2015 VICPP Policy Priority - Draft Survey 9
SECTION I. Introduction
Welcome to the Virginia Interfaith Center's 2015 Annual Policy Priority Survey! Each year we seek the input of Center members, defined as those who contribute to the Center financially, to assist us in prioritizing the issues to focus upon for our policy development work.
This year we are also reaching out to those who have been members previously and/or are supporters of the Center’s work their interests and actions. Survey results from members, supporters, and funding sources will ultimately provide significant direction in our policy development focus and efforts. Particular attention will be paid to member responses as they are most invested in the work of the Center.
Please answer all questions as honestly and realistically as possible according to the mission of the center outlined as follows.
The mission of the Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy is to empower Virginians to advocate for a world where people of all faiths cooperate to create compassionate communities that are just, peaceful, equitable and sustainable.We drive systemic policy change through advocacy and activism our faith community networks and with other statewide non-profit policy development organizations. Together we endeavor to:
● LEARN about the issues challenging our communities
● PRAY for guidance and discernment, and
● ACT to make Virginia a more just and compassionate Commonwealth of Virginia.
Ultimately, the survey helps us focus our work, improve what we do, and better engage people of faith so that we may most appropriately and effectively deploy our resources.
Thank you for taking the time to tell us about the concerns and the vision that you have for faithfully improving your local community and our great Commonwealth.
SECTION II. Identifying Information
Q1. Please provide your information to enable the Center to update its records. We will not share this information with anyone and your individual responses will be kept confidential.
● Name:
● Denominational & Congregational Affiliation:
● Address:
● City/Town:
● State:
● ZIP:
● Email Address:
● Phone Number:
Q2. Are you in a leadership position within your faith community?
● Yes
● No
Q3A. Have you made a donation to the Virginia Interfaith Center at some point during 2014 or 2015?
● Yes
● No
Q3B. If you are a member, how long have you been a member of the Virginia Interfaith Center?
● 0-1 years
● 2-5 years
● 6-10 years
● 11-20 years
● 20+ years
Q4A. What motivated you to become a member of the Center?
Q4B. Which category below includes your age?
● < 21
● 21-29
● 30-39
● 40-49
● 50-59
● 60-69
● 70-79
● 80-85
● > 85
Q5. Which race/ethnicity do you most identify with?
● African American / Black
● American Indian or Alaska Native
● Arab or Middle Eastern
● Asian
● Hispanic or Latino
● Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander
● Other
● Two or more races
● White
Q6. What is your gender?
● Female
● Male
● Transgender
SECTION III. Broad Policy Areas
The work of the Center is divided into broad categories. Eight categories are listed below. We would like to know which how you feel about each.
Q7A. Please rate in importance to you the eight broad policy categories for the Center. (Choose one of the following for each: Not At All Important, Somewhat Important, Important, Very Important, or Extremely Important)
● Civic Engagement
● Criminal Justice
● Environment/Climate
● Gun Violence Prevention
● Health Care
● Housing
● Immigration
● Poverty/Hunger
Q7B. Which of the eight broad policy categories for the Center is most important to you? (Choose one)
● Civic Engagement
● Criminal Justice
● Environment/Climate
● Gun Violence Prevention
● Health Care
● Housing
● Immigration
● Poverty/Hunger
Q7C. Why is that road policy category most important to you? ______
SECTION IV. Specific Policy Issues
Please rate the importance to you of specific issues of the broad policy areas as defined in the following questions.
