Best Practices in Counselor Advocacy: Writing Letters and E-mails That ...
Best Practices in Counselor Advocacy: Writing Letters and
E-mails That Get Results
Stephanie T. Burns CSI Professional Advocacy Committee
? 2013, Chi Sigma Iota, All Rights Reserved
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Contents
? Rationale: Why write letters? ? Best Practices in Advocacy Letter Writing
Overview, addressing legislators, telling your story, being concrete, being informative, being timely, calls-to-action and checklists
When to write, who to write, how to write... and much more!
? 2013, Chi Sigma Iota, All Rights Reserved
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Rationale: Why Take the Time to Write
? Often the best way to get results is to write a letter that will be mailed
Letters provide a written record Letters can be shared between multiple staff
members Letters communicate serious intent Personal or organizational letterhead conveys
professionalism
? 2013, Chi Sigma Iota, All Rights Reserved
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Best Practices in Advocacy Letter Writing: Overview
? Write approximately a one single-spaced page letter or a two page double spaced letter.
? Use personal or business stationery. ? Include your name, return address, and
telephone number including the area code on the letter. This helps to identify you as a constituent. ? Hand write letters if they are exceptionally
legible; otherwise, type.
? 2013, Chi Sigma Iota, All Rights Reserved
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Addressing the Letter
? Name the bill's sponsoring Member(s). Visit your state legislative page to find the bill's sponsoring member(s)
For bills introduced into Congress visit
? Spell the legislator's name correctly. ? Use appropriate title (Representative, Senator).
Elected officials are addressed as "Honorable."
? 2013, Chi Sigma Iota, All Rights Reserved
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Finding Legislator(s)
? US House
? US Senate
? State Legislators
? 2013, Chi Sigma Iota, All Rights Reserved
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Best Practices: Addressing Legislators
? Double check the legislator's address. ? Cover only one subject per letter. Send a
separate letter for each concern as different assistants in the office may work with different issues. ? Clearly identify bills to avoid confusion. At the top write, "Re: (name and number of bill)." ? If you know the legislator or staff aide personally, mention it at the start of your letter.
? 2013, Chi Sigma Iota, All Rights Reserved
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Best Practices: Telling Your Story
? State that you are an individual who is a constituent to the legislator. Say why you are writing and list your credentials.
? Tell your story about how this legislation touches your professional life or your clients' lives in your own words. Stories make a tremendous impact on legislators, but be careful to maintain client confidentiality! Seek supervision.
? A thoughtful and well-constructed story can have more impact than a thousand letters or calls.
? 2013, Chi Sigma Iota, All Rights Reserved
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