A Beginner’s Guide to Policy Advocacy

The State Index is not just meant as a resource of information for information’s sake. It is the hope of True Colors United and the National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty that readers can use this report as a tool to make the case for better policies in their own communities through education and advocacy. Often, achieving consensus among policy experts is only the first step to changing laws and policies to better address an issue.

Advocates must be prepared to collaborate with public officials and other influential voices in the policymaking process, engage with the media, and educate the public about the policy goals they wish to achieve. Sometimes, changing state policy can be as simple as starting a conversation with the right person in a governor’s office or a state legislature. More commonly, it can be as complicated as developing and executing a large-scale public campaign.