Q8. Please rate how important each "Civic Engagement" related policy issues are to you. (Choose one of the following for each: Not At All Important, Somewhat Important, Important, Very Important, or Extremely Important)
● Voting Rights
● Voter Registration
● Transparency in Government
● Redistricting
● Religious freedom
Q9. Please rate how important each "Criminal Justice" related policy issues are to you. (Choose one of the following for each: Not At All Important, Somewhat Important, Important, Very Important, or Extremely Important)
● Restoration of Rights
● Ending Solitary Confinement
● Death Penalty
● Enhancing Re-Entry
● Reforming Juvenile Sentencing Guidelines
● Sentencing Reform
● Human Trafficking
Q10. Please rate how important each "Environment/Climate" related policy issues are to you. (Choose one of the following for each: Not At All Important, Somewhat Important, Important, Very Important, or Extremely Important)
● Global Warming
● Clean Water (e.g., Chesapeake Bay)
● Renewable Energy
● Dirty Energy (i.e., Uranium Mining, Fracking, Coal-Fired Plants, Pipelines, Offshore Drilling)
Q11. Please rate how important each "Gun Violence" related policy issues are to you. (Choose one of the following for each: Not At All Important, Somewhat Important, Important, Very Important, or Extremely Important)
● Universal Background Checks/Closing Loopholes
● Gun Regulation (i.e., amount of ammunition/types of firearms)
● Restrictions on Gun Ownership/Possession
Q12. Please rate how important each "Health Care" related policy issues are to you. (Choose one of the following for each: Not At All Important, Somewhat Important, Important, Very Important, or Extremely Important)
● Expand Medicaid to Close the Health Insurance Coverage Gap
● Ensuring Health Care is Affordable (i.e., health insurance premiums, co-payments, & other out of pocket costs)
● Ensure an Adequate Number and Type of Health Care Providers are Accessible
● Paid Sick Days
● Payment Reform (i.e., provider payment is linked to providing quality services & patient outcomes)
● Access to Mental Health Services
● Access to Dental Care
● Access to Substance Abuse Services
Q13. Please rate how important each "Housing" related policy issues are to you. (Choose one of the following for each: Not At All Important, Somewhat Important, Important, Very Important, or Extremely Important)
● Homelessness
● Affordable Housing
● Safe Housing/Neighborhoods
● Supportive Housing for the Mentally Ill
● Supportive Housing for People with Disabilities
● Supportive Housing for Older Adults
Q14. Please rate how important each "Immigration" related policy issue. (Choose one of the following for each: Not At All Important, Somewhat Important, Important, Very Important, or Extremely Important)
● In-State Tuition
● Comprehensive Immigration Reform
● Ensuring children brought to & parents with children born in the U.S. have a road to citizenship
● Driver's License eligibility for undocumented
● Notario (Notary) Fraud
Q15. Please rate how important each "Poverty/Hunger" related policy issues are to you. (Choose one of the following for each: Not At All Important, Somewhat Important, Important, Very Important, or Extremely Important)
● Earned Income Credit
● TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families)
● Increasing Minimum Wage
● Nutrition/Food Deserts
● SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program)/Food Stamps
● Adopting a Moral Budget
● Limiting Predatory Lending (e.g., Pay Day Lenders, Car Title Lenders)
SECTION V. Additional Policy Areas/Issues
Q16A. Are there policy areas and/or issues we did not mention in this survey that you would like us to know about?
● Yes
● No
Q16B.
Please describe the additional policy area(s) and/or issue(s) of importance to you, and why that is the case. ______
SECTION VI. Advocacy Action During the 2015 Session
Q17. The success of the Center is measured in part by your participation and advocacy efforts. Please tell us about your advocacy during the 2015 General Assembly.
● I contacted a legislator on a Center issue.
● I called his/her office.
● I met with my Delegate/Senator during session.
● I met with my Delegate/Senator before or after session ended.
● I met with my Delegate/Senator during the Day for All People event.
● I responded to an action alert sent to me via email.
● I did not engage with my Delegate/Senator on Center issues this year.
Q18. Please tell us a bit about why you didn't engage with your legislators this year
● I have never communicated with him/her before and didn't know where to start.
● I didn't know enough about the issue(s) to feel comfortable doing so.
● I don't think my legislator cares about my opinion.
● Other (please explain)
Q19A. Did you attend Day for All People in 2015?
● Yes
● No
Q19B. If no, why not?: ______
Q20. Did you attend a specific faith tradition’s advocacy day in 2015, such as United Methodist Day, Presbyterian Day, Episcopalian Day, Jewish Advocacy Day, etc?
● Yes
● No
If yes, please tell us which one(s): ______
Q21A. Did you attend another group’s advocacy day in 2015, such as professional groups, health advocates, etc?
● Yes
● No
Q21B. If yes, please tell us which one(s): ______
SECTION VII. Advocacy for 2015-2016
Please tell us about how likely you are to engage in advocacy efforts for the remainder of this year (2015) and for the coming year (2016).
