• How OFTEN does the Children's Alliance send the Children's Action Alert?
• How does the Children's Alliance CHOOSE the issues we work on?
• How does the Children's Alliance DECIDE the priority message of the week during the legislative session?
• Does it do any good for me to CONTACT a legislator MORE THAN ONCE on the same issue?
• Is it really EFFECTIVE to send messages to policymakers via email?
• I feel GUILTY when I don't respond to an alert. Is it OK to not respond to every alert?
• Should I send you a COPY OF MESSAGES I send to my legislators?
• I'm not registered to VOTE. Can I still contact my legislators?
• I not yet 18 YEARS OLD. Can I still contact my legislators?
• How can I tell OTHERS about the Children's Action Network?
• Other than state legislative actions, what OTHER ISSUES does the Children's Action Alert cover?
• Does it do any good to CONTACT LEGISLATORS who don't represent my district?
• How do I find out what LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT I live in and who my legislators are?
• What is the Washington Afterschool Network?

How OFTEN does the Children's Alliance send the Children's Action Alert?
Every week during the legislative session and periodically when the state Legislature is not in session.

How does the Children's Alliance CHOOSE the issues we work on?
Every year, prior to the state legislative session, the Children's Alliance gathers input from our members and others and creates a list of recommended issues to work on. From this list, our Public Policy Council and Board of Directors choose several priority items. While these items receive most of our resources, we also advocate for a wide range of children's issues and work in coalition with other advocates.

How does the Children's Alliance DECIDE the priority message of the week during the legislative session?
The priority message is determined every Thursday by developments in Olympia. We welcome your suggestions for priorities and topics for alerts. Please contact jon@childrensalliance.org with suggestions.

Does it do any good for me to contact a legislator MORE THAN ONCE on the same issue?
Yes, absolutely! Often, particularly during the state legislative session, repeated contact is necessary to move an issue through the different stages of the legislative process and refocus the attention of legislators.

Is it really EFFECTIVE to send messages to policymakers via email?
Yes. Legislators (or their staff) count the number of messages they receive from constituents on issues. Most legislators prefer short concise messages from constituents, rather than long, detailed ones. Personal information or a personal perspective is always a good idea, so we also encourage you to add your own words to our suggested messages. Telling legislators why you care about the issue is very helpful.

I feel GUILTY when I don't respond to an alert. Is it OK to not respond to every alert?
Certainly. Any action you take is a powerful tool for change--even one contact a session. We recognize that people have busy schedules. If you don't respond to all the alerts, it's OK.

Should I send you a COPY OF MESSAGES I send to my legislators?
No, it is not necessary to copy us. However, we would like to see responses you get from your legislators. These responses tell us what legislators are thinking and are very useful to our advocacy efforts.

I'm not registered to VOTE. Can I still contact my legislators?
Yes! You do not need to be a registered voter to let your elected officials know what you think. If you are eligible to vote, we encourage you to register: http://www.secstate.wa.gov/elections/register.aspx

I not yet 18 YEARS OLD. Can I still contact my legislators?
Yes! Most legislators are very open to hearing from younger voices. Young people often bring a refreshing perspective and legislators consider them since they often make decisions that affect youth.

How can I tell OTHERS about the Children's Action Network?
We've made it easy. Go to this page http://www.childrenshub.org/calliance/join-forward.tcl?domain=calliance and you will be able to quickly send a message to your friends inviting them to join. If you would like brochures or a presentation, please contact Jon Gould at 206-324-0340 x19.

Other than state legislative actions, what OTHER ISSUES does the Children's Action Alert cover?
When the legislature is not in session, we send alerts periodically about federal issues, and other advocacy opportunities related to families and children.

Does it do any good to CONTACT LEGISLATORS who don't represent my district.
In some cases, it is helpful to contact legislators from other districts. For example, chairs of committees, or legislative leaders can often be educated or persuaded by a high volume of contacts. Most of the time, however, we emphasize contacts with your own legislators.

How do I find out what LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT I live in and who my legislators are?
Visit the legislative web page and go to "find district".

What is the Washington Afterschool Network?
The Children's Alliance is a partner in the Washington Afterschool Network, which promotes afterschool activities in Washington. To sign up for updates about afterschool activities, go to http://www.childrenshub.org/calliance/join.html and select the "Afterschool" subscription option under Policy Issues. For more information, about the Washington Afterschool Network, go to: http://www.schoolsoutwashington.org/wan.htm