©2011, Cengage Learning, Brooks/ Col©2011, Cengage Learning, Brooks/ Cole Publishinge Publishing
Becoming an Effective Becoming an Effective Policy AdvocatePolicy Advocate
Bruce Jansson, University of Southern CaliforniaBruce Jansson, University of Southern California
PowerPoint created byPowerPoint created by
Gretchen Heidemann, MSW, PhD CandidateGretchen Heidemann, MSW, PhD Candidate
University of Southern CaliforniaUniversity of Southern California
School of Social WorkSchool of Social Work
©2011, Cengage Learning, Brooks/ Col©2011, Cengage Learning, Brooks/ Cole Publishinge Publishing
Chapter 3Chapter 3Obtaining Skills and Competencies Obtaining Skills and Competencies
for Policy Advocacyfor Policy Advocacy
©2011, Cengage Learning, Brooks/ Col©2011, Cengage Learning, Brooks/ Cole Publishinge Publishing
A Policy Practice FrameworkA Policy Practice Framework
A useful policy practice framework:A useful policy practice framework:– Places policy advocacy in its contextual setting– Identifies the values, ideology, interests, and goals of
stakeholders in specific policy situations– Discusses patterns of participation– Identifies tasks that policy advocates undertake in
their work– Identifies skills that policy advocates should possess– Identifies the key competencies that policy advocates
should possess
©2011, Cengage Learning, Brooks/ Col©2011, Cengage Learning, Brooks/ Cole Publishinge Publishing
The Policy ContextThe Policy Context
Encourages us to ask important questions about how policy making works, both in general and in specific situations
Helps us understand the (often vacillating) response of public and nongovernmental officials to major historical events – such as the September 11th terrorist attacks
or Hurricane Katrina
©2011, Cengage Learning, Brooks/ Col©2011, Cengage Learning, Brooks/ Cole Publishinge Publishing
Stakeholders vs. Policy Stakeholders vs. Policy InitiatorsInitiators
Stakeholders are persons with a vested interest in a specific policy or issue being contestedWe call them stakeholders because they have a stake in a policy or issue, whether political or economic, or because they are directly affected by itPolicy advocates need to identify these groups, and to understand the likely positions and perspectives they take, because they probably will become involved when advocates try to initiate, modify, or terminate a specific policy
©2011, Cengage Learning, Brooks/ Col©2011, Cengage Learning, Brooks/ Cole Publishinge Publishing
Stakeholders vs. Policy Stakeholders vs. Policy InitiatorsInitiators
Stakeholders can include:Stakeholders can include:– Leaders and members of interest groups– Advocacy groups– Program administrators and staff– Legislators and their aides– Heads of government and heads of political parties– Governmental agencies– Consumers or beneficiaries– Regulatory bodies and courts– Professional groups associated with the issue– Corporate interests– Trade union leaders and members
©2011, Cengage Learning, Brooks/ Col©2011, Cengage Learning, Brooks/ Cole Publishinge Publishing
Stakeholders vs. Policy Stakeholders vs. Policy InitiatorsInitiators
Interest by a large number of stakeholders Interest by a large number of stakeholders exists when:exists when:– The policy initiative is ideologically chargedThe policy initiative is ideologically charged– The policy initiative is seen as affecting their The policy initiative is seen as affecting their
basic economic and political interestsbasic economic and political interests– The policy initiative is perceived as costing a The policy initiative is perceived as costing a
lot of moneylot of money
©2011, Cengage Learning, Brooks/ Col©2011, Cengage Learning, Brooks/ Cole Publishinge Publishing
Stakeholders vs. Policy Stakeholders vs. Policy InitiatorsInitiators
Policy initiators are persons or groups that initiate a change in existing policy
They may propose a new policy, or the modification or termination of an existing policy
©2011, Cengage Learning, Brooks/ Col©2011, Cengage Learning, Brooks/ Cole Publishinge Publishing
Patterns of ParticipationPatterns of Participation
