Now that we have a new President, new Members of Congress and numerous new state executives, legislators and local officials, there’s an unprecedented opportunity to get afterschool on their minds before the process of governing even begins. The good news is that voters are behind you - 76 percent of voters want federal, state and local leaders to increase funding for afterschool. So how do we bring this information to policy makers? Here are a few ideas and things to keep in mind when you’re advocating during the transition process:

·         Plan now—if you wait until the various legislative bodies come into session, it could be too late. Begin strategizing as soon as possible and let elected officials hear from you now—before their policy priorities are solidified.

• Relevant Resource: Policy and Action Center: Our Policy and Action Center has sample letters and scripts that you can use to jumpstart your conversations with newly elected officials

• With the current climate, matters connected to the economy (including jobs and working families) and national security will be of primary interest to elected officials for at least the first 6 months or so. Find a way to fit afterschool into that frame. If you can’t find a way to connect it for your particular community, then save it for later in the year.
  • Relevant Resource: Issue Briefs

• Afterschool: A Wise Public Investment

                    Afterschool Programs Help Working Families

                    Afterschool: A Natural Platform for Career Development

• Coalesce with as many other organizations as you can on your top ideas. When you approach elected officials with a strong coalition and a unified message, you have a much better chance of being successful.
  • Relevant Resources: State Pages, Afterschool for All
  • State Pages: Click on your state to see state-level data and individual and organizational contacts in your state

                   Afterschool for All: Enter your city or zip code to see a list of local supporters

• Do you have some ‘strange bedfellows’ (unusual voices) that agree with you? Are there allies of afterschool in your community who aren’t from the traditional constituencies (business leaders, law enforcement officials, medical professionals)? If so, be sure to tout these connections. Transition folks will take notice.
• Be sure that you’re armed with political information (Example: polling data from a pre-election poll that shows issue resonates with independent voters – part of the margin of victory in the last election.)
  • Relevant Resource: Afterschool Alliance Polling Data, Research
  • America After 3 PM Study
  • 21st Century Community Learning Centers Summary
• Think about who will be the next chair or leader of a committee that matters to afterschool. Work to make contact and shore up your relationship now. 
• Relevant Resource: Planning a site visit,
• Building Relationships with Policy makers

• If your policy ideas are small, get a champion in Congress, the state legislature or local legislative body to introduce a bill and then work to get bi-partisan co-sponsors so as you build your credibility.
  • Relevant Resources: Afterschool Caucuses, Afterschool for All
  • Afterschool Caucuses
  • Afterschool for All – enter your city or zip code to see a list of local supporters
  •  When you’re talking to policy makers, show them that support for afterschool is not just right thing to do; it’s the politically smart thing to do.
    • Relevant Resource: Polling Data
    • Polling Data