Social Work Advocacy & Organizing

Question 1

Championing the rights of society’s most vulnerable members, from children to homeless people to the physically disabled has been a core aspect of the social work profession.

Answer 1

Social Work Advocacy

Question 2

involves the work social workers engage in with groups, organizations, and communities in order to bring about positive changes within the community and to solve social problems identified by members of the community.

Answer 2

Community Organizing

Question 3

Social workers can advocate for change through a variety of means including writing op-ed pieces, lobbying, organizing local protests, and helping to change laws that adversely affect vulnerable and disadvantaged members of society.

Answer 3

Social Work Advocacy

Question 4

Step 1: Integrate into the community
Step 2: Identify the issue impacting the community
Step 3: Set goals and objectives
Step 4: Identify individuals and create core group
Step 5: Create an action plan to meet goals
Step 6: Execute and monitor the action plan
Step 7: Evaluate the effect of the action plan on the stated goals

Answer 4

Steps of Community Organizing

Question 5

A __________ is a group of people or organizations who share a common interest and work collaboratively to achieve a shared goal. _________ can be created to achieve a specific goal and
then part ways, or they can become permanent organizations of their own.

Answer 5

Coalitions

Question 6

__________ are professional advocates that are hired to represent specific causes and interest groups in order to be that groups’ voice to legislators and members of congress.

Answer 6

Lobbying

Question 7

The social worker should immerse himself/herself in the community in order to gain understanding of community dynamics, strengths, and concerns and to begin building trusting relationships.

Answer 7

Step 1: Integrate into the community

Question 8

engage in discussions with legislators to gain their support for a bill.

Answer 8

Lobbying

Question 9

Identify the felt needs/problems impacting the community and work with
community members to rank their importance and urgency.

Answer 9

Step 2: Identify the issue impacting the community

Question 10

Create goals and objectives for the issues identified in step 2.
When setting the goal, you are identifying the overall outcome/change that you are expecting through your community engagement efforts.
The objectives specify the details of the community intervention in measurable terms. The achievement in objectives will lead to achievement of broader goals.

Answer 10

Step 3: Set goals and objectives

Question 11

Engage local leaders and individuals that have been identified during step 1. Consider well-respected, influential community members who are passionate about and committed to working towards change.

Answer 11

Step 4: Identify individuals and create core group

Question 12

Identify ways to work towards objectives.
Determine possible positive and negative outcomes as well as barriers that could arise as you work towards the stated objectives.
Identify resources that will be needed for the community organizing efforts.

Answer 12

Step 5: Create an action plan to meet goals

Question 13

Train staff as needed and engage in community meetings and action set up during step 5.

Answer 13

Step 6: Execute and monitor the action plan

Question 14

Evaluation is an ongoing process done after each community organizing activity. Reflection should take place to identify what has worked, what has been accomplished, and what is still being worked towards.
A final evaluation should be done to assess the overall impact and the accomplishment of the stated goals and objectives.
Reassess the problem and determine if further intervention is needed.

Answer 14

Step 7: Evaluate the effect of the action plan on the stated goals