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Respond to two colleagues:
Explain how social work ethical values
relate to advocacy.
Describe how you might decide when and
where to engage in advocacy based on the risks your colleague identified. –
Jeleza Jones
This term, I engaged in advocacy by working
with a local community organization to raise awareness about our city’s lack of
affordable housing options. We organized a series of community meetings and
conducted research to gather data on the housing situation, including
affordability rates, eviction rates, and the impact on vulnerable populations
such as low-income families and individuals experiencing homelessness.
The concepts from this week’s resources are
highly relevant to my advocacy work. For instance, the distinction between
case, legislative, and community advocacy is crucial in understanding the
different levels at which social workers can intervene to bring about change.
In my case, our advocacy efforts primarily fell under the category of community
advocacy, as we aimed to represent the needs of our local community regarding
affordable housing.
Regarding potential risks, there are
several considerations. Firstly, as a social worker engaged in advocacy, there’s
always the risk of backlash or resistance from individuals or entities who may
be opposed to the advocated changes. This could manifest in various forms, such
as criticism, pushback, or even threats. Additionally, there’s the risk of
burnout or emotional exhaustion, especially when advocating for issues that are
deeply entrenched and seem resistant to change.
Furthermore, there may be professional
risks involved, such as conflicts of interest or ethical dilemmas, particularly
if advocacy efforts intersect with personal beliefs or organizational policies
(Kirst-Ashman & Hull, 2018). Social workers must navigate these risks
carefully to ensure they uphold ethical standards and maintain the trust of
their clients and communities.
However, despite these risks, the need to
advocate for what is just often outweighs the potential drawbacks. The core
values of social work, including social justice and advocacy for marginalized
populations, compel social workers to take action in the face of injustice and
inequality. By advocating for positive change, social workers can contribute to
creating a more equitable society where all individuals have access to the
resources and opportunities they need to thrive.
Reference
Kirst-Ashman, K. K., & Hull, G. J. H.
(2018). Empowerment Series: Understanding Generalist Practice (8th ed.). Boston, MA, Cengage
Learning.
Aria Bullard:
I advocated for 88 families and my 12
administrative employees daily during this term. The two classes I took this
term gave me additional knowledge and the ability to apply some of those skills
to improve my current role and relationships with the individuals and families
I encounter daily. I have been able to provide both case and community advocacy
as I have worked with my staff and the families we serve, in addition to going
out into the communities in which we serve, gathering information, doing
community needs assessments, coming back to my policy council and governance
board and providing possible solutions to lack of resources and creating
opportunity for families and members in the community. I advocated for
additional and free resources for my families, mental health services,
disability, and developmental delay screening (which is difficult to receive in
the delta region of Arkansas since we service children birth to three years of
age). For my employees, I advocated for them with our executive director about
the performance evaluation and pay increases, considering we received a 2.63%
COLA. Being able to hear their concerns and be the voice of reasoning and
solution is always a challenging but amazing task because I can be the bridge
for people in need.
Engage the client in the process of
evaluating effectiveness. “Evaluation develops critical thinking and
problem-solving skills that are transferable to their lives. Belluomini, E.
(2014, Winter)”. This week’s resources apply to the acts of advocacy I
partake in because they provide a clear understanding of our responsibility to
promote the general welfare of society, whether locally or on global levels, in
addition to advocating for living conditions conducive to fulfilling basic
human needs. It was further conveyed that regardless of the population you
serve, micro, mezzo, or macro, engaging the client and ensuring that there is a
sense of inclusion will positively affect the outcome. Using case and community
advocacy, it is crucial that I engage my clients in the process of evaluating
effectiveness because hearing from them is the only way I can change that will
be substantial. According to the NASW, 2008, Sec. 604: (a) Social workers
should engage in social and political action that seeks 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.
You can run into numerous risks and risks
that already exist for a social worker who serves as an advocate. When
advocating in this field, there are so many political things, and you have to
ensure that you are not blurring lines and allowing your own biases to affect
what or how you advocate. You must also ensure that you understand the
policies, procedures, and regulations you must adhere to when working with
specific entities. This could pose potential professional risks such as
conflicts of interest or ethical dilemmas. As a social worker, you must
navigate specific spaces with a heightened sense of awareness to uphold ethical
standards and avoid implicit and explicit biases.
References
Kirst-Ashman, K. K., & Hull, G. H., Jr.
(2018). Empowerment series: Understanding generalist practice (8th ed.).
CENGAGE Learning.
Hoefer, R. (2016). Social justice and
advocacy practice. Download Social justice and advocacy practice.In Advocacy
practice for social justice (3rd ed., pp. 23–42). Oxford University Press.
Belluomini, E. (2014, Winter). Using
digital self-advocacy to empower social work populations.Links to an external
site. The New Social Worker.
http://www.socialworker.com/feature-articles/technology-articles/using-digital-self-advocacy-to-empower-social-work-populatio/
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