Release Date: January 31, 2012
File Format: PDF
File Size: 4.65MB

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Advocacy matters. Advocacy can be defined as active support for a cause and most often is directed at changing some official decision or public policy. You likely advocate all the time without even realizing it. When people advocate for important causes like increased school funding, safer neighborhoods, or to help more children to be able to see a doctor, they are participating in an important part of the political process. While advocacy can take many forms, this toolkit focuses on helping to grow grassroot child health advocacy skills in three areas: Decision-Maker Advocacy, Community or Person-to-Person Advocacy, and Media Advocacy.

We hope you will download and use these tools to help inform, inspire and mobilize others in Texas to take action for children's health and wellbeing.

Download by Section: 

 A Toolkit for Child Advocacy 101

Table of Contents, Introduction and Learning Targets

Module 1:  Decision-Maker Advocacy

• Government 101: Local, State, and Federal
• How to Visit Your Legislator
• Sample Action Alert

Module 2:  Community/ Person-to-Person Advocacy

• Role Playing: Advocacy Scenarios and 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

• Speaking Up! How to Tell Your Story
• How to Communicate with Reporters
• Practicing the 1-2-3's of Social Media

Additional Resources

• 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

• Advocacy Training 101 [PowerPoint Presentation]
• My Advocacy Plan
• Evaluation