The Nexus Between Service and Advocacy: A

Framework for Social Work Practice

Presented by Linda Plitt Donaldson, Ph.D.

Catholic University of AmericaNational Catholic School of Social Service

September 2, 2004 1

SERVICE

This presentation is the intellectual property of the author and may be used only with written permission and appropriate credit.

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

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.

2

Ongoing tension between direct service and advocacy functions

3

Evolution of Advocacy Programs within a Social Services Agency

Moving the Political Agenda (1)

“Thank God for the advocates.”

D.C. Councilmember, December 2002

4

Mind your P’s:

Purpose (why and with whom are we advocating?)

Presence (be present in substantive and meaningful ways)

• in person• by phone• by U.S. mail• by fax

Moving the Political Agenda (2)

• 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) 5

Key Steps to Initiate an Advocacy ProgramWithin 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

6

Key Steps to Initiate an Advocacy ProgramWithin 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.

• 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

7

Key Steps to Initiate an Advocacy ProgramWithin a Service Organization (3)

4. Appoint Board members who support advocacy and get the Board involved.

• 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).

8

Key Steps to Initiate an Advocacy ProgramWithin a Service Organization (4)

7. Leverage knowledge and experience of non-advocacy staff.

8. Diversify funding portfolio to minimize vulnerability to resource dependency.

9. Connect with peer and complementary agencies in the community on a regular basis.

• participate in pre-established coalitions• form coalitions

9

Key Steps to Initiate an Advocacy ProgramWithin 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

10

“Testing the waters” forClient-Based Advocacy in Field

11

Possibilities for Field Assignments:

• 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.

“Testing the waters” forClient-Based Advocacy in Field

12

What if I am not in a community-based agency?

How does this apply to me?

“Testing the waters” forClient-Based Advocacy in Field

13

Send student into field to:

• 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.

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

14

Potential Benefits of Advocacy

You might change the

world!

15