NASW-Illinois Chapter Advocacy Day
REGISTRATION
Individual Registration for Advocacy Day
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Cost: $5.00
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DEADLINE TO REGISTER IS 9:00am Central Time on Tuesday, April 7, 2026*
*Registrants received after deadline are not guaranteed to be placed in groups to meet with their direct legislators.
Register to Vote/Update Your Voting Address
To ensure that your day of lobbying is effective, we encourage all participants who want to vote in Illinois to register to vote. If you are already registered to vote, check to make sure your voting record has the most up-to-date address on file. You can register to vote in Illinois and update or check on your voting address at https://ova.elections.il.gov/.
Note on Registering to Vote: If you aren't yet registered to vote in Illinois, aren't sure if you're registered to vote, or need to update your voting address, you can register to do so online now before March 1st or after March 18th. The above link will close at 11:59pm on 03/01/26 and reopen on 03/19/26. During this time, you will be required to register in person at your local polling place through March 18, 2026. The above link will reopen at 12:00am on March 19, 2026.
Group Registration for Advocacy Day
Schools who would like to pre-pay for their students can reach out to the chapter with the expected number of students participating in the event, and we can send an invoice for payment to allow for students from that school/program to have the $5.00 registration fee waived. PLEASE NOTE: The deadline to request group registration for your school was Friday, March 13, 2026.
GET READY FOR ADVOCACY DAY!
Keep checking back with this page as more information and materials are uploaded!
As you prepare to participate this year's Advocacy Day, it’s important to understand that the legislative landscape is constantly evolving. Because the Illinois General Assembly moves quickly, we’re not always able to confirm which bills will be active or up for a vote on the day of our event. We’ll share the most up-to-date information during our pre-Advocacy Day training, but please be aware that priorities may shift even up to the day-of.
To help you feel confident and ready to engage with legislators, we’ve compiled a set of resources to guide your preparation. We strongly encourage you to review and complete the items below in advance so you can make the most of your time at the Capitol and effectively represent the profession.
1. Download the CapitolConnect App
Registrants will receive an e-mail providing instructions on how to download the CapitolConnect Illinois app. All
Advocacy Day factsheets, maps of the Capitol and Stratton buildings, FAQs, and more will be uploaded to the CapitolConnect Illinois App. Be sure to download the app before you get to the Capitol!
2. Learn About the Bills
For many, this may be your first time visiting the capitol and seeing policy in action. The Illinois General Assembly moves quickly, and we’re not always able to confirm which bills will be active or up for a vote on the day of our event. We’ll share links below and in the app (see above) to help you learn about the bills we’ll be asking you to advocate for during our pre-Advocacy Day training, but please be aware that priorities may shift even up to the day-of.
Pre-Advocacy Day Training: Monday, April 6, 2026, from 12:00 to 12:30pm CT via Zoom
A 30-minute Pre-Advocacy Day Training will take place live virtually and offer a quick overview of the bills most likely to be active during Advocacy Day. A link to the training will be e-mailed to all registrants, and a link to the recording will be e-mailed to all registrants after the training for viewing.
Factsheets About the Bills:
Read the Full Text of the Bill:
Search for any current legislation by bill number on the ILGA website.
3. Find Your Elected Officials
Go to IL State Board of Elections website to find your elected officials. You'll also be e-mailed your assigned lobby leader groups to meet with your elected officials. If you're not registered to vote in Illinois, use your local Illinois mailing address.
4. Make a Plan to Arrive On Time
We expect over 400 participants at this year’s Advocacy Day, so plan to arrive early (approx. 20 minutes) to allow extra time for parking and walking to the meet-up point to find your lobby leader group. This ensures that you have enough time to run through a quick lobbying lesson with your lobby leader before walking to the Capitol.
Date: Wednesday, April 15, 2026
Meet-Up Time: 9:00am (SHARP!)
Meet-Up Point: State House Inn & Conference Center (101 E Adams St, Springfield, IL 62701)
Individual & Bus Parking: Free individual & bus parking will be available at the Capitol Complex Visitors Center, 425 S College St, Springfield, IL 62704 (10-minute walk). This lot will likely fill up quickly on the day of the event.
Alternate paid parking garages include:
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GMC Parking, 318 N 1st St, Springfield, IL 62702 (10-minute walk)
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Plaza Parking Garage, 767 E Washington St, Springfield, IL 62701 (15-minute walk)
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Abraham Lincoln Museum Parking, 500 E Madison St, Springfield, IL 62701 (20-minute walk)
Other Information
Suggested Dress:
Business professional—remember you're meeting with your state legislators and representing the profession! We also recommend sensible walking shoes as you'll be walking around the capitol and adjacent buildings in various locations.
