a Moral Start in life and successful passage to adulthood with the help of caring families and communities. For more than ten years CDF-Texas has been the leading voice for children and families in Texas. CDF champions public policies and early intervention programs that lift children out of poverty, protect them from abuse and neglect, and ensure their access to health care and quality education. CDF-Texas’ work has been recognized nationally and internationally by NGOs and other agencies, including the World Health Organization, the United States Department of Health & Human Services, Centers for Medicaid & Medicare Services, the American Association of School Administrators, the AntiDefamation League, American Leadership Forum, America’s Promise Alliance, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Covering Kids initiative, Texas Association of Partners in Education, and Leadership Houston, to name just a few. CDF-Texas Programs and Initiatives Texas Finish Line Campaign • KidsWell Texas Campaign • Texas Well & Healthy Campaign Texas has the highest rate of uninsured children (1 in 6) of all 50 states in the nation. Without coverage, children do not get needed medical care in a doctor’s office and are forced to rely on emergency rooms where costs are exponentially higher. The costs are borne by the entire community through missed school and work, cost shifting, greater local tax burden, public health consequences, and many near- and long-term social and economic opportunity costs. CDF-Texas leads the statewide advocacy campaign to ensure that all children have seamless access to the quality, affordable health care coverage they need to grow and thrive. The campaign coordinates advocacy, education, story-sharing and media relations with the support of 100+ of the State’s most influential and leading health care stakeholders. CDF-Texas has led and contributed to major public policy advances to secure health coverage for more than 850,000 Texas children. CDF All Healthy Children Campaign (formerly the 100% Campaign) CDF-Texas’ All Healthy Children Campaign is an effective school-based outreach model that systematically identifies eligible uninsured children through school enrollment forms and connects them to CHIP or Children’s Medicaid coverage. The campaign – a partnership with the Texas Association of School Administrators – was 1 of 10 projects recognized nationally in 2011 by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services as a best practice and model for excellence in reaching eligible uninsured children and connecting them to health coverage. The American Association of School Administrators and America’s Promise Alliance have also praised CDF-Texas’ campaign as a national best practice. CDF Cradle to Prison Pipeline® Campaign We face an urgent national crisis at the intersection of poverty and race that puts a Black boy born in 2001 at a 1 in 3 chance of going to prison in his lifetime, and a Latino boy a 1 in 6 risk of the same fate. CDF's Cradle to Prison Pipeline Campaign is a national call to action to stop the funneling of tens of thousands of youth, down life paths that often lead to arrest, conviction, incarceration and sometimes death. Focusing on early intervention and prevention, CDF-Texas works with community, business and civic leaders to raise awareness and to educate the public about the dangerous effects of not investing in children. CDF has also pioneered unique and effective approaches to systematically dismantle the Pipeline in communities across Texas through its signature CDF Freedom Schools program. The campaign was adopted by Class XXV of the American Leadership Forum in Houston. 5410 Bellaire, Suite 203, Bellaire, Texas 77401 • 877-664-4080 • www.cdftexas.org • Facebook: @CDFTexas • Twitter: @CDFTexas CDF Freedom Schools® Program Rooted in the American Civil Rights Movement and the courageous efforts of college-age youths to make a difference, the CDF Freedom Schools program provides summer and afterschool enrichment through a model curriculum that supports children and families around five essential components: high quality academic enrichment; parent and family involvement; social action and civic engagement; intergenerational servant leadership development; and nutrition, health and mental health. Through community partnerships the CDF Freedom Schools program boosts student motivation to read, generates positive attitudes toward learning, and connects the needs of children and families to the resources in their communities. CDF-Texas has previously received funds from television’s American Idol® Gives Back to expand Freedom Schools programs in Texas. CDF Beat the Odds® Scholarship Program CDF initiated the Beat the Odds program in 1990 to affirm the academic success of young people who, in the face of overwhelming adversity, have worked hard to succeed and give back to their community. In recognition of their achievements, students are awarded college scholarships and other gifts. Scholars are also invited to participate in leadership training at the CDF Haley Farm, which serves as CDF’s vibrant training ground for leadership development, advocacy and service. Since 1999, CDFTexas has provided more than eighty students the opportunity to attend college. In addition to providing scholarships, CDF’s Beat the Odds celebrations serve as the organization’s major annual fundraiser in Texas to sustain the effective year-round advocacy and programming for all the children of Texas who cannot vote, lobby or speak for themselves. Young Advocates Leadership Training® (YALT) Program CDF is preparing the next generation of leaders committed to social justice and improving the lives of children in America through its youth leadership initiatives. The CDF YALT program is a three-day, intensive training in organizing for social change that educates young adults about the state of America’s children, and about CDF’s campaigns and policy priorities for quality education and affordable health coverage for all children. Participants are mentored in the basics of community organizing and strategies that can later be