Building relationships with policy makers

Enter your zip code in the "Contact Congress" box to contact your elected representatives about the most current federal policy related to afterschool, and/or;

Write to your policy makers. Use one of the Sample Letters below to write to your U.S. Senators, Representatives and the President about the value of afterschool in your community:

• Letter from Parent(s)
• Letter from 21st Century Community Learning Center or other Afterschool Programs

You can look up contact information for the President or for your policy makers at www.house.gov/representatives or www.senate.gov.

Contact Congress. Ask school leaders, parents, community members, mayors, police chiefs—everyone that has an interest in keeping afterschool programs open—to send a message about the importance of afterschool programs. Set a goal of sending 25-50 messages. Find the address, phone number, and website for your Members of Congress by entering your zip code in the Contact Congress box. Use the tools below for your calls and emails:

• Sample script for calling Congress. A phone call is one of the most effective ways to voice your concerns to Congress. You can call the Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121 to reach the offices. If you are not sure of your Senators/Representatives' names, the Switchboard can tell you based on your zip code, or you can look them up online.

Contact the President. President Obama and his advisors are in the process of determining the budget for the 21st Century Community Learning Centers afterschool program. Be sure to make your voice heard on this matter by calling, writing or sending an email. Use the sample letter template or call script, or use our legislative action center to send an email in seconds.

• Sample script for calling the White House
• Sample letter to the President