Advocacy Strategies

Purpose Per the NASW Code of Ethics (2021) a social workers ethical responsibility to the broader society asserts that social workers should engage in social and political action that seeks to ensure that all people have equal access to the resources, employment, services, and opportunities they require to meet their basic human needs and to develop fully (section 6.04 Social and Political Action). Policy advocacy is a mechanism that can be utilized to meet this ethical responsibility and have a direct impact on the needs of our consumers and communities. Instructions For this assignment, you will propose and describe elements of an advocacy campaign relating to a key social issue you identified in Module 2. The campaign should address any policy or program related to the identified social issue as long as it is relevant to your current or former clients, the population of interest, and/or your organization. The assignment will answer questions from Toolkit 10: Advocating for Change ( ). The key questions to be answered are identified below and you should draw on information provided in the KU Community Tool Box, Chapters 30-33 in responding to the list of questions from the Toolkit. The Advocacy Strategy Paper will include the sections below and will be completed in two parts. Part 1, which is due in Module 10 will include the sections highlighted in yellow. Part 2, which is due in Module 15, will build upon Part 1 and will add in the sections not highlighted. I. Identifying the Advocacy Issue: Why is this an essential advocacy issue for clients, populations, or your organization? This section should provide a clear statement of the social issue you selected in Module 2 and the reason(s) you selected it. Your writing should use questions Section 1a and 1b in the tool (Research the Issue …) but need not answer each question in order. Identify a Policy relevant to your chosen social issue (you may use the same policy that you addressed in your Article Critique assignment or a different policy related to the social problem). Identity and describe the policy in a way that is understandable by an audience not familiar with the policy. Be sure to describe any technical terms and define terminology as appropriate (avoid jargon). II. Advocacy Goals (Directly from toolkit): State the broad goals and specific objectives for advocacy effort including: Broad advocacy goals (e.g., meet otherwise unmet needs; reverse or correct a situation; prevent the loss of a valued asset; change public opinion) Specific objectives (how much of what by when) (e.g., By 2020, increase by 50% the public investment in early childhood education.) III. Tactics (Questions directly from Toolkit): Describe the advocacy tactics you will use focusing on research and direct-action tactics. Advocacy Research section: discuss your plan drawing on the description of advocacy research strategies, Chapter 31. Please be extremely detailed and specific when writing this. Topic and Area of Issue: Employment and Economic Well-Being (Veterans) Social Problem: Barriers to civilian credentialing and occupational licensure that contribute to veteran underemployment during the transition to civilian life