Do you want to have an impact on Missouri policy, but don’t know where to start? Forming a meaningful, productive connection with your legislator is step one. Join us on Feb. 3 for MCC’s Member Capitol Day in Jefferson City, Missouri, and schedule a meeting with your legislator and/or their staff now. If it’s your first time making contact, we’ve gathered some tips for connecting with your legislator here.
Find Your Legislator
- Go to house.mo.gov
- Scroll down to “Find Your Representative” and type in your address and city.
- Your designated representative and senator will pop up. Click on their names to go to their webpages, which have contact info and more.
Know Your Legislator
- Research their past votes, priorities and district.
- Find things you have in common that you can relate to.
- Think about how the issue you’re presenting impacts their community and why they personally should care.
Know Your Issue
- Prepare factual, relevant data. You can use organization-specific data if you want to show how an issue is impacting your organization or families in your area directly. Annie E. Casey Kids Count Data Center and Children’s Division Reports also offer helpful data.
- Share personal stories that show the child and family impact.
- Be in the know about current bills related to your policy priorities, including specific bill numbers.
Know Your Ask
- Know exactly what you want your legislator to do, and present your ask to them clearly and concisely. Some examples include co-sponsoring a resolution, voting yes or no, and introducing a bill.
Stay Connected
- Offer to be a resource for them moving forward about children and family services in your community. Legislators rely on community experts to inform them of issues in different areas.
- Don’t let your first meeting be a one-off. Send them a thank you email and invite them to coffee or invite them to a community event.
