Advocating for children "I ask you to profess your faith in Christ Jesus, reject sin, and confess the faith of the Church, the faith in which we baptize."

From the service for Holy Baptism, Lutheran Book of Worship, p. 123.

Speak up for children

Advocacy means speaking up for people who are powerless--hurt by actions of others, whether intentionally or unintentionally. Advocating for children means using your voice to make a difference in people's lives. It's the way you change society so children are treated and cared for in a just way. Children are the most vulnerable people in our society. They need faithful adults to stand up for them.

Many people believe that a society should be judged by the way that it treats its children. Your congregation can help our society achieve a positive end through advocacy. Encourage the members of your congregation to become advocates for children. Start small. Choose one issue that impacts the lives of the children in your area. Each voice makes a difference. Each change creates a safer haven for children.

What advocacy actions can my congregation take?

Your congregation can provide people of faith who will advocate for public policies that affect the practices of corporations, institutions, and government agencies having an impact on the lives of children. Anyone who is a member in your congregation can influence policy makers in all levels of government.

Advocating can be as simple as writing a letter to your local newspaper, organizing a letter-writing campaign supporting a change in public policy, or inviting a legislator to your church to examine an issue firsthand. The number one nutrition program for young children, Women, Infants and Children (WIC), came about because of advocacy efforts. The hard work of advocates in the past has produced positive changes in public policy. Your congregation's effort to serve children can make use of these successes.

Make an advocacy plan

• The first step is deciding what shape members of your congregation want their advocacy to take. Consider starting an advocacy committee, including advocacy as part of your social ministry or making advocacy a part of your stewardship commitments. Talk with the pastor and church staff about ways in which advocacy can fit into and be enhanced by programs already in place.
• Second, decide on what issue your congregation wants to focus. To help narrow the focus, start within your immediate area. What are the urgent issues affecting the children in your community? Abuse? Hunger? Personal safety? Housing? Child care? Education? Gangs? Drugs? Pick one problem to concentrate on.
• Education is your next priority. Advocates must be well informed about the selected issue. Church members should strive to understand all aspects of a problem, their side as well as that of the opposition. Introduce your group to the local, county, state, and federal officials who work directly with children's issues. Listen to the concerns they have. Learn about the resources they provide and what action they have taken. Network with others in your community working with similar concerns. Consider combining efforts. Use Bible study and the ELCA's social statements to seek a just response. Then formulate an action plan.
• Now is the time to take your issue to the congregation. Ask your pastor or congregation council how you might promote advocacy within worship, such as during announcements or including a petition for guidance during the prayers of the people.
• Check with your church staff regarding avenues of communicating with your congregation. What are the possibilities for including advocacy in prayer chains, newsletters, and bulletins? Ask for a spot during adult education when members of your advocacy group or an outside speaker might make a presentation.

Advocacy opportunities

Provide opportunities for church members to take part in affecting change. Encourage the congregation to be a part of the advocacy effort through personal prayer. Invite others to join you in a public discussion or visit to a legislator.

Advocacy letters: Personal letters are the most effective way to participate in the ministry of advocacy. Set up a writing table in the narthex or fellowship area of your church to provide information and encourage people to take part. Provide sample letters to assist them, but be clear that letters should be in their own words. Come up with positive ways to convey your message. Be creative. If the issue is hunger, ask members write the letters on paper plates. Enclose a bandage with a letter regarding abuse. If your concern is housing, include a key!

A good advocacy letter should be no more than 250 words long. Say why you are interested in this issue, tell a personal story, and include your home address and other contact information. Use constructive language, encouraging child-oriented outcomes.

Don't forget the children and youth in your midst. Children and youth are often interested in shaping their world. They can provide a vibrant force. Ask youth for their ideas. Invite them to staff the writing table between services, to make announcements during church, or to bring their friends. Provide materials and volunteers to work with younger children to decorate envelopes or draw pictures to include with letters written by adults.

How can my church use advocacy successes?

The hard work of advocates in the past has produced positive changes in public policy. Your congregation's effort to serve children can make use of these successes.

• Open an after school or summer youth program. It is now easier to receive federal funds to serve food at your program. A new law expanded children's eligibility, cut red tape, and made many other positive changes to the child nutrition programs. For more information, check out the Building Blocks section on the Food Research and Action Center's Web site, www.frac.org, or call the center at 202- 986-2200, ext. 2014 or 3004, to receive a packet.
• Become a resource to inform families about how they can apply for the Earned Income Tax Credit or access your state's Children's Health Insurance Program for uninsured kids. Packets for both are available through the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. Call 202-408-1080. Also call the new toll free Children's Health Insurance Hotline, 1-877-KIDS NOW, for state specific information on how to enroll eligible but uninsured children.
• Become a WIC site. Women, Infants and Children clinics are looking for ways to stretch their budgets to serve more children for longer hours. Contact your local WIC clinic.
• Organize a mentoring program for families trying to work their way off of welfare. Contact the local Department of Social Services and learn about how the Charitable Choice opportunity can open doors for your service.