1. Advocacy in the Human Services
Elizabeth Jennings, MA
13 Jan 2010

2. Agenda Big picture Little picture Practice
What is advocacy in the human services?
Little picture
Your prep work for Lobby Day
Practice
Citizen Lobbying 123

3. Introductions What is one thing you are passionate about?
Personal or professional
Issues, people, activities, etc.
Me: Human rights

4. What is Advocacy? Put your passion into action!
Brainstorm: Synonyms for advocacy?
Definition: Efforts to change policies or practices on behalf of or with clients/issues/communities
Example: Human rights
Letters to free prisoners of conscience
Letters, meetings, demonstrations to change laws
Community education re. domestic violence
Lobbying to increase funding for DV programs

5. Continuum of Advocacy in Human Services
Public Policy
Advocacy
Community Organizing
Direct Services
Changing system to address underlying issues that create problems or limit assets for individuals, families & communities
Empowering individuals, families & communities to identify problems & build on their assets
Working within existing system
to solve problems for/with individuals & families

6. Continuum of Advocacy in Human Services
Public Policy
Advocacy
Community Organizing
Direct Services
Which is most important?

7. Advocacy Cycle: Mutually Supportive
Community Organizing
Public Policy
Direct Service

8. Policies, Structures, Systems
Why Advocacy?
Levels of Influence in the
Social Ecological Model
Individual
Knowledge, attitudes,
beliefs
Interpersonal
Family, peers, social networks,
associations
Community
Social networks, norms, standards
Institutions
Rules, regulations, policies,
informal structures
Policies, Structures, Systems
Local, state, federal policies and laws to regulate/support healthy actions

9. How? Advocacy Practice Tactic A Identify problem, needs, or asset
Conduct advocacy homework, research
Select advocacy targets
Tactic B
Monitor for accountability
Tactic C
Adapted from Ezell, Mark, Advocacy in the Human Services, 2001

10. Policy Advocacy Tactics
Focus/Beneficiary of the Advocacy
Indivs.
Cause/ Issue
Org.
Nonprofit Sector
Social
Change
Public Education
Research
Public info
Admin.
Judicial
Legislative, Voter, Candidate Education
Legislative, Voter, Candidate Lobbying
Organizing/Mobilizing
Collaborations
Policy Implementation
Advocacy Tactic

11. Legislative Education vs. Lobbying
What’s the difference?
Lobbying = asking for a specific vote on specific legislation or election.
Education = everything else

12. How a Bill Becomes a Law
What are the opportunities for public involvement in law-making?
Electing legislators
Introducing bills
Hearings
Floor votes
Other?
What’s missing?
Referendum: Government asks for citizen vote
Ballot measure: Citizens/groups initiate vote
Policy oversight: After the bill becomes law

13. Who Practices Advocacy?
Business, nonprofit, government, education, citizen groups, individuals
Laws govern how much each can do
What limitations are there on nonprofit advocacy?
In your org: Who’s allowed?
ED, Staff, Board, Volunteers, Clients, Supporters?
What kinds of advocacy can each do?
Be sure to check policies of your org!!!!
When in doubt, advocate as a private citizen

14. Activity 20 minutes Divide into small groups
Review “Messaging” homework together
Collaborate on one “Messaging” outline together
Designate who will do what in your legislative meeting
Be prepared to roll play!

15. Activity De-Brief What was challenging about the activity?
What did you learn?
What additional info or prep would you like before an actual legislative meeting?

16. Closing
Advocacy: Put your passion into action!