Engage Your Elected Officials
Tips for Successful Site Visits with Your Elected Officials
Elected officials don’t have the firsthand experience working with babies and families that you do. So invite them for a site visit to experience for themselves the work you do with infants and toddlers. It’s an opportunity for you to talk about the challenges families face and directly ask them to lend their support. We’ve outlined some tips to help you prepare for a successful visit.
- Plan ahead. Find out when your federal, state or local elected official will be in your home state or district and extend an invitation at least 4-6 weeks before.
- Be specific, but flexible. Be sure to mention that you are a constituent and explain the when, where, and why of your invitation. Elected officials are busy, so you may want to offer multiple dates or open the invitation to their staff. Be sure to confirm prior to the day of the visit.
- Prepare for the day. Think about how you’d like to welcome your guest and line up an activity that showcases your work and its importance. Remember to let your staff and families know ahead of time, so they can help during the visit.
- Follow up. Send your guest home with information about your program or the Think Babies handout. And get in touch soon after the visit to recap and reinforce your message.
For more information and a sample invitation, check out ZERO TO THREE’s How to Plan a Site Visit for Your Policy Makers.