For every woman Prioritizing and Owning Advocacy Pilot Project Webinar #2 10/30/13.

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Prioritizing and OwningAdvocacy

Pilot Project Webinar #2

10/30/13

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Agenda

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Making Advocacy Sustainable

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What is Advocacy?

Definition of Advocacy

Advocacy is defined as ANY action that speaks in favor of, recommends, argues for a cause, supports or defends, or pleads on behalf of others.

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Advocacy vs. Lobbying

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Proactive-Reactive

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A “GO-TO” Organization

“Strengthen our Brand”

while we “Expand our Base”

while we “Lift Our Voice”8

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YWCA Public Policy Framework

The YWCA advocates on public policy and budget matters that directly advance our mission and vision.

We believe that – working together – we can create a community where……..

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Laying the Groundwork by Developing Principles and Setting Policy Direction

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Example: YWCA Seattle’s Principles

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Example: YWCA Seattle’s Principles

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Example: YWCA Hartford

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With Board Buy-In

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Onto Agenda Development

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Advocacy Agenda Formula

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How to Start? Determining Criteria for Adoption

• EX. Tulsa: The following three criteria must be satisfied before moving forward:

The issue must clearly promote racial justice and/or women’s empowerment.

The issue must clearly affect our constituents, programs, or organization.

This issue must not conflict with any other policy or position held by YWCA Tulsa or YWCA USA.

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Also Important to Consider

• In determining whether to take a position or take action on the proposed issue, the Committee will also consider:

The other issues on which local YWCA is currently working The status of the bill with regard to the legislative process The breadth and depth of the issue’s impact on community The source of the request for action (e.g. funder, donor,

partner agency) The impact and consequences of action and inaction The impact and consequences of acting alone or in

partnership with others

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What to Include on Your Local Agenda?

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YWCA USA Advocacy Legislative Priorities

• Women’s Health and Safety: Reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) PASSED April 2013

• Economic Empowerment: Appropriations and Federal Funding (CCDBG, CDBG, and VAWA)

• Racial Justice: National Immigration Reform

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The YWCA USA Top 3 National PrioritiesBased on December 2012 Survey for 113th Congress

[January 2013-December 2014]

*Note: The YWCA USA is a multi-issue organization and we continue to monitor and be engaged on a range of federal legislative issues. Strategically identifying priorities every 2 years to coincide with Congressional cycle will allow the YWCA to organize and advocate more effectively around critical issues, build credibility on YWCA policy priorities on Capitol Hill and create name recognition in media and donors.

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YWCA USA Top PrioritiesYWCA Seattle Example:

• Reform National Immigration Policies

Historically, the YWCA has advocated for racial justice and for equitable and just laws in communities across the country. YWCAs nationwide provide racial justice programs to more than 330,000 clients annually, including: assisting immigrant victims of violence in navigating the justice system; providing racial justice training to the community; working with victims of human and sexual trafficking; voter education and mobilization; affirmative action, and working to end hate crimes.

YWCAs are deeply committed to advocating for a common sense immigration process that keeps families together here in the U.S., provides adequate protections for immigration victims of sexual violence and trafficking and that creates a roadmap for citizenship for the 11 million aspiring to be citizens.

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YWCA USA Top PrioritiesYWCA Seattle Example (contd.):

• Ensure Deficit Reduction Will Protect Women and Children

The YWCA is greatly invested in programs and legislation that foster opportunities for women to achieve economic and financial security and stability. YWCAs have been asked to do more to help those in need during a time of decreased donations and less government funding. We are particular concerned about three sources of discretionary funding that enable YWCAs to provide vital services to women and families including childcare, job training, transitional housing and domestic violence and sexual assault services:

• Community Development Block Grant • Child Care Development Block Grant • Violence Against Women Act

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State Legislative PrioritiesYWCA Minneapolis Example:

Improve Effectiveness of Investments in Child Care – Restore the Absent Day policy to allow families up to 25 days of

excused absences in the event of illness or emergencies that require children to be absent from their provider.

– Increase access to quality programs for 3-4 year-old children living at or below 185% poverty through additional resources and adopt a solution that will expand access to 0-5 year olds by fiscal year 2017.

– Restore cuts to the child care system, such as Child Care Assistance reimbursement rates and grants to the infrastructure needed to train, build and develop quality child care

– Fully fund the Child Care Assistance Program to eliminate the waiting list.

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Local Policy Priority – Ex. YWCA Madison

• YWCA Madison has identified Zero Tolerance policies in place within local school systems as contributing to the School-to Prison Pipeline by criminalizing students and pushing them out of school. 

• Action: Review of Madison Metropolitan School District’s code of conduct policies and comparing it to more effective policies from around the country such as the Model Code on Education and Dignity. to promote greater community awareness. YWCA Madison is also working with the its Restorative Justice Program in promoting policies that would eliminate school push out and protect the student rights to a quality education.

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Focus!

3-5 PrioritiesRange of effort

Remain Open to Emergent Issues

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After issues are identified - Actions!!

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• Level 1• Signing on to a letter• Endorsing the position of another entity • Posting relevant information to YWCA social media

platforms, e.g. Facebook and Twitter • Forwarding information to staff and board members at

the request of partners

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More Involvement

• Level 2• Sending an advocacy alert to organize calls/emails • Issuing a news release• Sending a representative to speak at an event about our

position • Writing a blog post• Submitting an Op ed to the newspaper• Executing a social media campaign

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Full Throttle

• Level 3 • Meeting with the editorial board of local paper• Organizing a letter to editor campaign• Hosting a forum or information session• Organizing a webinar/conference call• Calling a press conference• Hosting a public demonstration• Organizing a lobby day

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Ex. Agenda item with Identified Actions

Legislative/Budget Priority Maintain current level of state funding for child care subsidies

Actions:

*Postcard campaign from membership to state legislators

*Formal board letter to legislative delegation

*Executive Director has face to face meeting with elected officials

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Agenda Items OTHER Than Public Policy

Ex: Voter Registration and Education28

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Be Ready to ALSO React

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Ex: Federal Shutdown – Debt Ceiling Crisis

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YWCA XYZ Advocacy AgendaPublic Policy Framework The YWCA advocates on public policy and budget matters that directly advance our mission and vision. We believe that – working together – we can create a community where…

Principles and Policy Direction1) All adults are economically self-sufficient. We support measures that promote education, living wage employment, and economic justice for women, homeless families and adults with low incomes.

2) All children and youth develop the skills they need to succeed in life. We support measures that promote children’s health, early learning & school success.

3) All people live in dignity – free from violence, racism and discrimination. We support measures that reduce the incidence and negative effects of domestic violence, diminish health disparities and advance social justice.

Legislative Priorities & Campaigns1) Support Expansion of Earned Income Tax Credit

Actions (L2): Op-ed; Social Media Campaign, Town Hall with State legislators

2) Reauthorization of VAWA

Actions (L1): Sign-on coalitions, action alerts, social media involvement; LTE

3) Voter Education Outreach

Actions (L3): Volunteer training, Voter registrations, Social Media Campaign

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Questions?

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Homework

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Assignment

• Review examples of policy direction/principles presented and begin determining what would be your local association’s foundation

• Review 2-3 other associations/organizations advocacy agendas to develop a sense of what would be instructive for your association

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Next Webinar – November 20, 4pm EST

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Conference Call – November 15, 2pm EST