Other people who participate in policy deliberations:– Bystanders take no part in policy deliberations– Policy responders seek to modify or change
the policy proposals of the initiators They want to expand their ranks by attracting people from other groups
– Opposers decide to block or modify proposalsThey want to convert people to their position
©2011, Cengage Learning, Brooks/ Col©2011, Cengage Learning, Brooks/ Cole Publishinge Publishing
The Eight Tasks of Policy The Eight Tasks of Policy PractitionersPractitioners
Task 1: Task 1: Deciding what is right and wrong – Practitioners use ethics and analysis to
decide if specific policies are meritorious– If they believe the policy lacks ethical merit,
they may to launch a policy advocacy intervention
©2011, Cengage Learning, Brooks/ Col©2011, Cengage Learning, Brooks/ Cole Publishinge Publishing
The Eight Tasks of Policy The Eight Tasks of Policy PractitionersPractitioners
Task 2: Task 2: Navigating policy and advocacy systems– Practitioners decide where to focus and
position their policy intervention, such as:whether to seek changes at the local, state, or federal levelwhether to seek changes in public policies or the policies of a specific organizationwhether to address specific social problems in international venues, such as by changing immigration policies
©2011, Cengage Learning, Brooks/ Col©2011, Cengage Learning, Brooks/ Cole Publishinge Publishing
The Eight Tasks of Policy The Eight Tasks of Policy PractitionersPractitioners
Task 3: Agenda-settingTask 3: Agenda-setting– Practitioners gauge whether the context is
favorable for a policy initiative– They evolve early strategy to place it on policy
makers’ agendas
©2011, Cengage Learning, Brooks/ Col©2011, Cengage Learning, Brooks/ Cole Publishinge Publishing
The Eight Tasks of Policy The Eight Tasks of Policy PractitionersPractitioners
Task 4: Problem-analyzingTask 4: Problem-analyzing– Practitioners analyze the causes, nature, and
prevalence of specific problem – They gather information about the prevalence
and geographic location of specific problems
©2011, Cengage Learning, Brooks/ Col©2011, Cengage Learning, Brooks/ Cole Publishinge Publishing
The Eight Tasks of Policy The Eight Tasks of Policy PractitionersPractitioners
Task 5: Proposal-writingTask 5: Proposal-writing– Practitioners develop solutions to specific
problems
– Proposals may be relatively ambitious, such as a piece of legislation, or relatively modest, such as incremental changes in existing policies
©2011, Cengage Learning, Brooks/ Col©2011, Cengage Learning, Brooks/ Cole Publishinge Publishing
The Eight Tasks of Policy The Eight Tasks of Policy PractitionersPractitioners
Task 6: Policy-enactingTask 6: Policy-enacting– Practitioners try to have policies approved or
enacted
©2011, Cengage Learning, Brooks/ Col©2011, Cengage Learning, Brooks/ Cole Publishinge Publishing
The Eight Tasks of Policy The Eight Tasks of Policy PractitionersPractitioners
Task 7: Policy implementingTask 7: Policy implementing– Practitioners Practitioners try to carry out enacted policies– Considerable conflict can erupt during this
stage– Many stakeholders try to shape how specific
policies are implemented
©2011, Cengage Learning, Brooks/ Col©2011, Cengage Learning, Brooks/ Cole Publishinge Publishing
The Eight Tasks of Policy The Eight Tasks of Policy PractitionersPractitioners
Task 8: Policy assessingTask 8: Policy assessing– Practitioners evaluate programs by obtaining
data about the implemented policy’s performance
– They assess programs to see if they fulfill certain objectives
©2011, Cengage Learning, Brooks/ Col©2011, Cengage Learning, Brooks/ Cole Publishinge Publishing
The Eight Tasks of Policy The Eight Tasks of Policy PractitionersPractitioners
These policy tasks are not always easily These policy tasks are not always easily distinguishabledistinguishable
Practitioners Practitioners often engage in several of these tasks at the same time
Rarely are the tasks accomplished sequentially and predictably– Ex: Response to Hurricane Katrina
©2011, Cengage Learning, Brooks/ Col©2011, Cengage Learning, Brooks/ Cole Publishinge Publishing
Four Skills That Policy Four Skills That Policy Practitioners NeedPractitioners Need
