Advocacy Materials

Advocacy represents the strategies devised, actions taken, and solutions proposed to influence decision-making at the local, state, and federal level to create positive change for people and their environment.

Sometimes the most difficult part of advocacy is just knowing where to start. Everyone needs to be involved, and a single voice is a powerful tool. Being a successful advocate requires more than the occasional phone call or letter. Your legislators and policy makers are real people, so work to create a lasting relationship with them. 

It only takes one person to initiate change and everyone has the ability to impact how a legislator feels about an issue. It takes just a few moments to have meaningful interaction with an elected official and to begin to build a long-lasting rapport with that person and their office staff.

Advocacy Alerts

2013 State Aging Programs Allocations Fact Sheet
ADPAW Census-Shift Funding Talking Points
Family Care Expansion Alert April 2013
Letter Sent to Governor Walker Regarding Family Care Expansion
Older Americans Act Program Funding Alert April 2013
Specialized Transportation Assistance Alert April 2013

Advocacy Toolkit

The materials in the advocacy toolkit were developed to provide people with tips and tools for communicating with legislators and policy makers, as well as rules and language regarding advocacy vs. lobbying. In the toolkit you’ll find documents to help develop your strategies, as well as fact sheets and position papers that will provide you with the statistical data and ammunition you may need when speaking with your legislators.

Do I Need to Obtain a License to Lobby?
Does Your Organization Need to Register as a Lobbying Principal?
Wisconsin's Lobby Law: How Does It Affect You and Your Organization?
Excerpts From the National Council on Aging's Advocacy Toolkit
Governor's 2011-2013 Biennial Budget: Long-Term Care
Guide to Effective Advocacy
Take the "A" Train: Get on Board and Learn About the Issues
The Power of One! Being an Effective Advocate
State Senior Community Services Program Issue Paper
Working With Legislators: What Can I Do and How Do I Do It Presentation

Nutrition Program Advocacy

Administration on Aging Elderly Nutrition Program Fact Sheet
Title III Funding Impact
WI Association of Nutrition Directors' Letter to Legislators
WI Elderly Nutrition Program Issue Paper

Transportation Advocacy

85.21 Data for JFC Hearings April 2013
85.21 Specialized Transportation Advocacy Alert December 2012
The Case for Keeping Transit in the Transportation Fund 2012-2013
Carrie Porter’s Testimony to JFC April 2013
Non-Emergency Medical Transportation Medicaid Brokerage Talking Points December 2012
Talking Points for AB 40 Transportation Budget JFC Hearings April 2013
Transportation Talking Points and Statistics April 2012
WI NEMT Alliance Talking Points December 2012
WI NEMT Alliance Press Conference Handout December 2012

Other Materials

Thank-You Letter to Governor Walker Regarding SeniorCare
PowerPoint from the 2010 Wisconsin Aging Network Conference

This presentation was from K.J. Hertz's presentation titled No-Fear Advocacy: You Have the Power—Use It. K.J. is the Associate Director of Public Policy and Legislative Affairs from the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging (n4a).
Greater Wisconsin Agency on Aging Resources is a member of the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging