Reference no: EM133672476
Assignment:
Why
Per the NASW Code of Ethics (2021) a social worker's 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.
What
propose and describe elements of an advocacy campaign relating to a key social issue: homelessness among students. 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 ChangeLinks to an external site.. The key questions to be answered are identified below and you should draw on information provided in the KU Community Tool Box, 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 in Blue. Part 2, which is due in Module 15, will build upon Part 1 and will add the sections in black below.
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,
- Direct Action Campaign section: Describe four tactics in a direct-action campaign that you will use to advocate for a new policy or a policy change. Three of these four tactics will be an Infographic, a Letter to the Editor, and a Policy Brief (which you will complete throughout the course). In this section, you are describing the products and tactics (the actual products will be in the appendix).
- Drawing on the list of 20 direct-action campaign tactics from Chapter 33, select the fourth tactic. This selection should relate to the advocacy goals. In this section, be sure to motivate and defend the approach you are proposing.
- Be sure to define and describe your tactic, and be clear on how these tactics will help secure your advocacy goals.
IV. Organizational Fit. Reflect on the toolkit Q4: "Review whether the selected advocacy tactics fit the group's situation and goals (i.e., fits the group's style, makes use of available resources and allies, minimizes opposition, is flexible, is likely to work)." Is your proposed advocacy approach in keeping with your organization's situation and goals? Why or why not?
V. Appendices. Include your Infographic, Letter to the Editor, Policy Brief, and your 4th product/tactic.
How
The advocacy strategies paper is not an academic paper. This is a strategies paper, an actionable portfolio that one can use as a guide to engage in policy advocacy on the topic of their choosing.
The paper should be organized using headers, logical, and consumable and any sources you use should be properly referenced using APA 7th edition guidelines.