Facilitator's Guide - Engaging Parents and Families in ...

FACILITATOR'S GUIDE: Nat Rep Advocacy Workshop

TITLE: Engaging Parents & Families in Grassroots Advocacy

60 minute presentation with suggested modifications for shorter/longer lengths of time

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2-MINUTE INTRO:

Welcome Intro self Engage

audience

[WELCOME]

I am proud and excited to present this workshop on behalf of the National PTA. Thank you for taking your time to come to this session.

[INTRODUCE SELF]

Name, where you are from, how long you have been engaged in PTA, PTA/other positions, etc.

[ENGAGE AUDIENCE]

Raise your hand if are: o Unit leader o State leader o Council, regional, district leader o Member looking to become a PTA leader o Other - invite sharing

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FACILITATOR'S GUIDE: Nat Rep Advocacy Workshop

1-MINUTE OVERVIEW:

Learning Objectives

[DESCRIBE]

By the end of this workshop you will be able to: 1. Define the term advocacy 2. Understand the difference between legislative and

grassroots advocacy 3. Describe National PTA's federal advocacy priorities 4. Design a grassroots advocacy plan

[TRANSITION]

Let's get started.

FACILITATOR'S GUIDE: Nat Rep Advocacy Workshop

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2-MINUTE ACTIVITY: LARGE GROUP DISCUSSION

What does advocacy mean to you? (2-3 Examples)

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PRESENTATION

[ASK]

What does advocacy mean to you?

[FACILITATE DISCUSSION]

Audience may say "lobbying" or "campaigning" or provide examples of tangible results from advocacy, such as legislation, a specific change to an environment, funding, etc.

Encourage the audience to bring forth examples. o Serving others with programs o Educating others about an issue, problem and proposed solution (policy and/or tangible result) o Speaking out for the benefit of others about a problem and desired solution o Organizing people directly affected by a problem to take action and win a solution ? THIS is grassroots advocacy

[TRANSITION]

Describe what advocacy means to you in your own words and why you have become an advocate for children.

:5 Minutes

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FACILITATOR'S GUIDE: Nat Rep Advocacy Workshop

2-MINUTE OVERVIEW:

Define advocacy and inspire with synonyms

[DEFINE & EXPLAIN]

What is advocacy?

In the dictionary, to advocate is to publicly support or recommend ? to speak UP and OUT about an issue; to help others understand a problem; to influence thinking for the good of others ? for a social change that will improve or eliminate a problem.

Synonyms for an advocate include: - Supporter - Backer - Promoter - Proponent - Campaigner - Fighter - Crusader - CHAMPION

[TRANSITION]

When you think about it, PTA advocates are CHAMPIONS for children.

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FACILITATOR'S GUIDE: Nat Rep Advocacy Workshop

3-MINUTE OVERVIEW:

Explain how advocacy is at the heart of PTA's mission

[SHARE]

Advocacy is at the heart of PTA's mission: To make every child's potential a reality by engaging and empowering families and communities to advocate for all children.

This is what sets PTA apart from other school-parent organizations: our mission and ability to advocate with ONE VOICE on behalf of EVERY CHILD.

To fulfill our mission, we grow PTA advocates who are champions for children.

[TRANSITION]

So who are these PTA advocates?

:10 Minutes

FACILITATOR'S GUIDE: Nat Rep Advocacy Workshop

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2-MINUTE OVERVIEW:

Identify who are PTA advocates and explain what they do

[DESCRIBE]

Look around. You are surrounded by them. You are PTA advocates. As local leaders ? you are our frontline advocates. You have made the commitment to engage families in your school. The volunteer work that you do is advocacy.

Advocacy begins with understanding the concerns of families, the needs of students and teachers, the goals of the school administration. Then it continues as you build a PTA plan that aims to engage families in the solutions ? THAT is advocacy.

Thousands of volunteers like you ? are beginning their journeys as PTA Champions advocating for children.

This important work that happens in YOUR SCHOOL, YOUR SCHOOL DISTRICT, THIS STATE, and all that's happening on CAPITOL HILL.

[TRANSITION]

Let's talk about the ways we engage PTA advocates.

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FACILITATOR'S GUIDE: Nat Rep Advocacy Workshop

3-MINUTE OVERVIEW: Explain

three types of advocacy

:15 Minutes

[DESCRIBE]

There are three primary ways PTA engages its members in advocacy. Let's begin where we have the greatest reach -- with parents:

? Self-Advocacy ? PTAs educate and empower families to be the champion for

their child. Many PTAs educate families about the students' rights and responsibilities and how to navigate the school system to get the supports necessary for academic success or well-being. When parents feel welcomed at a school and communication is effective ? and two-way ? they are comfortable sharing feedback with teachers. PTA helps to create the welcoming school culture and foster communication between families and schools.

? Grassroots Advocacy ? Grassroots advocacy is a type of social change that is

fueled by the power of people focusing on a problem and taking collective action to propose and enact solutions. Example: Safe Routes to School. Parents, educators and community members come together to voice concerns about safe transportation options. Together, they explore solutions and reach out to government entities that influence funding or policies needed to achieve their desired goal: a safer trip to school by foot, bike, bus or car.

[TRANSITION]

? Legislative Advocacy ? Is what most people think of when they hear the word

"advocacy." Let's talk more about National PTA transforms your membership dollars into legislative influence and parent power on Capitol Hill.

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FACILITATOR'S GUIDE: Nat Rep Advocacy Workshop

5-MINUTE OVERVIEW:

Establish the framework for how National PTA develops its legislative agenda and how National PTA's positions connect to the audience

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PRESENTATION

[DESCRIBE]

National PTA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Under this tax-exempt status National PTA is allowed to engage in federal lobbying and leads PTA's non-partisan federal advocacy work.

All people have the opportunity to lobby for issues that affect them and their families at all levels of government and should fully embrace that right whenever possible.

All state and local PTA units are independently incorporated 501(c)(3) organizations, and are allowed to engage in direct and indirect lobbying as well.

Although all PTAs - national, state & local - are allowed to lobby, PTAs are not allowed to engage in electioneering. Thus, PTAs cannot endorse candidates for elected office, give money or otherwise engage in political campaigns. This is what most 501(c)(4)s do.

National PTA's annual public policy agenda guides federal advocacy. It uses National PTA's position statements and resolutions to develop recommendations for issues before Congress and the Administration, and is developed by the Legislative Committee and is approved by the National President and Board of Directors.

National PTA does not take positions for or against state-level policies. National position statements and resolutions can and do guide state level advocacy by state congresses. State PTAs are encouraged to align with National PTA positions. State and local PTAs can use National PTA position statements and resolutions to advocate on state and local matters. However, state and local PTAs may not contradict national resolutions or position statements.

:20 Minutes [TRANSITION] So what are our legislative priorities?

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