Social workers often don’t like to talk about money—they understandably just want to show up and help their clients. Many are the social workers who are “intimidated by numbers,” like one of the students in this video. Yet it is money that allows the social worker to help their clients. It’s money that makes programs possible. Too few social workers are involved in the allocation of funds when it comes to social services.
The fifth video in the Policy Affects Practice series takes the social work student step-by-step through a state budget process. With different voices along the way to calm the student’s fears, the viewer will learn what a budget is and see how it reflects state policy. Building on this, the social work student will learn the process of how a budget is finalized. The four main stages in the development of a budget are:
1. Preparation by agencies
2. Establishment by the governor
3. Legislative action on the budget
4. Governor’s review & budget implementation
Each stage is demystified and discussed at length and the possibilities for the social workers’ involvement are illustrated.
In an uncomplicated and painless manner the video shows how social workers can influence the state budget and describes six key skills social workers need to develop in order to become effective advocates.
This video is part of the 6-video series, Policy Affects Practice. Other videos in this series include:
- Creating Change: Building a Legislative Coalition
- Social Workers Effecting Change: Legislative Advocacy
- Making a Difference: Influencing State Policy
- Social Work Advocacy: The State Budget
- Policy Affects Practice & Students/Practitioners Affect Policy
- Social Work: Practicing in a Century of Change
