FMC Tools and Tactics

PRODUCED MEDIA | EVENTS | NON-MEDIA BASED TACTICS

By driving the media’s attention to what is working, FMC inspires and encourages those engaged in promising practice to redouble their efforts. FMC can accelerate the execution of better policy and practice by highlighting and publicizing the effective strategies employed by others, thus helping to light the trail to what is possible. Conversely, FMC can shine a bright light on the system’s failings so as to inform and promote change.

Specifically FMC uses (i) Media Surges (an intense, directed blitz of media attention) and regular (ii) Issue Follow Up to focus key influencers to tell these stories. FMC works with existing media (providing research, story ideas, video etc.) to help them do their job better in reporting on the Foster Care system and also produces its own media to tell their story.

Tools employed in both tactics include:

PRODUCED MEDIA

1.   Blog Posts
2.   Op-Eds penned by FMC
3.    Newsletters
4.    Print stories penned by FMC
5.    Creation of Op-ed templates to be shared with and used by other advocates
6.    Speaking engagements
7.    TV and radio appearances
8.    Webinars
9.    B-Roll Video to support media stories
10. Video Stories
11. Edited Video Pitches
12. Dissemination and production of reports and research
13. Position Papers
14. Social media campaigns, including purchase of key words and Facebook advertisements

EVENTS

1.     Foster Care Summits
2.     Town Hall Meetings
3.     Press Conferences
4.     Rallies
5.     Reporter Round Tables
6.     Media Round-Ups (wherein members of the press and child welfare professionals can mingle)

NON-MEDIA BASED TACTICS

1.     Coalition building with child welfare advocacy organizations
2.     Creation of alliances with groups that represent populations that are over-represented in the foster care community (i.e, Congressional Black Caucus)
3.     Creation of alliances with key influencers: