Course Title: Advocacy OCCU 5003: Dimensions of Professional Practice
Institution: Dalhousie University
What is an advocate?
Comparison: Advocacy vs. Activism
B2: Work collaboratively with other professionals and stakeholders
B2.1: Advocate for clients to engage in decision-making
C3: Contribute to occupational rights and self-determination
C3.6: Advocate for policies that support sustainable occupational participation at the population health and systems levels
F4: Demonstrate leadership in the profession throughout one's career
F4.2: Advocate for alignment between occupational therapy standards, organizational policies, social justice, and best practices
An advocate is:
Someone who supports or recommends a cause or policy publicly
Provides independent support to those who feel unheard
Ensures rights are respected, and assists in accessing and understanding information and services
Role: Speaking on behalf of individuals/groups, facilitating self-advocacy.
Role: Intentional actions aimed at creating social/political change, such as protests.
Approach: Focuses on solutions while addressing issues needing change.
Method: Works outside systems to prompt change.
Occupational Therapists (OTs) must:
Recognize, prevent, and manage conflicts of interest in practice.
Conflict arises when relationships influence professional judgment.
Impact: Compromises client trust and public perception of the profession.
Responsibility includes behaviors outside work reflecting on the profession.
Communicating one's own interests and rights.
Supporting a peer or client with specific issues.
Efforts aimed at changing impactful policies or laws.
Identify the issue
Gather the facts
Develop the key message (e.g., CAOT-BC)
Build support
Communicate the message
Monitor, assess, and adjust strategies
Analyze the situation
Identify advocacy issues
Gather evidence
Set goals/objectives
Mobilize resources
Involve stakeholders
Analyze policy and develop messages
Identify targets and influential parties
Process: Deliberate influence on decision-makers.
Needed to identify gaps and policy change objectives.
Mobilize resources and engage champions for advocacy.
Importance of trust and professional credibility for OTs.
Advocacy engagement must align with Code of Ethics:
Uphold values of respect and trust.
Professional conduct must avoid harm to public trust.
Is my communication civil and ethical?
Am I contributing constructively to social discourse?
Am I acting thoughtfully or impulsively?
Is there a risk of breaching confidentiality or boundaries?
Could my conduct encourage unlawful activities?
Embrace advocacy roles as vital professional competencies.
Work collaboratively within systems to implement solutions.
Maintain public trust and respect in all actions.
Prevent/manage conflicts of interest and behavior reflecting poorly on the profession.
Topic: Conflict Management