Analytic SkillsAnalytic Skills– to evaluate social problems and develop
policy proposals– to analyze the severity of specific problems– to identify the barriers to policy
implementation– to develop strategies for assessing programs
©2011, Cengage Learning, Brooks/ Col©2011, Cengage Learning, Brooks/ Cole Publishinge Publishing
Four Skills That Policy Four Skills That Policy Practitioners NeedPractitioners Need
Political SkillsPolitical Skills– to gain and use power– to develop and implement political strategy
©2011, Cengage Learning, Brooks/ Col©2011, Cengage Learning, Brooks/ Cole Publishinge Publishing
Four Skills That Policy Four Skills That Policy Practitioners NeedPractitioners Need
Interactional SkillsInteractional Skills– to participate in task groups, such as
committees and coalitions– to persuade other people to support specific
policies
©2011, Cengage Learning, Brooks/ Col©2011, Cengage Learning, Brooks/ Cole Publishinge Publishing
Four Skills That Policy Four Skills That Policy Practitioners NeedPractitioners Need
Value-clarifying SkillsValue-clarifying Skills– to identify and rank relevant principles when
engaging in policy practice
©2011, Cengage Learning, Brooks/ Col©2011, Cengage Learning, Brooks/ Cole Publishinge Publishing
Political CompetenciesPolitical Competencies
Using the mass mediaUsing the mass media
Taking a personal positionTaking a personal position
Advocating a position with a Advocating a position with a decision makerdecision maker
Seeking positions of powerSeeking positions of power
Empowering othersEmpowering others
Orchestrating pressure on Orchestrating pressure on decision makersdecision makers
Findings resources to fund Findings resources to fund advocacy workadvocacy work
Developing and using Developing and using personal powerpersonal powerDonating time/resources to Donating time/resources to an advocacy groupan advocacy groupAdvocating for the needs of Advocating for the needs of a clienta clientParticipating in Participating in demonstrationdemonstrationLitigating to change policiesLitigating to change policiesParticipating in political Participating in political campaignscampaignsVoter registrationVoter registration
©2011, Cengage Learning, Brooks/ Col©2011, Cengage Learning, Brooks/ Cole Publishinge Publishing
Analytic CompetenciesAnalytic Competencies
Developing a proposalDeveloping a proposalCalculating tradeoffsCalculating tradeoffsDoing force field analysisDoing force field analysisUsing social science Using social science researchresearchConducting a marketing Conducting a marketing studystudyUsing the internetUsing the internetWorking with budgetsWorking with budgetsFinding funding sourcesFinding funding sourcesDiagnosing audiencesDiagnosing audiences
Designing a presentationDesigning a presentationDiagnosing barriers to Diagnosing barriers to implementationimplementationDesigning implementation Designing implementation strategystrategyDeveloping political Developing political strategystrategyAnalyzing the contextAnalyzing the contextDesigning policy Designing policy assessmentsassessmentsSelecting a policy Selecting a policy practice stylepractice style
©2011, Cengage Learning, Brooks/ Col©2011, Cengage Learning, Brooks/ Cole Publishinge Publishing
Interactional CompetenciesInteractional Competencies
Coalition buildingCoalition building
Making presentationsMaking presentations
Building personal powerBuilding personal power
Task group formation and maintenanceTask group formation and maintenance
Managing conflictManaging conflict
©2011, Cengage Learning, Brooks/ Col©2011, Cengage Learning, Brooks/ Cole Publishinge Publishing
Value-clarifying CompetenciesValue-clarifying Competencies
Engaging in ethical reasoningEngaging in ethical reasoning
©2011, Cengage Learning, Brooks/ Col©2011, Cengage Learning, Brooks/ Cole Publishinge Publishing
Styles of Policy PracticeStyles of Policy Practice
Electoral style – Used when policy advocates want to get
someone elected to office or when they want to initiate or contest a ballot initiative (i.e. proposition)
– The goal is to change the composition of government by:
getting progressive candidates into officedefeating less progressive candidatesgetting a ballot initiative enacted or defeated
©2011, Cengage Learning, Brooks/ Col©2011, Cengage Learning, Brooks/ Cole Publishinge Publishing
Styles of Policy PracticeStyles of Policy Practice
Legislative advocacy style – The goal is to secure the enactment of
meritorious legislation or defeat ill-conceived measures
– They work with advocacy groups, community-based organizations, professional associations, and lobbyists
– They try to convince legislators to adopt their measure or to defeat a measure that they dislike
©2011, Cengage Learning, Brooks/ Col©2011, Cengage Learning, Brooks/ Cole Publishinge Publishing
Styles of Policy PracticeStyles of Policy Practice
Analytic style – Using data to develop policy proposals or
evaluate how existing policies are working– They often work in or with think tanks,
academic units, funders, or government agencies
©2011, Cengage Learning, Brooks/ Col©2011, Cengage Learning, Brooks/ Cole Publishinge Publishing
Styles of Policy PracticeStyles of Policy Practice
Troubleshooting style – Used to increase the effectiveness of
operating programs or to evaluate them with an eye to improving them
– They need to work with planning groups that consist of members of the implementing team
– They sometimes work with outside groups of consumers or others who bring pressure on the staff of a program to change it
©2011, Cengage Learning, Brooks/ Col©2011, Cengage Learning, Brooks/ Cole Publishinge Publishing
Styles of Policy AdvocacyStyles of Policy Advocacy
Advocates need a combination of each of the four skills to be effectiveIn hybrid styles, policy advocates combine or move between the four different stylesPolicy practitioners who rely on a single skill are sometimes stereotyped: – opportunists rely on political skills– do-gooders rely on values– policy wonks rely on analytic data
©2011, Cengage Learning, Brooks/ Col©2011, Cengage Learning, Brooks/ Cole Publishinge Publishing
Applications of Policy Tasks and Applications of Policy Tasks and SkillsSkills
Task 1: Deciding What is Right and WrongTask 1: Deciding What is Right and Wrong– Policy advocates use a combination of ethical
and analytic skills to decide whether to launch an advocacy intervention
– They may use utilitarian or first-principle ethical reasoning to decide that the status quo violates ethical precepts
– They may draw upon research to decide that existing policies are not as effective as alternative or proposed ones
©2011, Cengage Learning, Brooks/ Col©2011, Cengage Learning, Brooks/ Cole Publishinge Publishing
Applications of Policy Tasks and Applications of Policy Tasks and SkillsSkills
Task 2: Navigating Policy and Advocacy Task 2: Navigating Policy and Advocacy SystemsSystems– Policy advocates use analytic and political skills to
decide where to focus their policy advocacy– They may decide to try to change a specific state law,
not only because it will best address a specific problem, but because it is politically feasible
– They might use their analytic and political skills to focus on local public officials
©2011, Cengage Learning, Brooks/ Col©2011, Cengage Learning, Brooks/ Cole Publishinge Publishing
Applications of Policy Tasks and Applications of Policy Tasks and SkillsSkills
Task 3: Building AgendasTask 3: Building Agendas– Policy advocates use analytic skills to demonstrate
that a crisis exists and that the problem deserves serious attention
– They use political skills to associate issues with political threats and opportunities in the minds of decision makers
– They use interactional skills to place issues on the agendas of decision makers
– They use value-clarifying skills when they seek a preferred position for a specific problem in policy deliberations
©2011, Cengage Learning, Brooks/ Col©2011, Cengage Learning, Brooks/ Cole Publishinge Publishing
Applications of Policy Tasks and Applications of Policy Tasks and SkillsSkills
Task 4: Analyzing ProblemsTask 4: Analyzing Problems– Policy advocates use analytic skills to Policy advocates use analytic skills to understand the
social problems that they seek to address through policy initiatives
