What is Advocacy?
In the context of PTA, it is supporting and speaking up for children—in schools, in communities, and before government bodies and other organizations that make
decisions affecting children.
For over 100 years, PTA volunteers have used their time, energy, experience and knowledge to bring about changes in laws, policies and programs for the benefit of
children. National PTA has a long, successful history of influencing federal policy to promote the education, health, and well-being of all children—resulting in kindergarten classes, child labor laws, school lunch programs, a juvenile justice system, and strengthened parent-teacher relationships. PTA continues that legacy today by fighting for change under its federal public policy priorities;
- Family Engagement in Education
- Opportunity and Equity for all Children
Advocacy can be broken down into basic parts: the Advocate, the Issue, the Act and the
Decision-maker.
- Anyone who speaks for another is an advocate. PTA members are advocates for children and their parents.
- PTA members advocate on a wide varietyof child-related issues: education,
health, nutrition, safety, juvenile protection, welfare reform, parent and
family life, to name a few. - Advocacy issimply communicating about an issue for which PTA has adopted a position by speaking, writing, phoning, faxing or emailing.
The purpose of the communication can be to inform, educate, persuade or
increase the level of awareness about the issue.The decision-maker is any individual or body that has the power to address the issue or solve the problem.
Decision-makers include elected and appointed officials, legislative bodies, school boards, county commissioners, and judges.
Every PTA member can be an effective advocate. The process is always the same: identify, research and understand the issue; identify, research and understand the decision-maker; and develop and communicate the message. The process is
not always easy, and dedication and perseverance are usually required. Sometimes success is achieved quickly, sometimes slowly
PTA Advocacy: A Legacy in Leadership
National PTA is proud to announce
the release of the video, PTA Advocacy: A Legacy in Leadership. Each
PTA state/congress will receive one DVD copy of PTA Advocacy: A Legacy in
Leadership by November 2011. In addition, the video has been uploaded here
for PTA members to view and share!
PTA Advocacy: A Legacy in Leadership can be used by state, council,
and local PTAs to educate and recruit potential PTA members, increase the
advocacy capacity of current PTA members, and increase sponsorship dollars.
For more information on this new PTA advocacy history DVD, please contact
Elizabeth Rorick, director of government affairs, at erorick@pta.org.
| Download the WMV Video |
