1. Dr. Allan Barsky “Conflict Resolution for the Helping Professions”
Chapter 10: Advocacy
Dr. Allan Barsky
“Conflict Resolution for the Helping Professions”

2. Advocacy - Definition
Influencing decisions affecting the welfare or interests of another individual or group.
Examples:
Balancing power
Promoting rights
Ensuring interests met
Fostering social equity
Supporting better CR systems & processes
Making sure people are treated well
Improving relationships
Allan Barsky - Ch. 10 Advocacy
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3. Advocacy Levels Case (Client) Cause Individual Family Small group
Policy
System
Administrative
Allan Barsky - Ch. 10 Advocacy
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4. Inspiration for Advocacy
Professional Values & Ethics
Concern for People We Serve
Social Justice
Health & Mental Health
Family and Cultural Values
Empathy and Compassion
Love - Unselfish Devotion
Religion and Spirituality
Allan Barsky - Ch. 10 Advocacy
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5. Think of a person who is the model of a great advocate.
Advocacy Qualities
Think of a person who is the model of a great advocate.
What qualities does this person possess that make him or her a great advocate?
Perseverance, intelligence, creativity, articulate, informed, patient, passionate, peaceful, strategic, caring…
Allan Barsky - Ch. 10 Advocacy
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6. Power: capacity to influence others for benefit of… Rights Interests
Advocacy Approaches
Power: capacity to influence others for benefit of…
Rights
Interests
Transformation
Banana Game 
Allan Barsky - Ch. 10 Advocacy
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7. Advocacy Relationships
Adversary
Neutral
Ally
Would like to have mostly allies… everyone a potential ally?
How do you assess who is which?
What strategies to use with each?
Allan Barsky - Ch. 10 Advocacy
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8. “Advocacy With” - Empowering
Preparation
Support during Meetings
Support after Meetings
Allan Barsky - Ch. 10 Advocacy
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9. “Advocacy With” - Empowering
Listens to client with empathy
Helps client engage in CR, using own voice
Coaches – skills, confidence, mindfulness
Offers help, does not impose
Helps client choose
Rehearses with client
Links with other supports
Helps with unreasonable expectations
Encourages ethical responses to conflict
Allan Barsky - Ch. 10 Advocacy
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10. ”Advocate For” - Representative
Engages and listens to client
Helps client assess and decide
Jointly identify goals
Plans advocacy strategies (power, rights, interests)
Works with allies
Prepares stories, research, evidence, arguments
Advocates in a mindful, effective manner
Allan Barsky - Ch. 10 Advocacy
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11. Employing Sources of Power
Expert
Associational
Resource
Procedure
Legitimate
Sanction
Nuisance
Habitual
Moral
Personal
Allan Barsky - Ch. 10 Advocacy
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12. Continuum of Advocacy – Change Efforts
Discussion
Collaboration
Persuasion
Prodding
Coercion
Ethical issues with exertion of power – lying, respect for dignity and worth, integrity, winning the war and losing the battle…
Allan Barsky - Ch. 10 Advocacy
9/22/2019

13. Techniques Collaborative vs. Adversarial Research (PAR)
How important are the relationships – as a means, as an end?
Research (PAR)
Community empowerment / Coalitions
Collective action: power with vs. power over
Creativity: Art, Drama, Music
Civic engagement
Civil disobedience
Nonviolence
Example from Lobby Day/LEAD – bill requiring people to go to the bathroom of their biological sex, not their gender identity – students outside bathrooms asking for proof of sex. (bathroom police)
Allan Barsky - Ch. 10 Advocacy
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14. “They’re stupid.” Rhetoric Using language to persuade others
Social construction theory
E.g. Obamacare, Pro-Life
“They’re stupid.”
Allan Barsky - Ch. 10 Advocacy
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15. Ethos Pathos Logos Rhetoric: Aristotle Credibility Trust Emotions
Passion
Values
Logos
Logic
Proof
Sound Argument
Allan Barsky - Ch. 10 Advocacy
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16. Repetition Reframing Rhetorical questions Aligning with values
Rhetoric: Skills
Repetition
Reframing
Rhetorical questions
Aligning with values
Reframing - – positive, negative, scarce…
Allan Barsky - Ch. 10 Advocacy
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17. Legal and Professional Restrictions
Advocacy & Ethics
Legal and Professional Restrictions
Agency Mandate, Policies, and Resources
Individual vs. Group Interests
Client Authorization: Informed Consent & Confidentiality
Professional Values
Futile Causes
Exercises and Topics Selected by Class – not enough time for all
Also – legislative advocacy PPTs, social action course, nonviolent communication
Advocacy without victims
Allan Barsky - Ch. 10 Advocacy
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18. Discussion Questions
2. Advocates for Helping Professionals 4. Levels of Advocacy 6. Conflict Analysis & Planning 9. Venus/Mars 10. Role Reversal 13. Ethical Issues 15. Incivility
Allan Barsky - Ch. 10 Advocacy
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19. Role-Play 10.2: Conversion Therapy Controversy
Loretta – Lesbian youth
George – Guardian
Anders – Advocate
L & G want Conflictia Family Services to cease use of conversion therapy
Anders’ role is to empower L & G (advocate with)
Allan Barsky - Ch. 10 Advocacy
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20. Role-Play 10.5: “Workfare Case”
ROC government proposes workfare program
LOC opposes
SIM flip-flops on issue
Meeting between one advocate for each party
Identify and practice particular advocacy skills from inventories in chapter
Who are they trying to convince? What advocacy approach did each advocate select? How well did their strategies fit with their chosen approach? How well did they implement each strategy?
Allan Barsky - Ch. 10 Advocacy
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21. Major Assignment Role-Plays
Prepare by reading cases
Choose specific strategies and skills by using preparation tools (advocacy inventories and and tools from other chapters)
Conduct pre-advocacy meetings
In class: Advocacy Role-Plays
Debriefing: Which strategies & skills did each advocate demonstrate? Which one were effective? Not so effective? Why?
Advocacy as a dance… does it look like fun, fighting, violence, love…?
Allan Barsky - Ch. 10 Advocacy
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22. Antidiscrimination Protest Case
Four Role-Plays
Antidiscrimination Protest Case
To Hold or Not to Hold
Helga’s Heart
Archie’s Adoption
Times may vary – includes time for set up, preparation, and debriefing after; take risks; have fun (not everybody is going to try to be “constructive;” challenges, surprises), hand out advocacy skills feedback forms
Allan Barsky - Ch. 10 Advocacy
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