Lunch on Your Own:
Participants should prepare to bring a sack lunch or bring money to purchase a lunch. We strongly recommend participants to eat with their lobby groups so as not to lose contact with their lobby leader in the likely event a legislator’s schedule suddenly changes their appointment time or allows them to be available to meet with constituents. The capitol has an on-site cafeteria located in the basement of the William G. Stratton Building that can be accessed using the underground tunnel beneath the main stairs; otherwise, you can walk outside between buildings but will need to pass through security again.
Illinois Capitol Building Map:
For the most up-to-date maps, use the maps in the CapitolConnect Illinois app.
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Map of Stratton Building
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Map of Capitol Building
Committee Hearings:
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Senate Commitee Hearings - Click on "Committee Hearings," then Today.
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House Committee Hearings - Click on "Committee Hearings," then Today.
NASW-Illinois Chapter Bill Tracker:
The NASW-Illinois Chapter Bill Tracker gives a relative real-time update on bills the chapter is tracking during the current Illinois legislative session. It provides a list of legislative proposals the chapter is currently monitoring or has taken a stance on during the current legislative session. Click here to access the NASW-Illinois Chapter Bill Tracker.
EVENT DETAILS
The NASW-Illinois Chapter Advocacy Day is our annual day of action taking place in
Springfield, Illinois. Participants meet with their local legislators to speak on current
emerging issues in the state of Illinois as well as to lobbying for or against legislation
that may be up for vote. This is our day to unite our voices with hundreds of other social
work colleagues on issues that affect the social work profession!
Advocacy Day attendees are split up by their senate and house districts and led by an
NASW-Illinois Chapter Lobby Leader to meetings at the Illinois State Capitol building with
elected officials. A brief, 30-minute pre-event virtual training will educate all participants
about the anticipated bills up for vote the week of Advocacy Day; those who cannot
participate in the live training will be able to access a recording of training.
At Advocacy Day, participants will be trained by NASW-Illinois Chapter Lobby Leaders on
effective lobbying strategies before heading to the capitol to meet with state legislators.
Advocacy Day is a ZERO PROFIT event for the NASW-Illinois Chapter.
All fees cover a portion of the total costs.
Pre-Advocacy Day Training
Date: Monday, April 6, 2026
Time: 12:00–12:30pm via Zoom*
*A recording will be made available to all who cannot participate live virtually.
Participation in our pre-Advocacy Day training to learn about the bills
you’ll be advocating for on Advocacy Day is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
This 30-minute training will take place live virtually on Monday, April 6,
2026, from 12:00 to 12:30pm via Zoom. A recording of the training will
also be made available to those who are unable to participate in the live training. Links to participate in this training will be e-mailed to all registrants.
2026 NASW-Illinois Chapter Advocacy Day
Date: Wednesday, April 15, 2026
Meet-Up Time: 9:00am (SHARP!)
Meet-Up Point: State House Inn & Conference Center, 101 E Adams St, Springfield, IL 62701
Advocacy Day participants should arrive at the meet-up point by 9:00am to find their assigned lobby groups. Assigned lobby groups and group lobby leaders will be e-mailed to all participants approximately 2 to 4 days before the event. Groups will be labeled by lobby group numbers and spread throughout the space. Lobby leaders will be leading participants through a quick training on how to lobby with legislators before heading to the capitol. Departures to the capitol will vary depending on legislator meeting times.
Lobbying at Capitol: Illinois State Capitol Building, 401 South 2nd Street, Springfield IL 62701
Lobbying Time: Between 9:00am–3:00pm
Participants will walk with their assigned Lobby Leader groups to the capitol for lobbying. Each group will have different appointment times with their legislators for lobbying. Groups may meet with or stop into the offices of other legislators as well as listen in on committee hearings for both the Illinois House and Senate.
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Check https://my.ilga.gov/ for the latest committee hearing times.
Lunch on Your Own: Participants should prepare to bring a sack lunch or bring money to purchase a lunch. We strongly recommend participants to eat with their lobby groups so as not to lose contact with their lobby leader in the likely event a legislator’s schedule suddenly changes their appointment time or allows them to be available to meet with constituents. The capitol has an on-site cafeteria located in the basement of the William G. Stratton Building that can be accessed using the underground tunnel beneath the main stairs; otherwise, you can walk outside between buildings but will need to pass through security again.
LOBBY LEADERS PROGRAM
Essential to the success of our annual Advocacy Day is the
NASW-Illinois Chapter Lobby Leaders Program. This one-day program
trains individuals how to effectively lobby, become familiar with local
state senate and house representatives and other elected officials, and
understand how to navigate advocacy tools to effectively represent
social work priorities. On Advocacy Day, newly trained NASW-IL Lobby
Leaders will help educate and lead social workers through the state
capitol to scheduled meetings with their senate and house legislators.
The deadline to apply to become a lobby leader has passed.
>> Learn more about the NASW-Illinois Chapter Lobby Leaders Program
>> Apply to Become an NASW-IL Lobby Leader