how many persons are impacted by a specific problemwhat kinds of persons possess the problem by race, ethnicity, social class, place of residence, and other characteristics what causes persons to develop specific social problems such as homelessness
– They use political skills to frame a specific policy proposal to attract the attention of decision makers
©2011, Cengage Learning, Brooks/ Col©2011, Cengage Learning, Brooks/ Cole Publishinge Publishing
Applications of Policy Tasks and Applications of Policy Tasks and SkillsSkills
Task 5: Writing ProposalsTask 5: Writing Proposals– Policy advocates use analytic skills to develop criteria
that they use to rank an array of policy alternatives that they wish to consider
– They use political and value-clarification skills to decide when to accept or oppose amendments
– They use interactional skills by working with committees to fashion proposals, and by having personal discussions with a proposal’s friends and foes to bolster friendly amendments and soften or avert hostile ones
©2011, Cengage Learning, Brooks/ Col©2011, Cengage Learning, Brooks/ Cole Publishinge Publishing
Applications of Policy Tasks and Applications of Policy Tasks and SkillsSkills
Task 6: Enacting PolicyTask 6: Enacting Policy– Policy advocates Policy advocates use analytic skills when developing
strategy to enact policyThey analyze the context, identify power resources, and evolve a coherent political strategy
– They use political skills to implement the strategy– They use interactional skills to gain inside information
about the strategies their opponents use, to convert people to their side, and to keep opponents on the defensive
– They use value-clarifying skills to decide what tactics are ethically meritorious and which are not
©2011, Cengage Learning, Brooks/ Col©2011, Cengage Learning, Brooks/ Cole Publishinge Publishing
Applications of Policy Tasks and Applications of Policy Tasks and SkillsSkills
Task 7: Implementing PolicyTask 7: Implementing Policy– Policy practitioners use analytic skills to decide what
kinds of organizational arrangements will help implement specific policies
– They use political skills to develop strategy to offset barriers to the effective implementation of a policy
– They use interactional skills to improve the implementation of a policy by mediating disputes, forging interagency agreements, and providing training sessions so staff know how to implement it
– They use value-clarifying skills to decide who should receive priority in getting services when resources are insufficient
©2011, Cengage Learning, Brooks/ Col©2011, Cengage Learning, Brooks/ Cole Publishinge Publishing
Applications of Policy Tasks and Applications of Policy Tasks and SkillsSkills
Task 8: Assessing PolicyTask 8: Assessing Policy– Policy advocates use analytic skills to decide
what kinds of data are needed, how to collect them, and how to interpret their findings
– They use political skills to manage conflict, such as when they encounter disagreement about what evaluation criteria to use
– They use interactional skills to develop an assessment methodology, gather data, and interpret findings
©2011, Cengage Learning, Brooks/ Col©2011, Cengage Learning, Brooks/ Cole Publishinge Publishing
Ballot-Based AdvocacyBallot-Based Advocacy
The 8 tasks also apply to developing and managing a political campaign– A candidate may run for office because she believes
her opponent lacks ethical grounding to decide what is right and what is wrong
– She selects which office to seek as she navigates policy and advocacy systems
– She decides when it is propitious to run for office in the context of background factors (agenda-building)
– She needs to decipher why her likely opponent is defeatable (policy analysis)
©2011, Cengage Learning, Brooks/ Col©2011, Cengage Learning, Brooks/ Cole Publishinge Publishing
Ballot-Based AdvocacyBallot-Based Advocacy
– She needs to build her case so that she stands a decent chance of winning (proposal construction)
– She needs to actually wage the campaign by making correct strategy choices, mustering volunteers, raising funds, and using the mass media (policy enacting and policy implementing)
