Everyday Advocacy

Whether you are an experienced advocate or child care provider that is just engaging in public policy for the first time, your voice is important.

Why should a child care provider be an advocate for children and families?

• Your experience and the experience of families make the issues real to policymakers.
• You are the most qualified expert because you work with children and engage parents of young children every day.
• You are the constituent and stakeholder.
• No one else can tell your story like you can.
• You have expert information a decision-maker should consider on issues that impact you.
• Children are unable to advocate for themselves, but you can for them.

Please consider acting and making a difference for Pennsylvania’s children. Go to the Take Action Now page to see how you can take action right now!

 

Leadership in Action

The Leadership in Action program is designed to offer opportunities and resources for early care and education programs to be advocates, whether you have been raising your voice for years or are considering it for the very first time. Our goal is to make quality early learning accessible and affordable through improved policies and increased funding—but we need your help. For information on how to participate in the Leadership in Action program go here for English and here for Spanish.

 

Advocate Toolkit

The Advocate Toolkit offers ways that early learning professionals, families and community members can work together to advance child care and pre-k. The Advocate Toolkit can be found here (English) and here (Spanish).

 

Participate in everyday advocacy in six steps.

1. Register to vote You may register to vote online, by mail, in person at your county voter registration office or at PennDOT and some other government agencies.
2. Find out who your legislators are and decide which one or ones you will contact. Developing a relationship with your legislator or their staff is important.

• • Visit this site to find your state legislators
  • Visit this site to find your congress person
  • Contact U.S. Senators here:
    • Contact Senator John Fetterman
    • Contact Senator Dave McCormick

3. Decide what way you will advocate and how often you will do it. Then make the commitment to do it.

• • Write a letter or send an email
  • Make a phone call.
  • Set up an appointment for a personal visit.
  • On your calendar, note the dates on which you have decided to take action.
  • For tips on talking to policymakers go here.

4. Inform yourself.

• • Learn about the state and federal issues that are being considered by taking a look at PennAEYC’s state and federal public policy pages and familiarize yourself with PennAEYC’s Public Policy Agenda.
  • Join the early care and education campaigns
  • Visit the Pennsylvania General Assembly website
  • Sign up for the America for Early Ed

5. Make a list of key points.

• • Make notes before you call or visit so that you make concise points and include your call to action.
  • Communicate to your legislator that you are a registered voter and their constituent.
  • Tell your legislator what is important to you: choose no more than three general concerns, include facts, stories or personal comments on your priorities for young children and child care providers. You can also share your opinions on legislation.

6. Make the contacts that you committed to.

• • Develop and maintain your relationship with your legislator.
  • Thank your legislator when they support a positive early care and education measure.

 

Join the early care and education campaigns! Learn more here