implemented in their college campuses and home communities. Strengthening Families to End Child Poverty CDF collaborates with an array of federal, state and local government entities, faith- and community-based organizations and local businesses to educate parents about the importance of the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), Child Tax Credit (CTC), and other supports to reduce financial hardships and strain on working families. CDF testifies and educates the public about the consequences of predatory lending practices and has trained hundreds of high school and college-age young adults to provide free tax preparation in their communities through Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) sites. CDF National Observance of Children’s Sabbaths® Celebrations Every third weekend in October, CDF unites thousands of congregations of every faith to lift up the needs of children in worship, prayer, song, and action during an annual National Observance of Children’s Sabbaths weekend. For more than ten years, CDF-Texas has worked with community partners, friends and families to present an annual Children’s Sabbath celebration in Houston. 5410 Bellaire, Suite 203, Bellaire, Texas 77401 • 877-664-4080 • www.cdftexas.org • Facebook: @CDFTexas • Twitter: @CDFTexas Advocacy Training 101: Raising our voices for Texas children This presentation accompanies A Toolkit for Child Advocacy 101 available at www.cdftexas.org. Presentation generously underwritten by Methodist Healthcare Ministries Children’s Defense Fund Mission The CDF Leave No Child Behind® mission is to ensure every child a Healthy Start, a Head Start, a Fair Start, a Safe Start and a Moral Start in life and successful passage to adulthood with the help of caring families and communities. How CDF Advocates By raising awareness about the condition of Texas children, By connecting children and families to programs and services that help meet their needs, and By working with partners to form public policy solutions and to coordinate support for legislative action on behalf of Texas children. Learning Objectives ¾ Understand some of the important issues facing Texas children ¾ Learn to identify & contact key decision-makers ¾ Learn to connect to community resources ¾ Learn to increase awareness ¾ Feel confident in taking action on important issues What is Advocacy? Why is Advocacy Important? The State of Texas Children Today Child Health Texas has the highest rate of uninsured children in the nation (17% or 1.2 million)! About HALF of children in Texas rely on CHIP and Medicaid for health coverage. Education Roughly 80% of Black and Latino fourth graders cannot read or do math at grade level. If we make no changes today, by 2040, 1 in every 3 Texans will not have a high school diploma. Early Childhood Education Only 3% of children nationwide are enrolled in early Head Start programs. The lack of quality early childhood education is a leading indicator of many other risk factors in the lives of children. Child Poverty 1 in 4 children in Texas is poor. The majority of poor children living in working families, with family incomes of less than $17,600/year for a family of three. Three Advocacy Strategies Decision-Maker Advocacy Community/ Person-to-Person Advocacy • Express support for or concern about a public policy directly with elected and community leaders • Inform and recruit friends, family, and professional relationships to join you in support of an important cause Media Advocacy • Communicate your point of view through social media, print, tv, or radio to build awareness or movement on important issues DecisionMaker Advocacy • Tamika Scott’s son Devante lost his Medicaid coverage because of bureaucratic state policies for children’s health coverage. • After repeated unsuccessful attempts to resolve the problems with the state, Tamika shared her story with CDF. • CDF was able to amplify her concerns by advocating and telling Devante’s story publicly to lawmakers, reporters and the public. • State Rep Sylvester Turner also used CDF’s report at the Capitol to help get the laws that terminated Devante’s coverage in the first place changed for thousands of other kids. • House Bill 109 was passed, making improvements to the way the state now processes CHIP and Medicaid applications. • As a result, more than 850,000 Texas children have benefited. Decision-Maker Advocacy Identify: who are your decision-makers Store: his/her contact info in your cell Tips: when calling your decision-maker: • • • • • Introduce who you are; who you represent Speak from the heart and be respectful Convey what’s important to you Ask if you can count on their support Say thank you! Community Advocacy • Norma Bradley worked at a legal assistance program where numerous grandparents raising their children called to seek legal support. • At the time, Houston offered no free legal services for this population. • Mrs. Bradley applied for a grant from the state to provide services for these vulnerable families, and she got it! • Now, Mrs. Bradley provides information, support and leadership training to hundreds of grandparents raising grandchildren each year. Community or Person-to-Person Advocacy Share resources with people you know. Talk with your community leaders. Involve your friends, relatives, co-workers, book club, mom’s group, faith group...etc Help to raise funds for the cause. Person-to-Person or Individual Advocacy The United Way Help Line: 2-1-1 Did you know that by calling 2-1-1 you can get free and confidential information and referrals for…? • Healthcare • Employment • Food • Counseling • Housing • Much more…! Media Advocacy • Katrina's mom died of complications from a drug addiction when Katrina was only eleven. Katrina was left orphaned and homeless. • During her senior year of high school Katrina worked 40+ hours/ week to be able to afford a place to live. • The Houston Chronicle published an article about Katrina and her amazing story of receiving CDF’s Beat the Odds® scholarship. • By speaking out and sharing her story with a reporter, Katrina became an inspiration for countless others facing tough