– She needs to assess her strategy and campaign organization so she can decide whether to run again, if she loses, or to develop strategy for the next campaign, if she wins
©2011, Cengage Learning, Brooks/ Col©2011, Cengage Learning, Brooks/ Cole Publishinge Publishing
Ballot-Based AdvocacyBallot-Based Advocacy
Political candidates also need the 4 skillsPolitical candidates also need the 4 skills– Political skills to devise strategy – Value-clarifying skills to decide what tactics
are ethical to use during the campaign – Analytic skills to initiate and debate campaign
issues and to devise solutions to them – Interactional skills to develop and maintain a
campaign organization
©2011, Cengage Learning, Brooks/ Col©2011, Cengage Learning, Brooks/ Cole Publishinge Publishing
The Variety of PoliciesThe Variety of Policies
Social workers confront policy issues at virtually every turn
The services they provide are dictated by policies from many sources
These policies shape the lives and work of citizens, clients, and implementing staff
©2011, Cengage Learning, Brooks/ Col©2011, Cengage Learning, Brooks/ Cole Publishinge Publishing
The Variety of PoliciesThe Variety of Policies
These policies vary in their effects and importance– Some are trivial, others have considerable
impact
They vary in their malleability– Some are easier to change than others
©2011, Cengage Learning, Brooks/ Col©2011, Cengage Learning, Brooks/ Cole Publishinge Publishing
The Variety of PoliciesThe Variety of Policies
Policy advocates need not focus on one particular kind of policyThey can try to change simple or complex, agency or legislative, or controversial or non-controversial policiesThis underscores the need for flexibility– Policy practice occurs in many kinds of settings, takes
many forms, and varies with the issue and the context– We must understand the concepts, skills, tasks, and
frameworks that apply to a range of policy practice situations
©2011, Cengage Learning, Brooks/ Col©2011, Cengage Learning, Brooks/ Cole Publishinge Publishing
Overcoming Discomfort with Overcoming Discomfort with PowerPower
The use of power is crucial in policy The use of power is crucial in policy advocacyadvocacy– Power is used to:
Persuade highly placed officials to prioritize an agenda
Help enact or block proposals
Gain access to networks of people who have information
©2011, Cengage Learning, Brooks/ Col©2011, Cengage Learning, Brooks/ Cole Publishinge Publishing
Overcoming Discomfort with Overcoming Discomfort with PowerPower
It is NOT unethical for social workers to develop and use power
In fact, they already use power in their professional work:– They use sanctions and penalties for clients whose
responses to services fall outside expectations– They enforce (or choose not to enforce) agency
procedures – They take sides in family or other conflicts, sometimes
in subtle ways
©2011, Cengage Learning, Brooks/ Col©2011, Cengage Learning, Brooks/ Cole Publishinge Publishing
Overcoming Discomfort with Overcoming Discomfort with PowerPower
We need to demystify power and declare it a professional resource vital to both clinical work and policy practicePower needs to be observed, modeled, and practiced as a professional skillSocial workers also need to develop leadership skills so they can initiate and assume important policy-making roles
Policy leadership is taking the initiative to develop new policies and to change existing ones to improve the human condition
©2011, Cengage Learning, Brooks/ Col©2011, Cengage Learning, Brooks/ Cole Publishinge Publishing
Social Policy’s Role in Social Policy’s Role in Ecological FrameworksEcological Frameworks
When social workers fail to exert policy leadership, they allow other people with less commitment to clients’ well-being and to oppressed minorities’ needs to shape the human services delivery systemSocial workers who wish to help their clients have a professional duty to try to reform those policies that cause or exacerbate their clients’ problemsOtherwise, they ignore key elements of the ecosystems of their clientsPolicy advocacy is thus a professional intervention because it is geared to improving the well-being of citizens and clients