Government responses to COVID-19 have largely fallen to state and local policymakers, with limited to no guidance from the Federal government. This has left state and county policymakers scrambling to enact policies and programs that will support children and families in their communities. In this talk, we’ll discuss our work with county legislators across New York who have sought support from Cornell researchers to explore best practices on a range of policies, including child care and food insecurity. We’ll share insights from the process of contacting and working with legislators, the topics we’ve covered with legislators, and the challenges and benefits to doing this type of work during a crisis.