Promoting CACFP: 5 Easy Steps to a Successful Hill Visit
Developing a relationship with your member of Congress and their key staff will be critical
to promoting, perfecting and protecting CACFP this year. At the annual conference in Washington,
we developed five easy steps to a successful visit with your Congressperson or key congressional staff.
The 5 steps listed below worked well for us during the many congressional visits that took place during the conference. They should work equally well for those of you planning to visit with your Congressional members during thier time back home. If necessary, you can also use these steps on the phone with the Congressional member or staff person.
to promoting, perfecting and protecting CACFP this year. At the annual conference in Washington,
we developed five easy steps to a successful visit with your Congressperson or key congressional staff.
The 5 steps listed below worked well for us during the many congressional visits that took place during the conference. They should work equally well for those of you planning to visit with your Congressional members during thier time back home. If necessary, you can also use these steps on the phone with the Congressional member or staff person.
- Tell them who you are.
- Tell them the name of your organization and let them know that your organization sponsors the Child and Adult Care Food Program. Provide them with a context for what you do by explaining the number of providers and children you serve. Since many of them vote, the fact that you provide their constituents with a valuable service matters. If you are also representing your state sponsors' association, let the Congressperson or staff person know the total numbers of sponsors as well as the total number of providers and children your association members serves.
- Tell them why you have come to visit. You want them to know about the importance of CACFP and CACFP sponsoring organizations in their community. Share any materials you have about CACFP and your organization. Include any pictures you have of children eating in family child care homes participating in CACFP. Show samples of your nutrition education materials.
If the Congressperson or staff person expresses concern about integrity in CACFP you can calm their concerns by setting the record straight about what problems, if any, exist in your state. Let them know that the problems are being taken care of through the Management Improvement Initiative which Congress funded as part of the Child Nutrition Reauthorization. In addition, you can share any procedures or actions your sponsorship or association has taken to address integrity issues in your state. - Tell them what you want them to do. You want them to understand any concerns you have about CACFP and any recommendations that you have for improving the program.
- Let them know you will stay in touch. Leave an Awareness Leave Behind: Make sure that you give them your contact information: Name and Number. Thank them for their time. Examples of Awareness Leave Behinds: FRAC Sheet Awareness Leave Behind
