In the fourth video in the series, Policy Affects Practice, we take an in depth look at how social workers can be effective advocates in their state legislature. As a lobbyist, a social worker’s role is to represent and empower disempowered populations. Social workers can do this better than most because they see the effects of laws every day in their practice, and those who enact laws can be moved by the important stories social workers have to tell.
Social workers already have many of the skills needed to advocate for their clients in the legislature, but what does it take to be truly successful and effective in policy advocacy? The video explores eight principles that can assist any social worker in lobbying their legislative body:
1. Identify the issues and set goals: What do you want to see happen?
2. Get the facts: You need to understand the procedures of the legislative body.
3. Get to know the decision makers and their staff: Remember, relationship building happens here too—not just with clients.
4. Plan strategies and set tactics: A strategy is a broad blueprint, while tactics are the day-to-day actions.
5. Supply leadership: Organizing, providing direction, and speaking in public are all examples of leadership skills that are needed to be effective.
6. Be persistent and be prepared to compromise: Advocacy takes time and there are many competing issues that are lobbying for attention.
7. Build coalitions: A social worker can’t do it alone!
8. Evaluate your efforts: Learn from your campaign—even if you didn’t get what you wanted, discover how to learn from a “good loss.”
Social justice is central to legislative advocacy and social workers infuse all that they do with the core values stemming from the National Association of Social Worker’s Code of Ethics. This video will demystify the legislative process and show how even a social work student can begin to become an effective advocate for policy change.
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
