From: CWLA Member Exclusives
Subject: Local Advocacy Efforts

For more than 80 years, CWLA has been recognized and widely respected as a national voice for Children on Capitol Hill. The League offers its support and leaves its imprint on virtually every major piece of federal legislation affecting children and families.

But our members continue to tell us that in the current political and funding environment, strong federal advocacy is not enough. Agencies and the services they provide to children are more threatened than ever by what's happening on community, state, and regional levels. In response, CWLA has dramatically expanded its capacity to analyze issues and provide assistance on the local level:

• Within the last two years, the League has created two full-time advocacy positions devoted to regional and state issues, with another to be filled in early 2003.
  
  
• CWLA's volunteer "state leaders" have taken on crucial year-round roles, guaranteeing that local issues and insights always inform the development of the national agenda.
  
  
• Enhanced opportunities for board and member staff participation in regional public policy committees and affinity groups exist in every region.
  
  
• The development of CWLA members-only sites and regional web pages provide direct access to state and agency leaders, League staff, and a wide range of advocacy and policy information; soon, online posting and chat room capacity will be added.
  
  
• A new and complete basic advocacy curriculum based on the League's "Child Advocacy Primer" is being provided free to members, with access to training staff also available.