Describe some examples of successful and unsuccessful social advocacy you have observed or participated in. For what reasons did the efforts succeed or fail?
What will be an ideal response?
Some basic information about social advocacy is summarized below as a guide to student answers to this question:
Social advocacy can be done at any level of generalist practice, but is often associated with community intervention. It is a process by which the social worker confronts the community’s status quo toward initiating changes that will benefit some oppressed or disadvantaged group. Social action activities usually occur in a context where the proposed change effort is anticipated as difficult and likely to encounter significant opposition. It is sometimes a long-term process and requires the social worker’s persistence in the face of opposition and the slow pace of change. There are usually many people involved in a social advocacy effort (if it has a chance to succeed) and there are many ways for generalist practitioners to participate.
There are many ways in which a social worker can engage in social advocacy, including:
• Gathering comprehensive information about an issue of concern
• Conferring with staff from other agencies about the needs of the client population
• Participating with interagency committees to generate broad support for an issue
• Providing expert testimony as requested
• Educating relevant segments of the community about the issue
• Contacting public officials and legislators for their education and to solicit support
• Organizing client groups to advocate on their own behalf
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During the exploration process, a social worker should:
A. avoid asking open-ended questions. B. ask multiple questions one after the other. C. intersperse his or her questions with active-listening responses. D. use leading or suggestive questions to encourage people to express themselves expansively.
What kinds of "why" questions are most likely to leave the client feeling defensive?
A. explanatory B. leading C. judgmental D. tangential
Which of the following is true of the parents’ rights in IDEA2004?
Parents and families have the a. right to see their child’s records. b. right to be notified about a change in placement. c. right to mediation at no cost. d. right to request a reevaluation. e. All of these.
Social justice reflects:
a. fairness to all b. the premise of social welfare c. the purpose of all public services d. categorical distribution of resources e. the will of Congress