The Political Power of Social Work Christi Granstaff, MSW Brian Dautch, MA,JD Rebecca Myers, LSW …the power of social work October 2008 ©2008 National Association of Social Workers. All Rights Reserved. 1

©2008 National Association of Social Workers. All Rights Reserved. 2 Macro practice that relates to government, especially the conduct of government, the making of governmental policy and running for and holding elected office. Political Social Work Defined

Elected office: local, state and national Local party, school board, council, mayor, county, controller State legislature, governor Congress, president Example: Rebecca Myers, School Board Settings for Political Social Work

Political Campaigns Local, state and national Campaign organizer/manager Policy staff for campaign Settings and Roles

Advocacy / Lobbying Organizations Non-profit and for profit Issue specific or industry/profession specific Lobbying/advocacy staff Field organizer Example: Christi Granstaff, Deputy Director, Tennessee Primary Care Association Settings and Roles

Staff for Elected Officials Constituent services Policy staff Issue area staff Example: Valerie Grasso, MSW, Congressional Research Service Settings and Roles

Political Appointments: Volunteer and Paid Volunteer committees Cabinet positions Government agency appointments Example: Alexis Herman, Secretary of Labor Settings and Roles

Knowledge of Direct Social Work Service: Provides an important contribution to the political environment Enhances our skills as political social workers Creates and advocates for effective policies for clients, social workers, and agencies Skills Needed

A survey of social workers serving in elected office demonstrates that most of the 12 skill areas identified in NASW’s standards for the classification of social work practice apply to political social work. Skills Needed

Keeping current about issues Responding to the demands and needs of constituencies Social workers in political office have little trouble with these skills because of their social work training. ( Haynes & Mikelson, 2005 ) Skills Needed

“People” skills of listening, responding, persuading, and caring Political skills of linking, brokering, and advocacy Ability to consider alternative solutions Consensus building Negotiation and mediation Skills Needed

For working With Constituents: Navigating government agencies and services Completing short term and task-centered activities Assisting people with accessing benefits and services Resolving disputes between people and agencies Creating a group to identify and address common needs or issues Skills Needed

Employer confusion Difficulty in raising funds for elective office Inability to take time off to run for office (Haynes & Mikelson, 2006) Challenges

Too many decisions are made affecting the clients we serve to leave it only to non-social workers. So few come with our background, and there are many who just don’t grasp the approach of problem solving or understand human behavior. Maine social worker and member of the legislature (Haynes & Mikelson, 2005)

©2008 National Association of Social Workers. All Rights Reserved. 15 Political Social Work as a Tool for Every Practice Ethical mandate Skills needed Examples

Political social workers are held to the same values and ethics as other social workers Code of Ethics of the National Association of Social Workers Ethical Mandate

NASW Code of Ethics Section 6 – Ethical Responsibility to Society Social Workers Should Engage in Social and Political Action seek 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. Ethical Mandate

NASW Code of Ethics Section 6 – Ethical Responsibility to Society Social Workers Should Be Aware of the Impact of the Political Arena on Practice advocate for changes in policy and legislation to improve social conditions in order to meet basic human needs and promote social justice ©2008 National Association of Social Workers. All Rights Reserved. 18 Ethical Mandate

Pursue social change Focus on issues of social injustice Promote sensitivity about oppression and cultural and ethnic diversity Ensure access to information, services, and resources; equality of opportunity; and meaningful participation in decision making Ethical Mandate

Data collection and research Public relations and media People skills, especially persuading, negotiating, mediating, accommodating, and educating Knowledge of regulatory, legislative, or organizational process ©2008 National Association of Social Workers. All Rights Reserved. 20 Skills for Political Advocacy

Fundraising Networking and Alliance Building Use of Technology Organizing (Gibelman, 2004) ©2008 National Association of Social Workers. All Rights Reserved. 21 Skills for Political Advocacy

Clinical social workers helping clients to advocate for change Influencing policy through the power of personal stories Providing expert testimony to legislative committees Personal advocacy on professional and social issues ©2008 National Association of Social Workers. All Rights Reserved. 22 Examples

Organizing tools (Legislative Advocacy listserv and CapWiz, website, text messages) Elections and campaigns (PACE) What’s happening now Tools and Resources

Advocacy listserv Web-based mobilization vehicle (CapWiz) Website Focused campaigns Organizing Tools

“New Technologies” ©2008 National Association of Social Workers. All Rights Reserved. 25

Elections and Campaigns NASW Political Action for Candidate Election (PACE) Established by NASW in 1976 GOAL: To pool money from members to support and elect politicians aligned with social work issues and values

Elections and Campaigns NASW Political Action for Candidate Election (PACE) In 1994, NASW made a commitment to elect more social workers to public office and to increase electoral advocacy A dues check-off was created to fund both national and chapter political action committees

National and state chapters have focused efforts on educating social workers about the political process, how to run for office and how to be involved in political campaigns Currently 48 chapters have an established PACE. In the 2006 federal elections, NASW provided nearly $450,000 and endorsed 224 candidates for Congress. Elections and Campaigns NASW Political Action for Candidate Election (PACE)

9 social workers in Congress – 2 in the Senate, and 7 in the House 192 social workers holding elective office 37 social workers practicing in legislative offices in the US Congress Elections and Campaigns NASW Political Action for Candidate Election (PACE)

Importance of Participation in PACE Dues check off ~ national & state contribution Additional giving opportunities Service on PACE Committee Elections and Campaigns NASW Political Action for Candidate Election (PACE)

Field mobilization Voter registration Get Out the Vote (GOTV) Position statements What’s Happening Now?