The specific action steps for obtaining a proclamation will vary, depending on several factors, including the issue, your goals, the locality, and the executive office's process for requesting proclamations. (See Understanding the Context and Process for key steps in obtaining a proclamation). When you plan for a proclamation, there are certain general steps that should be incorporated:
Developing the Draft
Carefully crafted and compelling language is a core component of a proclamation. The foundation for the draft can draw from stakeholder input and a review of similar proclamations. The contents and requirements for a proclamation will vary, depending on the cause and the guidelines set forth by the executive office, but the following components often should be included in the submission:
- A brief summary of the event or organizations sponsoring it
- Text of the proclamation itself, which usually contains several "Whereas" clauses that provide facts or background on the issue (e.g., Whereas 15,000 children are substantiated victims of maltreatment in the State) followed by a statement declaring the month, week, or day of recognition
- The month, week, or day for the proclamation.
Contact the executive's office or visit its Web site for information specific to your locality.
Important considerations for developing the draft proclamation include:
- Have you looked at similar proclamations from other jurisdictions or related issues? Have you spoken with individuals or groups that have been successful in getting a proclamation?
- What data or credible anecdotes tell the most compelling story for the importance of your proclamation? How will these be presented in your draft?
- Will information about related laws, programs, or initiatives be presented in the proclamation?
- How will you obtain stakeholder input on the proposed proclamation (e.g., meetings, committees)?
- Who will take the lead in drafting the proclamation?
- Who will need to review and sign off on the proclamation before it is submitted to the executive's office?
Resources
The following are the instructions for obtaining a proclamation for several States (it is not a comprehensive list of all sites):
National Child Abuse Prevention Month: Proclamations
Child Welfare Information Gateway
Policy Matters: Setting and Measuring Benchmarks for State Policies (PDF - 1,541 KB)
Center for the Study of Social Policy
Proclamations Process Guide Tool Kit
Partners for Understanding Pain
Systems of Care Infrastructure Toolkit: Policy
National Technical Assistance and Evaluation Center for Systems of Care
Planning an Outreach Strategy
An effective outreach strategy can encourage the buy-in of stakeholders in the development of the proposed proclamation and also garner their support after its release. Organizations often hold events to publicize the proclamation and their cause. Outreach may be within your organization or to external partners who are involved in the planning or publicity of the proclamation, either as full partners or as-needed participants (e.g., writing a letter of support to the executive office).
Important considerations for developing an outreach strategy for your proclamation include:
- Outside of your partners, is there anyone that should be contacted about the proposed proclamation in order to garner support? How will they be contacted (e.g., phone calls, one-on-one meetings, group meetings)?
- Who needs to be notified about the proclamation after it is signed to publicize it? How will they be contacted (e.g., flyers, community meetings, Web sites, social media, mass media)?
- What activities will be planned to coincide with the signing of the proclamation (e.g., press conference, summit, fundraising walk, publication release)? Will you ask the executive or the executive's designee to play a role?
- Do you intend the proclamation to be part of a broader education or awareness program? How will it be linked to other ongoing initiatives?
- Should your team contact the media to publicize the enacted proclamation? If so, who will be responsible for media contact?
Resources
Gaining Buy-in From the Front Line During Times of Change (PDF - 440 KB)
National Technical Assistance and Evaluation Center for Systems of Care
Improving Child Welfare Outcomes Through Systems of Care: Systems of Care Guide: Guide for Strategic Planning (PDF - 4,696 KB)
National Technical Assistance and Evaluation Center for Systems of Care
The Role of Social Marketing in System Reform
Child Welfare Information Gateway
Systems of Care Infrastructure Toolkit: Communication
National Technical Assistance and Evaluation Center for Systems of Care
Use of Communication in Quality Improvement
Child Welfare Information Gateway
Identifying Resources
While obtaining a proclamation typically does not require funding, it is important to consider the monetary and nonmonetary resources that will be required throughout the development and outreach process. For example, funding could be required to implement events that accompany the signing of the proclamation. Nonmonetary resources may include tangible items, such as meeting space, as well as the intangibles that each partner brings to the table (e.g., knowledge of how to obtain a proclamation, personal connections to executive office, content-area expertise). As you identify the required resources for your initiative, you should keep in mind the partners that will be able to provide them.
Important considerations for identifying and obtaining resources include:
- What resources will be required to develop the proclamation?
- What resources will be required to implement any accompanying events or publicize the signed proclamation?
Resources
Community Partnerships: Improving the Response to Child Maltreatment
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Children's Bureau, Office on Child Abuse and Neglect
Chapter 3 provides an overview of how to build and sustain a community partnership, including securing funding and other resources.
The Community Toolbox
University of Kansas, Work Group for Community Health and Development
See Part L, which provides information about generating, managing, and sustaining financial resources, and Part M, which provides information about soliciting contributions and in-kind support.
Effective Financing Strategies for Systems of Care: Examples from the Field: A Resource Compendium for Developing a Comprehensive Financing Plan (PDF - 2,809 KB)
University of South Florida, Louis de la Parte Florida Mental Health Institute, Research and Training Center for Children's Mental Health
Grants.gov
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Funding
Child Welfare Information Gateway
Maximizing Program Services Through Private Sector Partnerships and Relationships: A Guide for Faith- and Community-Based Service Providers (PDF - 2,590 KB)
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Center for Substance Abuse Treatment
Systems of Care Infrastructure Toolkit: Finance
National Technical Assistance and Evaluation Center for Systems of Care