Does the Hill Watch YouTube? Marci McCoy-Roth, co-director, Kids Are Waiting campaign officer, The Pew Charitable Trusts [email_address]

Web Executive Seminars Online Video for Policy Impact October 29, 2008 National Press Club Washington, DC Learn more: www.forumone.com/video

How many kids are in the US foster care system? Half a million

How long will they stay in foster care? Two years on average.

About the Kids Are Waiting Campaign Created in 2007 to advance recommendations of Pew Commission on Children in Foster Care Policy Campaign Partners Media work Hill outreach

Created in 2007 to advance recommendations of Pew Commission on Children in Foster Care

Policy Campaign

Partners

Media work

Hill outreach

Youth Engagement Goals Create a sense of urgency. Put a face on the problem. Effectively use new multi-media platforms.

Create a sense of urgency.

Put a face on the problem.

Effectively use new multi-media platforms.

Video Campaign: Attempt #1 www.mystoryproject.org

www.mystoryproject.org

Video Campaign: Attempt #2

Video Campaign: Attempt #3 Targeting the Hill Tightened messages Shot videos during other planned events Improved distribution - use of YouTube

Tightened messages

Shot videos during other planned events

Improved distribution - use of YouTube

www.youtube.com/watch?v =GI89ORHVg-o

Challenges Filming & editing. Message focus. Institutional barriers. Costs.

Filming & editing.

Message focus.

Institutional barriers.

Costs.

Results: Does the Hill watch YouTube?

Outcome: Bill signed into law Oct 7 H.R. 6893, the "Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act of 2008" Supports adoptions, foster youth living with relatives and tribes access to foster care funds for the first time.

H.R. 6893, the "Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act of 2008"

Supports adoptions, foster youth living with relatives and tribes access to foster care funds for the first time.

Conclusion: Three Take-Aways Get legal permissions first. Stories work, policy jargon doesn’t. Have a plan for distribution.

Get legal permissions first.

Stories work, policy jargon doesn’t.

Have a plan for distribution.

www.kidsarewaiting.org

LEARN MORE: www.forumone.com/wes Web Executive Seminars