visiting government

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Visiting a Government Agency

Introduction:
Many government agencies and officials work to provide valuable services to
the citizens of Connecticut. Visiting one of these agencies or officials can help
you better understand their role.

If you choose to fulfill the portfolio’s category 2 requirement by visiting a
government agency, you will need to complete the following steps:
 Identify an agency that interests you. On the following page is an
alphabetical list of all agencies and offices in the Connecticut State
Government taken from http://www.state.ct.us/agency.htm. By visiting that
website, you can click on the hyperlinks to find more information about the
agency and learn how to contact them.
 Learn about the agency you plan to visit.
 Call the agency and explain that you are a student interested in learning more
about the agency. Ask if you could plan a visit and if you could arrange to
tour the agency with someone while you are there. Tell them you have some
questions you’ll have to answer while there.
 Once you set a time and date, repeat this information to the person at the end
of the conversation by saying something like, “So I will see you at 4:30 on
Thursday, May 17.” That way, there is no doubt about what has been agreed
upon.
 Make sure to ask the person for directions to the interview locale if it is
unfamiliar to you. Once you have written it down, repeat it aloud to correct
any mistakes.
 Once you make an appointment, keep it and be on time!
 Bring a pen, something to write on, the list of questions, and paper for notes.
 Dress appropriately. You are representing the Academy and yourself! Also
be polite and thank the person for their time. Remember, they are busy
people taking time out of their schedule to help you learn.
 After your visit write a short (at least one page) report about the agency.
Attach your report to the contact information sheet.
 Write a thank you note to your contact person. Follow the format on the
model provided.
Index of All State Agencies
Administrative Services, Department of Human Rights and Opportunities, Commission on
African-American Affairs Commission Information Technology, Department of
Aging, Connecticut Commission on Insurance and Risk Management Board, State
Agricultural Experiment Station, Connecticut Insurance, Department of
Agriculture, Department of Labor, Department of
Arts, Connecticut Commission on the Latino & Puerto Rican Affairs, Commission on
Attorney General, Office of the State Law Revision Commission, Connecticut
Auditors of Public Accounts Legislative Commissioners’ Office
Banking, Department of Legislative Management
Blind, Board of Education and Services for the Legislative Program Review and Investigations
Capitol Child Development Center Legislative Research, Office of
Charter Oak College Library, Connecticut State
Chief State's Attorney, Office of the Lieutenant Governor's Office
Child Advocate, Office of the Managed Care Ombudsman, Office of
Children and Families, Department of Medical Examiner, Office of the Chief
Children, Commission on Mental Health and Addiction Services, Department
Claims Commissioner, Office of the of
Comptroller, Office of the State Mental Retardation, Department of
Commission on Custody, Divorce and Children Military Department
Commission on Fire Prevention and Control Motor Vehicles, Department of
Commission on the Deaf and Hearing Impaired Pardons, Board of
(CDHI) Parole, Connecticut Board of
Commission for Educational Technology Permanent Commission on the Status of Women
Connecticut Community-Technical Colleges Police Officer Standards and Training Council
Connecticut Council on Developmental Disabilities Policy and Management, Office of
Connecticut Development Authority Properties Review Board
Connecticut Distance Learning Consortium Psychiatric Security Review Board
Connecticut Historical Commission Public Defender Services, Division of
Connecticut Housing Finance Authority Public Health, Department of
Connecticut Lottery Corporation Public Safety, Department of
Connecticut National Guard Public Utility Control, Department of
Connecticut Resources Recovery Authority Public Works, Department of
Connecticut Sitting Council Revenue Services, Department of
Connecticut State University System Secretary of the State
Consumer Counsel, Office of Sitting Council, Connecticut
Consumer Protection, Department of Social Services, Department of
Correction, Department of Soldiers’, Sailors’ and Marines’ Fund
Criminal Justice Commission Special Revenue, Division of
Criminal Justice, Division of Tax Department (Revenue Services)
Deaf and Hearing Impaired, State Commission on the Teachers' Retirement Board
Development Authority, Connecticut Transportation, Department of
Developmental Disabilities, Connecticut Council on Treasurer, Office of the State
Disabilities, Office of Protection and Advocacy for University of Connecticut
Persons with University of Connecticut Health Center
Economic and Community Development, Veterans Affairs, Department of
Department of Victim Advocate, Office of the
Education, State Department of Women, Permanent Commission on the Status of
Elections Enforcement Commission, State Workers' Compensation Commission
Environmental Protection, Department of
Environmental Quality, Council on
Ethics Commission
Fire Prevention and Control, Commission on
Firearms Permit Examiners, Board of
Fiscal Analysis, Office of
Freedom of Information Commission
Gaming Policy Board
Governor's Office
Health Care Access, Office of
Higher Education, Department of
Housing Finance Authority, Connecticut
Visiting a Government Agency

Date of Visit:_______________________________________________________

Student Name: ______________________________________________________

Name of Agency Visited: ______________________________________________

Name and Address of Contact person: ____________________________________
____________________________________
____________________________________
____________________________________

Printed Name and Title of Contact Person:_________________________________

____________________________________________________________________

Signature of Contact Person ____________________________________________

Contact Person’s Telephone Number: _____________________________________

The above information is worth 10 points.

Below is a list of questions that MUST be included in your report (80 points). However, since
agencies vary, the particular agency you choose will lead you to ask other questions and learn
other things on your tour. Include everything you learn about the agency in your report.
1. Where is the agency located (town, city, building)? Describe the building.
2. What is the purpose of the agency? What services do they offer?
3. Who takes advantage of the services of the agency?
4. What various departments make up the agency?
5. How many people, roughly, work at the agency?
6. What is the job of your contact person? What does s/he like about her/his job? What does
s/he find challenging?
7. While there, what kinds of activity did you observe?
8. Why did you choose to tour this particular agency?
Send the contact person a thank you letter:
Use the following format for a personal-business letter exactly, changing the content as necessary to
make it as personal as possible. Your letter should be warm and sincere. Make sure your letter is
approved by me before mailing it.

The standard parts of a personal-
business letter are as follows:
 Date Line: The month, day,
and year.  May 11, 2003
 Inside Address: The name
and address of the business or
person to whom the letter is  Jane Agency Worker
being sent. Blank Agency
 Salutation: A greeting— 000 Time Street
Civicsville, CT 06000
such as Dear Ms. Corley—
followed by a colon.  Dear Ms. Mrs. Mr. Agency Worker:
 Body: The message of the
letter.  Thank you for meeting with me on Tuesday, May 8. I learned a
lot about the Blank Agency and all the good work it does for the
 Complimentary Closing: A
people of Connecticut. I was particularly interested in the way
phrase—such as Sincerely— the agency works to improve...
followed by a comma.
 Signature: Hand-written on I hope that I can call you should I have further questions about the
the letter with black or blue agency. Again, I thank you for your time and consideration.
ink.
 Writer’s Identification: The  Sincerely,
writer’s keyed name and  Sue Academy Student
address  Sue Academy Student
Woodstock Academy
57 Academy Road
Woodstock, CT 06281

SAMPLE THANK YOU LETTER
USE YOUR OWN WORDS
To format a personal-
business letter:
1. Use standard-size paper (8.5 X 11 inches) and 1-inch side margins.
2. Key in the date at the top.
3. Key the inside address 4 lines below the date at the left margin.
4. Key the salutation, followed by a colon, a double space below the inside address at the left
margin.
5. Begin the body a double space below the salutation. Single-space paragraphs, but double–
space between them.
6. Begin the complimentary closing, followed by a comma, a double space below the body.
7. Key the writer’s identification 4 lines below the complimentary closing.