Training community members for action: Washington's Action Training Network

The Children's Alliance in Washington State has established an ambitious goal of building the "Children's Action Network" (Network), a statewide network of children's advocates who regularly take action to inform public policy related to children and families. There are currently about 3,000 members in the Network. Policy advocacy training is an integral component of the Network providing advocates with necessary tips and tools for communicating with policy-makers. In order to meet key objectives and overcome significant challenges and barriers, the training program evolved greatly over the last five years. This article describes some of the challenges faced, particularly in reaching specific target populations, key strategies undertaken, and how the curriculum developed over time.