The welfare of children is a top priority at Children's Hospital of The King's Daughters. We take pride in being advocates for children and encourage others to participate in children's advocacy, too. We know that health care research, education programs and local, state and federal policies and laws make a difference in children's lives. And we understand that promoting a positive and healthy environment for our children will help create a better future for all.

There are many ways you can help children and support the mission of Children’s Hospital of The King’s Daughters including participating in grassroots initiatives, volunteering, letter-writing or just exercising your right to vote. This section provides education about advocacy and avenues of participation for you to help make a difference in the lives of many children.

Hot on the Hill

There are several child-related issues that our state and federal governments are working on this legislative session:

• Strengthening children's health coverage by providing better Medicaid reimbursements to the doctors and hospitals that care for these children and by making sure more children have access to medical care through health insurance.
• Strengthening investment in pediatric graduate medical education.
• Strengthening investment in pediatric research by providing more research initiatives, better research training and by enrolling more children in clinical trials to test medications.
• Strengthening public health protections for children through child abuse prevention, immunizations, and firearms safety.

For information about these issues and how you can help, or contact Season Roberts at 757.668.7098 or email season.roberts@chkd.org

Get Out and Vote

Children can't vote. They have no voice in political debates unless we speak for them. Children’s Hospital of The King’s Daughters encourages individuals over 18 to register to vote and to exercise their right as an American.

• Am I eligible to vote?
  You are eligible to vote in federal elections if you are a citizen of the United States and at least 18 years of age by the next election. To vote in Virginia elections you must also be a resident of the Commonwealth of Virginia.
• When do I register?
  You may register year-round except for during the 28 days prior to a general or primary election or the 13 days prior to a special election.
• How do I register?
  You must register in person at your local registrar's office. To find your local registrar's office, contact the Virginia State Board of Elections in Richmond at 800-552-9745. Once you have found your local registrar's office, they can then give you information on:
  • Location and hours of places where you can register to vote.
  • Obtaining an application for an absentee ballot.
  • The form you need to move your registration from one Virginia county or city to another.
  • Assistance available to voters at the polls.
  Virginia Voter Registration Applications have to be filled out before you are registered to vote. They can be picked up at the registrar's office or at any DMV office, military recruitment offices, public assistance agency offices, public schools, and public libraries.
• What information is needed on the voter registration form?
  You must provide your full legal name, home address, birth date, Social Security number and complete address of any previous registration. And remember to answer the yes or no questions on the applications. They are: (1) Are you a citizen of the United States? (2) Have you ever been convicted of a felony? (3) Have you ever been judged by a circuit court to be mentally incapacitated?

Contact Your Representatives

Contacting your representatives in the Virginia General Assembly and Congress is easy. These are people you can call, write or e-mail with a concern about a children's issue.

To find your representatives in the state legislature, go to legis.state.va.us and click on "Who's my legislator?" To find your Congressional representatives, visit www.house.gov/writerep.

When writing your legislators and policy-makers, the letter should express your views and be concise, informed and polite. Focus on one issue or piece of legislation rather than a list of various items. Increase the effectiveness of your letter with the following tips:

• Your opening
  Introduce yourself as a constituent. Thank the legislator for any recent child-friendly legislation that he or she supported. Remind the legislator of any recent contact you had with him or her.
• State your purpose
  Clearly state the purpose of your letter. Assert your position and what action you would like to see the legislator take. If applicable, mention a specific bill number.
• State the facts
  Back up your position with facts. If possible, provide facts showing the direct affect in the legislator's home town or state.
• Tell your personal story
  Include a succinct personal story that supports your position.
• Ask for a response
  Request a response, asking for your legislator's position on the issue and further action.
• Your closing
  Print your name and full address. Include relevant professional or organizational affiliation.
• Keep it short!
  Ideally, a letter of this nature should not be more than one page long. Short letters have the most impact.

Helpful Links

• Voices for Virginia's Children
• National Association of Children's Hospitals and Related Institutes
• Voices for America's Children (formerly the National Association of Child Advocates)
• Families USA
• Children's Defense Fund