The Nexus Between Service and
Advocacy: A Framework for
Social Work Practice
SERVICE
Presented by Linda Plitt Donaldson,
Ph.D.
Catholic University of America
National Catholic School of Social Service
September 2, 2004
This presentation is the intellectual property of the author
and may be used only with written permission and
appropriate credit.
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Evolution of Advocacy Programs within
a Social Services Agency
“Love for others, and especially for the poor, is made concrete by
promoting justice.” The Hundredth Year (Donders), #58.
Confluence of four key factors:
Predisposition of leadership to value advocacy
Experienced and passionate full-time staff person
Undeniable need
Documentation of need through service experience
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Evolution of Advocacy Programs within
a Social Services Agency
Ongoing tension between direct service and
advocacy functions
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Moving the Political Agenda (1)
“Thank God for the advocates.”
D.C. Councilmember, December 2002
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Moving the Political Agenda (2)
Mind your P’s:
Purpose (why and with whom are we advocating?)
Presence (be present in substantive and meaningful ways)
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in person
by phone
by U.S. mail
by fax
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by e-mail
in media (news, radio and TV)
at meetings
whenever and wherever possible
Persistence (remember the big and little things)
Publications (substance, timeliness, and reliability of materials)
People (organize and mobilize)
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Key Steps to Initiate an Advocacy Program
Within a Service Organization (1)
“Advocacy capability must be developed over time and
must include a variety of strategies appropriate to the
agency context and a range of agency resources—staff,
clients, volunteer leaders, and money.”
Flynn, 1995
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Key Steps to Initiate an Advocacy Program
Within a Service Organization (2)
1.
Value advocacy as a core agency function, as demonstrated by staffing,
resource allocation, and leadership support.
2. Hire at least one experienced full-time staff person for advocacy.
3. Survey political landscape.
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Councilmembers and key council staff (particularly on committees of
interest, and in “home” ward)
Executive staff and key assistants (Deputy Mayors, Agency
Administrators, etc.)
Influential constituents and community activists
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Key Steps to Initiate an Advocacy Program
Within a Service Organization (3)
4.
Appoint Board members who support advocacy and get the Board involved.
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Regularly educate them about the issues
Ask select Board members to sign on to media submissions
Request “connected” Board members to make calls or even do Council visits
Invite Board members and their friends to participate in direct actions
5.
Practice advocacy in your area of expertise.
6.
Survey media landscape.
• Befriend key reporters, influential columnists, and editorial boards
• Listen (and call in) to D.C. Politics Hour on Fridays at 12:00 (WAMU 88.5 FM) and
the Mark Plotkin Show on Fridays at 10:00 A.M. (WTOP 1500 AM).
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Key Steps to Initiate an Advocacy Program
Within a Service Organization (4)
7.
Leverage knowledge and experience of non-advocacy staff.
8.
Diversify funding portfolio to minimize vulnerability to resource
dependency.
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Connect with peer and complementary agencies in the community on a
regular basis.
• participate in pre-established coalitions
• form coalitions
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Key Steps to Initiate an Advocacy Program
Within a Service Organization (5)
10.
Leverage knowledge and experience of clients/consumers/patients
• Make advocacy priorities client-driven
• Meet with clients regularly to stay grounded in issues and to facilitate
organizing
• Develop client skills and capacities for advocacy
• Value the expertise of clients on issues; don’t use clients as props or
only as faces of problem
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“Testing the waters” for
Client-Based Advocacy in Field
Possibilities for Field Assignments:
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Facilitating groups e.g., support (systemic), current events, civic
education;
Conducting focus groups to build agency advocacy agenda;
Conducting needs/asset-based assessments to build advocacy agenda;
Surveying direct service staff, clients, and other service providers;
Educating board members and staff around advocacy practice;
Write op-ed pieces or letters to the editor;
Building a coalition.
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“Testing the waters” for
Client-Based Advocacy in Field
What if I am not in a communitybased agency?
How does this apply to me?
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“Testing the waters” for
Client-Based Advocacy in Field
Send student into field to:
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Surveying/Interview “client-agency”
staff and clients;
Conduct focus groups;
Assess, support, and strengthen regional
coalition work;
Engage students in creative ideas to
ground work.
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Potential Benefits of Advocacy
Gives visibility to the issue, the population effected, and the agency;
Creates mutually beneficial relationship between allied official(s) and
agency;
Increases donations;
Leads to favorable consideration in funding applications;
Creates meaningful team building opportunities;
Builds self-esteem for consumers and staff;
AND
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Potential Benefits of Advocacy
You might change
the world!
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