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Basics Steps to Lobbying ~ Example of a Petition to Get it on the Ballot

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• Focusing on Child Welfare Systems: The Role of State Legislators (PDF file, 2005)

Basic Steps to Lobbying

An Idea Presented by a Group Member

We approach this whole thing about CPS issues differently here in AZ, NM, NV, and CA. those four states that we are currently lobbying in.

The way we do it is we follow the money; by that statement I mean you start at the top where the money begins to flow.

Find out first of all who is already in your corner.

• Go to your government page

•  Start punching in key words in your legislative side to locate bills that have passed into laws.

  • Key words like foster care, child abuse, foster parents, etc. you get the idea.

• Then search those bills, find the names of those individuals who wrote and submitted those bills.

  • There will be names coming up OVER and OVER and OVER.

• Write those names down.

• Those are the names you need to target

  • They are already on your side and are very aware of the problems that you are facing.

  • These people are the ones who are the key to getting to the appropriation committee.

  • The people who furnish the MONEY to these idiots who spend the money on frivolous expenditures.

  • Like instead of reunification of families ripping the children out of the home without any effort to try to help the parents with the problem that brought CPS into the picture in the first place, & re-routing that money for other uses.

  • Tell these people you would like to form a _*CPS reform committee*_ and YOU WOULD BE HAPPY TO SERVE this committee by personally BRINGING cases before them to hear the biological side of the story, as well as foster parents to testify as to the REAL side of the story, so that they can hear for themselves what is going on with the money that they are appropriating to this government arm. Have packets of information ready to give each member of this committee to BACK UP WHAT YOU ARE SAYING. FOLLOW THE MONEY.

  That is the only way to make them hear you.

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  Example of a Petition to Get it on the Ballot
  From the Innovative Ideas of Those in Oklahoma
  Presented by: Oklahoma Family Rights Coalition

  All,

  Let's all work together on this one.

  Attached is a copy of a ballot initiate petition we received from Clarence W. Cooper, II of OK.

  This is a great idea.  What we would like to see is an initiative like this started in each state.

  This is not difficult it just takes a little work ... or a lot of work.

  • First the people in each state will need to work together with one leader. Each state can choose the leader among themselves.

  • Next, you will need to contact your Secretary of State to find out the procedures in your state for pursuing a ballot initiative.. 

  There is usually a small to moderate fee involved in this, hopefully each state can pool funds to cover the fee.

  The attached petition from OK can be used as an example.

  Clarence Cooper is a valuable resource, his contact information is at the bottom of this email.

  If we start now we have a chance of getting our initiatives on the ballot in the next election.

  Any questions, call Clarence Cooper or Greg Smart.

  If we have NOT connected you with others in your state yet please send us an email with the two letter abbreviation of your state in the subject line and we will do so.

   

  Clarence W. Cooper, II
  President & Chairman
  Oklahoma Family Rights Coalition
  Phone: 405.253.5507
  E-mail: clcooper@...
  --
  "You begin saving the world by saving one man at a time; all else is grandiose romanticism or politics."  - Charles Bukowski
  
  Greg Smart
  Co-Founder
  No more Family InJustice
  Phone: (858) 568-5576
  Email: cpsvictim@...

  Download Ballot Initiative: PDF File
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  Related Reading and Links

• Best Interest of the Child State by State Summary as of 2005 (PDF file)
   

• The National Conference of State Legislatures http://www.ncsl.org/-  is a bipartisan organization that serves the legislators and staffs of the nation's 50 states, its commonwealths and territories.  NCSL provides research, technical assistance and opportunities for policymakers to exchange ideas on the most pressing state issues.

  • Child Welfare Caseworker Visits with Children and Parents

    • Innovations in State Policy

    • September, 2006

    • This report provides information about the potential of effective child welfare caseworker visits in achieving positive outcomes for children and families, both those receiving in-home and foster care services.  It also offers strategies for legislators who are interested in supporting child welfare agency administrators in enhancing the quality and frequency of those visits.

    • Table of Contents

      Introduction
      Child and Family Services at a Glance
      The Role of Child Welfare and the Importance of Caseworker Visits
      State Policies on Caseworker Visits for Foster Care
      Caseworker Tasks, Caseload and Caseworker Visits
      CFSR Findings Regarding Caseworker Visits
      Quality Caseworker Visits
      What Can State Legislators Do?
      Comprehensive Approach to Promoting Quality Caseworker Visits
      Notes

       PDF Version Full Report.  To view PDF files, you must install Adobe Acrobat Reader.

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