Informing & Educating your State Legislators

Audience: Tobacco control advocates who have restrictions and cannot lobby or advocate, but still want to be able to educate state elected officials and build relationships with them. Key Points: Typically, local and state health department tobacco control programs rely on outside organizations to be engaged in the political process, leaving the nuts and bolts of advocacy to voluntary organizations. But over the last 15 plus years, tobacco control advocates in California have found an innovative way to establish and build relationships with legislators, providing them with critical information about the successes and challenges of tobacco control programs, while not asking for any explicit support for specific legislation or for appropriations from the budget process. Capitol Information & Education (I&E) Days is now an annual event in California which increases the visibility in the legislature for tobacco control work and is a completely appropriate activity for tobacco tax funded programs. Educational Experience: Participants will learn about the behind the scenes steps that go into making the I&E Days event in California such a success. We’ll go over the preparation including materials, staffing, workgroups and follow-up. Benefits: Participants will be able to conduct an I&E Days event in their own state. Participants will leave with a copy of the brand new “Capitol Information & Education Days Guide.”