Linchpin Strategies

Linchpin Strategies is a federal advocacy and advisory firm which concentrates its efforts on education, health and workforce policy issues.

Linchpin is a boutique federal policy and advocacy firm based in the nation’s capital; since its founding nearly 20 years ago, Linchpin’s efforts have focused on building opportunity for children and adults to maximize their potential.

Our state allies can call on Linchpin to:

Support their coalition-building strategies.

Linchpin has served as an outside resource and perspective to help state allies bring together coalitions of advocacy and program partners; plan, execute and facilitate coalition-building meetings to address differences of perspective and build consensus; and develop strategy papers and plans.

Support strategic planning and education, outreach and advocacy initiatives.

Linchpin's team of former Congressional staff has decades of experience in developing and implementing plans to advance legislation. Linchpin can help allies build out their strategic plans for issue-related advocacy, frame issues for bipartisan audiences, and develop messages that resonate on both sides of the political aisle. Linchpin can also help allies problem-solve roadblocks and brainstorm work-arounds to maintain legislative energy and momentum.

Analyze their state's specific home visiting funding and implementation.

Linchpin can help allies better understand the manner in which state home visiting administrators work with child welfare agencies to implement home visiting as part of Family First Prevention Services Act. Linchpin can also help allies see how home visiting is being administered in states, including new communities to be served arising out of the needs assessment, the use of Medicaid, Medicaid managed care plans, other health insurers, and other funding streams.

Facilitate a deeper understanding of Tribal home visiting.

Linchpin can work with allies to explore initiatives and strategies advocates can utilize to advocate for state funding for home visiting programs serving Tribal members both on and off of Tribal lands.

Compile and help message state home visiting data.

Linchpin can provide guidance and information regarding how state advocates can better understand state data regarding home visiting; providing key information regarding the Maternal, Infant and Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV) program; and assisting in developing messaging regarding the value of home visiting in assisting children and families during the pandemic and economic recession.

On the Ground:

As Missouri advocates were working to develop a strategic plan for the growth of home visiting in the state, Linchpin conducted monthly calls with Kids Win Missouri focused on home visiting facts and information and the framing, development, and drafting of the strategic plan. As the team prepared for a day-long retreat with members of the state’s home visiting coalition, they consulted with Linchpin on meeting design, structure, agenda, and discussion topics that would help achieve consensus and support for the plan. Linchpin also served as a neutral meeting facilitator for the coalition retreat.

“Our team has greatly appreciated working with Catriona from Linchpin to support our statewide home visiting coalition. Drawing from her federal expertise, she’s provided much-needed guidance around the policy changes and anticipated funding increases resulting from MIECHV reauthorization. Additionally, she’s been helpful navigating the questions and considerations of tapping into Medicaid funding to support home visiting.”

Becky Ludwick, Vice President of Public Policy, Pennsylvania Partnerships for Children

“Kids Win Missouri has received invaluable technical assistance through Catriona at Linchpin Strategies. Aside from consistently providing our team (and through us, our partners) with federal updates on home visiting policies, funding opportunities, and research, she has also taken the time to learn about Missouri’s current home visiting landscape and has provided guidance on ways to collaborate and align efforts within our Home Visiting Coalition to ensure that Missouri is on the right track.”