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Legislative Visit Packet

Legislative Outreach

Our voices can be powerful tools for change.

Legislators need to hear our voices to do their jobs effectively. QUEST invites child care programs across Pennsylvania to reach out to their local legislators concerning important early care and education programs and issues:

Early childhood educators can share information with their local legislator about the everyday challenges they face in providing quality child care. Representatives from a center or home-based program (Director/or Provider, teacher, and parent), with support from local advocates, can participate by building ongoing professional relationships with their local legislators through visits and communications. We will guide you through the whole process--from identifying your local legislator to accompanying your team on your actual visit. We will meet with your team at your program and provide you with information that will help you prepare for your visit. An informational packet is available for you to present to your legislator at the time of your visit. We will be there to support you every step of the way. Isn’t it time you stepped forward for children, families and child care workers? Think about it…you can make a difference!

Here is an opportunity for your voice to be heard.

Imagine - a director/or home-based provider speaking out about how valuable their program is to the community and how hard it is to recruit and retain staff.
Imagine - a parent raving about the quality of their child care and the financial struggles they face in paying for it.
Imagine - a teacher explaining how she loves her work but cannot afford to stay in a field that does not pay a living wage.
Imagine - an advocate explaining how current legislation or budget issues will affect child care quality, affordability and accessibility in their district and how critical it is that we receive their legislator’s support.

Collectively, our voices will be powerful tools for change. Join us!

As you begin your legislative outreach, it is important for you to know that state legislators make voting decisions based on their perception of what is important to their constituents. Their perception of their constituents views often depend on who they hear from, how often they are contacted and how persuasive the facts are that are brought to their attention. That is why it is so important for your team to bring your information, thoughts and feelings to your legislator’s attention. Your presence will “humanize” the issue. It will connect the issue with faces and illustrate its importance. Above all, remember that you do not need to be an expert in order to express your opinion. But you do need to be well prepared. The following tips and enclosures will help you in planning the visit with your legislator and establishing a working relationship that will enable you to keep in touch as new issues and legislation come up.

Download a copy of
Legislative Outreach Packet (word)