1. Policy Agenda/Goals

Consensus building and negotiation on policy issues and
priorities; identifying goals that are pro-active and achievable,
be they early wins or or long range efforts.  

2. Campaign Plans

Strategy development for advocacy and policy change. Identify proper arena for action, power systems to target for change, methods of navigating related systems, tactics for persuasion of different audiences, potential timelines. Work with organizations, foundations, grantees, coalitions and community groups to help create campaigns (specific advocacy action plans), identify and recruit additional stakeholders, and support campaign implementation.

3. Advocacy Tools:

Formulation of various communications tools to advance their issue campaign. Coaching on, creating or tailoring materials on policy issues to educate particular audiences (such as parents, school officials, city council members, health providers, state legislators, federal officials). This could include:

• issue briefs and fact sheets
• letters (to system leaders, editors, potential partners)
• action alerts or issue updates for members, staff, stakeholders
• articles, opinion-editorials
• testimony and speaking points  

 4. Collaboration

Coalition building and peer mentoring; researching and advising on outreach and relationship management.

 5. Policy Makers

Relationship building with system leaders, influencers, electeds and their staff.  This could involve helping to arrange, facilitate and/or support meetings with elected officials, agency officials, and their staff; strategizing around meeting goals, preparing scripts, defining roles at meetings,  identifying “asks,” take away messages, and plans for follow up.

6. Training: Building Capacity for Policy 

Build upon the existing strengths and skills of community leaders and organizations to develop all of the items listed above (1-5). Receiving coaching and practicing will advance skills and build confidence for future work. 

 NPR audio link on the Cambodian project
Remember the Killing Fields