Policy Making Basics

How is Policy Made? 

Generally speaking, elected officials and their staff make policy. They appropriate money for afterschool programs through school, city, state and federal budgets. They also decide how funds can be used, what training or supports may be offered and what activities should take place in afterschool programs they fund. They are the policy makers.

 It is also the job of these policy makers to represent you – the constituents who voted them into office.  Therefore your opinion on issues is extremely important to them.  If they don’t respond to your viewpoints, they are likely to lose their jobs. 

That’s why it is so important to advocate, to tell your elected officials about issues that matter to you. 

What Does It Mean to Advocate?

You are advocating every time you press your point of view on an issue, whether it is what to eat for dinner or how much the federal government should invest in afterschool.

Your Advocacy Can Shape Policy

When you express your opinion to your elected officials, you can help shape the policy they create.  Remember, they were  voted into office to represent the voices of the community when making decisions on policy issues.

You know firsthand the profound impact afterschool has on the lives of children, their families and your community. Because you have a story to tell about afterschool, you can be the most effective advocate for sustaining and expanding support of afterschool programs in your community.

The future of afterschool programs lies in the level of commitment that public officials make to fund programs. Your voice will impact their level of commitment.

Are You Allowed to Advocate for Afterschool?

Anyone can advocate.  If, however, your program is funded by federal grants, you may not use your federal dollars to lobby elected officials, although you can communicate the successes of your programs and hopes for continued support. If your position or entire program is federally funded, you will need to know what you can and can't do when it comes to elections and lobbying. View our election and lobbying guideline kits for more tips on what you can and can't do as a non profit.

When to Advocate

The job of an advocate is never done.  It’s important to remind policy makers year-round of the importance of afterschool programs.  But, it’s helpful to understand the process of policy making, so that you can time your efforts at key decision points in the process.  Making your voices heard at key moments is critical. 

Learn how a bill become a law to see where the key decision points fall in the federal policy making process.  For background on how state budgets are created, go to our State Policy Center.

For more ideas on how to take action, and key advocacy dates for this year, visit our Take Action Center.