Online Advocacy Center

When Texans come together to address the big issues kids face, the results are far-reaching and long-lasting.
Here we offer tools and tips to help you effect policy change, just as advocates for children have been doing for years. Compared to a generation ago, many more children today benefit from laws that make homes, roads, schools, and communities safer and more child-friendly. None of this happened by accident. It happened because real people, who care about children worked together to make those laws a reality and to hold leaders accountable.

There's still work to be done, and kids need you to stand up for them today. The links below share what you can do as an individual or as a nonprofit organization. For more advocacy resources, check out the Texans Care for Children Advocacy Manual and Beyond the Hype: A Social Media Guide for Nonprofits and Advocates, plus our webinars on parent advocacy, conducting editorial board visits, and more. (All these resources are available in complete form, for free to members here.)

NEW: Need a quick primer on speaking out for your own kids? Download our 1-page tip sheet (PDF format):
Advocacy Tips for Parents

Name	�
Why Advocate?	Why speaking out is the best way to create a real impact for children.
10 Ways to Advocate	Ways you can take action now to better children's lives and Texas' future.
Nonprofits and Advocacy	Nonprofit organizations can and should be part of the policy process.
Texas' Process for Making Laws	How things work here in Texas and when to make your voice heard.
Your Texas Leaders	Individuals, agencies, and committees who affect policies for children in Texas.
Elevator Speech	Make your case quickly and effectively to officials, reporters, or anyone else.
Candidate Forums	Before an election, get candidates thinking about children's needs.
Voting	How to elect people who share your values.
Communicating with Elected Officials	What to do when you call, email, or write to elected officials.
Visiting Elected Officials	Have a productive meeting with your representative with these tips.
Letters to the Editor	Tips for getting your letter into print and attention to your issue.
Building Relationships with Elected Officials	Ensure your representatives know what matters to you.
Editorial Board Meetings	Learn about meeting with your local newspaper editorial board to get the paper's official support for children.
Writing an op-ed	Put your own opinion in the pages of your local newspaper with a column on kids.