Advocacy/Organizing Social Work

Flashcards about Advocacy and Community Organizing in Social Work

Social Work Advocacy

Championing the rights of society’s most vulnerable members

Community Organizing

Engaging with groups, organizations, and communities to bring about positive changes and solve social problems identified by community members.

Step 1 of Community Organizing: Integrate into the community

The social worker immerses themself in the community to understand dynamics, strengths, and concerns, and to build trusting relationships.

Step 2 of Community Organizing: Identify the issue impacting the community

Identify felt needs/problems impacting the community and work with community members to rank their importance and urgency.

Step 3 of Community Organizing: Identify individuals and create core group

Engage local leaders and individuals identified during step 1; consider influential community members committed to change.

Step 4 of Community Organizing: Set goals and objectives

Create goals that identify the overall outcome/change expected and objectives that specify the details of the community intervention in measurable terms.

Step 5 of Community Organizing: Create an action plan to meet goals

Identify ways to work towards objectives, determine possible outcomes/barriers, and identify needed resources.

Step 6 of Community Organizing: Execute and monitor the action plan

Train staff as needed and engage in community meetings and the action plan.

Step 7 of Community Organizing: Evaluate the effect of the action plan on the stated goals

Ongoing process to identify what worked, what was accomplished, and what is still being worked towards. A final evaluation should assess the overall impact and accomplishment of goals and objectives; reassess the problem to see if further intervention is needed.

Lobbying

The process of influencing public policy.

Lobbyists

Professional advocates hired to represent specific causes and interest groups to legislators.

Coalition

A group of people or organizations who share a common interest and work collaboratively to achieve a shared goal.

Internal Coalition

Works within a specific organization to achieve a goal (e.g., a trade union).

External Coalition

Works with multiple organizations to achieve a common goal (e.g., 'Coalition to Stop Gun Violence').