times. Media Advocacy Be a spokesperson on causes you care about. Share YOUR story with local media. Use social media to inform others. CDF Issue Areas A Healthy Start – Expanding Children’s Health/Mental Coverage, Maternal and Infant Health, National Health Reform A Head Start – Early Childhood Education, K-12 Public Education, Full-Day Kindergarten, Youth Leadership Development, Higher Education A Fair Start – Ending Child and Family Poverty, Child Tax Credits and Benefits A Safe Start – Stopping Child Abuse/Neglect, Juvenile Justice, Gun Violence, Foster/Kinship Care A Moral Start – Interfaith movement building for children My Advocacy Action Plan My Big Important Issue Identifying My Decision Maker Advocating for Child Health (as an example) The Texas Well and Healthy Campaign is a grassroots campaign that joins thousands of ordinary Texans in speaking up for a healthier future for our state. www.texaswellandhealthy.org Advocating for Child Health (continued) Sample actions you might take: • Sign on to join the movement! • Follow the Campaign on Facebook and Twitter. • Respond to Action Alerts when called upon. • Be a local partner for the Campaign. • Get your friends to join! Small Group Exercise Develop your personal My Advocacy Action Plan Share your individual plan within the small group Small groups demonstrate advocacy actions Write yourself a self-addressed advocacy goal post card Recap: Ways to Get Involved 1. Join the Movement Stay connected to statewide advocacy efforts by signing up for emails from CDF or other groups that advocate for issues you care about. 2. Respond to the Call When you get urgent action alerts on email or social media, it’s only because something critical for kids needs your attention. Individual participation drives collection action. Do it. It makes a difference! 3. Recruit When you take action on important issues, ask your friends to do the same! Following CDF on Facebook and Twitter makes it easy to share important actions with others in your social network. Stay Connected with CDF on Important Issues for Children www.facebook.com/CDFTexas www.twitter.com/CDFTexas www.CDFTexas.org Stay Connected with the Texas Well and Healthy Campaign www.twitter.com/TXWellHealthy www.facebook.com/KidsWellTexas www.TexasWellAndHealthy.org Special Acknowledgements This presentation was generously underwritten by: Special Thanks to Members of our Focus Group: OneVoice Texas, Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Galveston-Houston, ECHOS, Senior Legal Center - Houston, and volunteer Sarah Abakwue Special Acknowledgements Thanks for all YOU do and for all that you will do for children in Texas!! CDF-Texas Contacts • Kelli King-Jackson, Outreach Director [email protected] • Carolyn DeVaughn, Outreach Manager [email protected] • Laura Guerra-Cardus, Associate Director / Policy Director [email protected] 1.877.664.4080 2012 MY ADVOCACY ACTION PLAN Federal MY BI G I SS U E I S : _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ORG A N IZ AT IO N S T H A T W OR K O N T H I S I SS U E A R E: 1. ____________________________________________________________________________________ Name: District #: Phone #: Fax #: Email: Federal Name: District #: Phone #: Fax #: Email: Federal Name: District #: Phone #: Fax #: Email: 2. ____________________________________________________________________________________ 3. ____________________________________________________________________________________ MY T H R EE AC TI O NS : Decision Maker: B Y W HE N : State Name: District #: Phone #: Fax #: Email: State Name: District #: Phone #: Fax #: Email: County Commissioner Name: District #: Phone #: Fax #: Email: Community: Media: City Council Name: District #: Phone #: Fax #: Email: School Superintendent Name: Phone #: Fax #: Email: School Board Name: District #: Phone #: Fax #: Email: THINGS TO REMEMBER: Election Info Precinct #: Location: Early Voting Location: 2012 Election Dates: Mar 6 – Primary Election; Nov 6 – General Election http://www.sos.state.tx.us/elections/voter Join the Movement! • 877-664-4080 • www.cdftexas.org • Join the Conversations on @CDFTexas Children’s Defense Fund - Texas Advocacy Training Participant Survey Please rate the following statements. Strongly Agree Agree Disagree Because of this training: I understand why advocacy can make change for me and others. I am more likely to take action for children. I am more likely to help others in my community connect to needed resources. I am more likely to share information about the state of Texas children with others. I know how to talk to my elected officials about my concerns. I know how to help others find out who their decision-makers (senators and representatives). I understand the importance of speaking out (publically) about children’s issues. I feel more comfortable expressing myself when discussing children’s issues. I feel more confident calling my senator or representative in the future. The training gave me a chance to practice advocacy strategies. I would recommend this training to someone who wants to learn more about how to advocate. I know the name of my Texas State Senator. Yes No I know the name of my Texas State Representative. Yes No Do you have at least one of your decision makers’ phone numbers in your cell phone? Yes No I plan to sign up for CDF and/or Texas Well and Healthy newsletters? Yes No Please see the back! Strongly Disagree What is one new thing you learned today about the state of Texas children? _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ What did you like about this training? _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ How could we improve this training? _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ How did you hear about this training? _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ Please rate the following. Unsatisfactory Rate the effectiveness of the presenter. Rate the effectiveness of the teaching strategies used by the presenter. Rate the quality of the teaching materials/handouts. Thank you for your feedback! Satisfactory Good Excellent
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