Q22. Please rate the issues below according to how likely you are to take action on each of the following issues in the coming year (Choose one: Not At All Likely, Somewhat Likely, Likely, Very Likely, Extremely Likely)
● Civic Engagement
● Criminal Justice
● Environment/Climate
● Gun Violence Prevention
● Health Care
● Housing
● Immigration
● Poverty/Hunger
Q23. How likely to attend Day for All People in 2015?
● Not At All Likely
● Somewhat Likely
● Likely
● Very Likely
● Extremely Likely
Q24. How likely are you to take action in each of the following ways (Choose one: Not At All Likely, Somewhat Likely, Likely, Very Likely, Extremely Likely)
● Attend a local VICPP program if hosted nearby
● Attend a local VICPP fundraiser if hosted nearby
● Call or visit my legislator in person
● Respond to an action alert or send an email to my elected officials
● Recruit others to become members of the Center
● Make a special VICPP contribution to a particular policy area
a. If so, which area?______
SECTION VIII. Local Chapters & Affiliates
Currently the Center has five chapters: Northern Virginia, Hampton Roads, Northern Piedmont, Richmond, and the New River Valley as well as two affiliated faith organizations, Valley Interfaith Council (Winchester) and the Williamsburg Interfaith Network.
Q25. Please rate how connected are you to a local Interfaith Center chapter/affiliate? (Choose one: Not At All Connected, Somewhat Connected, Connected, Very Connected, Extremely Connected)
Q26A. Would you like to be more connected?
● Yes
● No
Q26B. If yes, with which chapter or affiliate would you like to become more connected?
● Northern Virginia,
● Virginia Beach/Norfolk,
● Northern Piedmont,
● Richmond,
● New River Valley
● Valley Interfaith Council (Winchester)
● Williamsburg Interfaith Network
● Other/DK
Q26C. How could the Center help you become more connected? ______
Q27. Have you participated in a program hosted by the Center or one of its Chapters over the last year or so, dating to the beginning of 2014?
● Yes
● No
Q28. Would you participate again?
● Yes
● No
Q29. If yes, please describe the experience, suggestions for improvement, and/or topics you would be interested in. ______
Q30. How interested might your congregation/faith community be interested in participating in or hosting Center programs or events? (Choose one: Not At All Interested, Somewhat Interested, Interested, Very Interested, or Extremely Interested)
SECTION IX. The Virginia Interfaith Center
The Center's mission is to empower Virginians to create social justice for all by advocating for systemic change. Please tell us how we’re doing.
Q31A. Please rate how effective The Virginia Interfaith Center in helping you connect your faith tradition(s) with policy issues and actions. Choose one:
● Not At All Effective
● Somewhat Effective
● Effective
● Very Effective
● Extremely Effective
Q31B. How could we better connect our advocacy work with your faith tradition generally or your congregation more specifically?
Q32. To what extent do you agree with the following statement? "The Center communicates policy information well." Choose one:
● Do Not Agree At All
● Agree Somewhat
● Agree
● Agree Very Much
● Agree Extremely
Q33. How could we improve our communication? ______
Q34. If you were telling a friend or another member of your faith community about the work of the Center, what would you highlight as the reason they should get involved? ______
Q35. Please rate how much you agree that the following choices describe the Center. (Choose one: Do Not Agree At All, Agree Somewhat, Agree, Agree Very Much, or Agree Extremely)
● Connects my faith to public policy advocacy
● Communicates timely and relevant resources
● Keeps me informed for opportunities to take advocacy action and/or training
● Holds informative programs in my community
● Is a trusted source for accurate policy analysis and information on an issue(s) I care about
● Connects me to people from various faith traditions and backgrounds
● Helps me build relationships with my elected officials
● Is a strong moral voice for social justice at the Virginia General Assembly and with the Virginia delegation in Congress
● Other (please specify): ______
SECTION X. Conclusion
Q36. Do you have any additional comments?
Thank you for your support and your participation. Look for the results in correspondence the Center produces after June 2015 including the 2016 Priority Brief published in the fall of 2015.
Please contact Rob Martin at (804) 314-2180 or if you have any questions.
Click the "Done" to submit your responses.