How To Plan A Successful National Drug Court Month

1. How To Plan A Successful National Drug Court Month

2. National Drug Court Month Resource Center www.NADCP.org/NDCM-12 • Largest annual celebration of Drug Courts in nation • Hundreds of media stories • Thousands of graduates • Massive impact on local, state and national support for Drug Courts

3. Presenters Tonya Voelker - Associate Director of Legislative Affairs, NADCP Connie Payne - Administrative Office of the Courts, KY Tina Messer - Regional Specialist, Statewide Services Division of Drug Court, KY Jennifer Grandal- Senior Court Operations Consultant Office of the State Courts Administrator, FL Michelle Jones - Adult Drug Court Coordinator, Osceola County Adult Drug Court, FL

4. Engaging Your Members of Congress • District Work Weeks: May 1-4 & May 21-30 • Perfect opportunity to meet with your Members or invite them to a graduation/event • Start early, it takes lots of contact to make it happen

5. Engaging Your Members of Congress • Step 1 – Call your Members Washington, DC office • http://capwiz.com/nadcp/home/ • Ask to speak with person responsible for Drug Court or Judicial Issues • Tell them who you are and that you would like to invite your Member to speak at a special National Drug Court Month event • You will be referred to scheduler

6. Engaging Your Members of Congress • Step 2 – Follow up • Within a week of your call, fax or email your invitation (sample letter in Field Kit) • A few days after sending your letter, make a follow up call to the Scheduler • Acknowledge the amount of requests, thank them for their time. • Mention other notable speakers attending, mention press will be there • If Scheduler says that they cannot attend, ask if there is another available date for future invite • If the Scheduler confirms they can attend, go over key logistics

7. Engaging Your Members of Congress • Step 3 – Reconfirm the visit • A few days before event, contact Scheduler to confirm date and time. • Step 4- Day of Event • Expect staff to accompany Member • Consider appointing a greeter/escort • Provide material on your court and the NADCP Capitol Hill Brief • Ensure Media is aware the Member is present

8. Engaging Your Members of Congress • Step 5 – Thank your Member for attending! • Following the event send a personalized thank-you note to your Member. • Include pictures of the event. • It is critical that they understand how much you appreciate their visit. • Now you have a relationship! Continue to keep them updated on your court and all of the great work you do.

9. We are here for you! Tonya Voelker Associate Director of Legislative Affairs, NADCP tvoelker@nadcp.org 571-384-1863 Chris Deutsch Director of Communications, NADCP cdeutsch@nadcp.org 571-384-1857 Connie Payne Administrative Office of the Courts, KY conniepayne@kycourts.net 502-573-2350 x2256 Jennifer Grandal Office of the State Courts Administrator, FL grandalj@flcourts.org 850.922.5101 Tina Messer Regional Specialist, Statewide Services Division of Drug Court, KY tinamesser@kycourts.net 606-627-8236 T. Michelle Jones Adult Drug Court Coordinator, FL ctdcmj1@ocnjcc.org 407-742-2431