• Identify yourself as a voting constituent in their district
• Thank them for their service, particularly during this challenging time
• Express your concern about retaining adequate services for Oregon’s most vulnerable citizens: children with severe mental health challenges and people of all ages with severe developmental disabilities
• Acknowledge that the state has severe budget problems, that they have a tough task, and ask that they protect services to these vulnerable populations to the greatest degree possible when they make budget decisions
• Note that non-profit human service organizations are a good deal economically for Oregon’s taxpayers – they are efficient and are able to provide services at a much lower cost than if government provided the same service
• Note that, with the exception of the Oregon State Hospital (mental health for adults), Oregon has closed all major institutions for children’s mental health and for people with developmental disabilities so the non-profit community services are really the only safety net left for these vulnerable populations. While we understand that cuts will be necessary, those too deep will seriously damage, or in some cases eliminate, the community infrastructure to support service delivery, for example Community Inclusion Services
• Give them your contact information and offer to be an informational resource to them as they proceed through the legislative session
• Thank them again for their public service!

Personal contact in person or by phone is the most effective. Next most effective is a personal letter on your own stationery. The least effective strategy is an e-mail.
If you don’t know who represents your district, enter your information on the state legislature website to find out.

Here are some additional resources and fact sheets:
Albertina Kerr Day Services Information Sheet
DD Coalition Fact Sheet on Revenue/Service Reductions as proposed in Governor Kitzhaber’s budget