Launch a series of hearings or forums around the state.

• Identify locations around the state with concentrations of high rates of teen pregnancy and with promising programs to highlight.
• Hold hearings in youth-centered locations, such as schools, recreation centers, and teen-focused health centers.
• Use the hearings to highlight important themes related to preventing teen pregnancy, including involving parents, using youth development as a prevention strategy, involving men and boys, and listening to and engaging youth.
• Structure the hearings so that youth lead the conversation and that other community members, such as religious or business leaders, are involved. A hearing is an excellent opportunity to include new people in teen pregnancy prevention.
• Frame the hearing as a learning experience for your legislators or as an opportunity for them to take leadership roles in teen pregnancy prevention. They could applaud promising programs and citizens who are taking a leadership role in this issue and challenge others to do the same.

Hold a legislative briefing.

• Have a well-respected legislator extend the invitation to his or her colleagues. It may help to have the chair of a legislative committee (i.e., health, welfare, education, or appropriations) sponsor the briefing.
• Prepare a briefing book or a one-page fact sheet to disseminate. A briefing book allows for the inclusion of local (county/city) data, so that each legislator can learn about his or her district. Some state legislators have indicated that one comprehensive briefing book per year is helpful, supplemented by one-page information sheets throughout the year.
• Hold the briefing at or near the state capitol building so that it is easily accessible.
• Provide lunch at the briefing. Meals are a draw for legislators and provide an informal opportunity for them to interact with providers and youth.
• Have youth present and answer questions at the hearing.

Organize a series of site visits for local policymakers.

• Target all policymakers from an area, including the state Congressional delegation, state legislators, mayors, city council representatives, school board representatives, and school superintendents.
• Identify a variety of sites in different sections of their districts.
• Ask prominent community or business leaders to extend the invitation to policymakers and to join them on the visits.
• Have a brief presentation that includes youth.
• Take lots of pictures and distribute them widely to participants and to local newsletters.