Powerpoint - National Association of Social Workers Michigan

Transcript Powerpoint - National Association of Social Workers Michigan

Social Workers Organizing for Social Change

Agenda

Social Work’s Organizing Roots

• Settlement House Movement  Saw need for both individual change and societal change  Engaged clients in social change • History of Social Work parallels the history of community organizing  Response to the paradoxical history of American Society (i.e., espousing freedom while only land-owning men were allowed to vote for much of our history) Kahn, S. (1991).

Organizing: A guide for grassroots leaders

Association of Social Workers.

Ethical Grounding

• Fulfilling the Code of Ethics

 6.04 Social and Political Action (a) 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. Social workers should be aware of the impact of the political arena on practice and should advocate for changes in policy and legislation to improve social conditions in order to meet basic human needs and promote social justice.

National Association of Social Workers. (2008). Code of ethics of the National Association of Social Workers. Washington, DC: NASW Press. ©2014 National Association of Social Workers. All Rights Reserved. 4

Determining An Issue

• Knowledge of the community • Issues raised by clients • Mission of the organization • Piece of legislation • Key event in the community • Research  Surveys  Focus groups  Community meetings Bobo, K., Kendall, J., & Max, S. (2001). Organizing for social change (rev. ed.). Santa Ana, CA: Seven Locks Press.

Developing a Strategy

• Involve members of your community/organization during strategy development • Considerations  Goals of the campaign/organization  Resources of your organization  Resources of allied organizations  Resources of opponent’s organizations  Primary and Secondary Targets ©2014 National Association of Social Workers. All Rights Reserved. 6

Defining Targets

• Who can make the change you seek?

 Primary target: Name of a specific legislator, council member  Secondary target: Name of person who can influence the legislator you are targeting (i.e. County Commissioner; head of large social service agency in the district) ©2014 National Association of Social Workers. All Rights Reserved. 7

Choosing Tactics

• Legislative Advocacy  Working to influence legislation • Administrative Advocacy  Working to influence policy implementation • Political Advocacy  Working to influence federal, state, or local elections ©2014 National Association of Social Workers. All Rights Reserved. 8

Legislative Advocacy

• Working with Congress, the state legislature, or local councils to influence policy  Signing on to petitions or letters to legislators  Coordinating campaigns to write letters, faxes, e-mails to legislators  Attending Town Hall Meetings (organizing individuals to ask specific questions or keep track of proceedings)  In-person meetings with legislators  Inviting legislators to your agency or community event  Proposing language for legislation ©2014 National Association of Social Workers. All Rights Reserved. 9

Do Legislators Listen?

• Yes, first to their own constituents • In-person contact is best, but volume of calls, faxes, and e-mails work too • Personal stories can be more effective than statistics, but both are needed • Legislative bodies are generally the most responsive to constituents since they run for office ©2014 National Association of Social Workers. All Rights Reserved. 10

Administrative Advocacy

• Working with local, state, or federal agencies to influence policy implementation  Attend hearings/rule making sessions  Provide written comments to agency  Document issues encountered by clients/members and share with administrators ©2014 National Association of Social Workers. All Rights Reserved. 11

Electoral Advocacy

• Working to influence federal, state, or local elections  Endorse candidates for federal office  Contribute to candidates, attend fundraisers or other community events by candidates  Register clients or members to vote  Provide information about volunteering for local campaigns  Drive clients/members to polling locations  Educate clients/members about election issues  Encourage and train others to run for elective office ©2014 National Association of Social Workers. All Rights Reserved. 12

Contact Me

Dina L. Kastner Senior Field Organizer National Association of Social Workers 202.336.8218

[email protected]