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- Chapter 4 Agency in Policy Turmoil pgs. 123-124
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- Understanding Generalist Practice (Chap 14)
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ReplyDeleteAdvocacy is an important part of the social work practice. Social workers have to stand up for those who cannot stand for themselves and stand for those who are not heard. Social workers have to stand for their clients’ rights and resources that they need. Social workers have to give over their fears and doubts that they cannot advocate for their clients. They have to believe in themselves and know that they can make a difference. Workers have to aware of the policies that they work under and what policies that they need to advocate for. Social workers can use strategies should as persuasion, fair hearing and legal appeals, using the media, writing letters, and petitioning to persuade policy makers about policies. Whistle blowing is informing the people about illegal, dangerous, and wasteful policies. Advocacy can include individuals, groups, and communities. Social workers have to be mindful of their self-assessments when it comes to your right in advocating.
ReplyDeleteThe main focus of this chapter is advocacy. Advocacy "is an act of representing or defending the rights of clients through direct intervention or through empowerment". The term derives from the social worker's abil;lity to understand their client's and their client's environment. There are times when our clients will be denied legal and civil rights and our obligation is to speak on thier behalf when this occurs. The great need for advocacy developed during the Great Depression. This was a low time for many people and many people needed the help of social workers.
ReplyDeleteThis chapter focuses on the importance of advocacy. It is very important that social workers of all people understand this term, as well as its functions and limitations. What is advocacy you may ask? Advocacy is the act of pleading or arguing in favor of something, such as a cause, idea, or policy. How does advocacy affect social workers and their clients? As a social worker there will be on several occasions where the worker will be encountered by a client that is in of something that he or she is not getting, and it will be up to the social worker to make sure that the client gets what he or she needs in a timely fashion. The social worker will then reach out to the necessary people and stress their concern about what it is that the client maybe lacking, and how without the necessity, how the client will suffer or strain. This is adovacting.
ReplyDeleteThis chapter gives so much information about advocacy. In Kirst-Ashman and Hull's Understanding Generalist Practice (2006), Barker defines advocacy as the, "...act of directly representing or defending others; in social work championing the rights of individuals or communities through direct intervention or through empowerment. According to the NASW Code of Ethics, it is a basic obligation of the profession and its members. [1999, p.11]" (p. 462). This chapter discusses the importance of advocacy in social work practice. It shares advocacy methods that are useful to all social workers. It is very important that social workers understand the meaning of advocacy and their roles as advocates for those in need. In this chapter, Kirst-Ashman and Hull (2006) discuss the knowledge and skills required by advocates along with the assessment process used in advocacy. This way, social workers are more organized and can be more likely to succeed in the quest for change. Also, the authors describe the strategies and tactics used by advocates. The models of advocacy are too reviewed.
ReplyDeleteAll of this information should be used by social workers to help clients. For social workers to be of real assistance, they must be competent and know their roles. They must also know the skills and strategies involved in advocacy. By being experienced, knowledgeable, and well-prepared, social workers can better fight for social justice. They can fight for services for their clients.
This chapter discusses the social work role of advocacy. Advocacy is one of the major and most important roles of a social worker. Be it micro or macro practice, a social worker will commonly practice advocacy. Advocacy is defined as “the act of directly representing or defending others; in social work championing the rights of individuals or communities through direct intervention or through empowerment. According to the NASW Code of Ethics, it is a basic obligation of the profession and its members.” (1999, p. 11) {p. 462} The main goal of advocacy is strive to get others involved to make a decision that would not otherwise been made without outside interference.
ReplyDeleteIn order to provide adequate service as an advocate, a social worker should be aware of their client’s rights. A worker should also have a plan of action rather than attempting to conquer a problem blindly.
Chapter 14 entitled Advocacy is about just that. Advocacy is defined by dictionary.com as, the act of pleading or arguing in favor of something, such as a cause, idea, or policy; active support. The chapter specifically defines advocacy and discusses its relationship to the profession of social work, discusses observations associated with advocacy, explores various observations about power, organization, clients, and different approaches to advocacy, Reviews the knowledge and skills that advocates require, reviews the assessment process used in advocacy situations, describes strategies and tactics used by the advocate, and discusses different models of advocacy. The one part that I like about the chapter is the breakdown in the eight Steps of Legislative Advocacy. This was the most informative to me because it was new knowledge that I obtained. These steps are Developing and revising the draft bill, identifying, obtaining and maintain, the bill’s support, arranging for sponsorship of the bill, working with interest groups, to broaden support for the bill, educating the public, influencing legislative committee consideration, and influencing action on the floor.
ReplyDeleteCitation: Kirst-Ashman, Karen, & Hull, Grafton. (2006).Understanding generalist practice with socialworknow? and infotrac. Wadsworth Pub Co.
“(Generalist social work practice refers to the knowledge base, professional values, and practice skill which enable the social work practitioner to intervene with various size systems (individuals, groups, organizations and communities) at whatever level is most efficient to bring about the desired social change.
ReplyDeleteThe generalist social worker is one who is able to assess, within the framework and ethical guidelines prescribed by the NASW code of ethics, and based on that assessment, identify and intervene at whatever systemic level is most efficient and effective. Problems identified by the worker may require intervention with more than one system and the worker may play several roles (e.g.: facilitator, advocate, broker, enabler, educator, coordinator, activist, mediator, etc.) in an effort to bring about the desired change. A basic principle of generalist practice is that the knowledge and skills necessary to create positive change are transferable form one setting to another.)”
Understanding Generalist Practice focus on two main goals. The first goal aims to teach students relationship building, interviewing, and problem solving skills to speak with clients. The second major goal is to introduce students to generalist practice. It makes social workers not only look at terms for individuals but for groups as well. The practice is made up of three levels of practice. Three levels micro, mezzo, and macro. It helps the student understand different perspective on how to change according to clients. This practice gives you the knowledge and skills needed to work with individuals and families, as well as the foundation knowledge from a generalist perspective to work with groups, communities, and organizations.
Advocacy is so important in Social Work and it is a mane role that we play. What I found interesting in reading this article is that advocacy occurs in cycles and it does make sense because in light of different tragedies around the world or in the United States and more individuals are in need of services. There are many people who are unable to speak for themselves and need assistance in crossing barriers that may occur. I also found it interesting that power in advocacy can be both good and bad. I only thought of how having a lot of power could benefit a client but I never thought of how having power could be bad. Some people obtain power and do not know how to handle it, therefore they will not give the client the attention or proper assistance. Without advocacy many individuals will be left unheard.
ReplyDeleteKirst-Ashman, Karen . Understanding Generalist Practice. Chap 14.
This chapter outlines and discusses advocacy. Advocacy is a HUGE skill and purpose of what social workers stand for. There are many people who are not aware of certain services available. I think many people in small communities are a victim of this because these resources may not be readily available. Advocacy is having the courage and determination to influence outcome.Advocacy can occur in various forms, whether formal, informal, verbal or non verbal communication. There is an eight steps of Legislative procedure to advocacy in the chapter. This was informative and I have never seen this technique before. Overall, advocacy can occur in various ways, and is at the core of what social worker are.
ReplyDeleteKirst-Ashman, Karen . Understanding Generalist Practice. Chap 14.
Understanding Generalist Practice (chptr 14)
ReplyDelete*Advocate:
"1 : one that pleads the cause of another; specifically : one that pleads the cause of another before a tribunal or judicial court
2 : one that defends or maintains a cause or proposal
3 : one that supports or promotes the interests of another"
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/advocate
This chapter discusses the term advocate. A clinician (especially a Social Worker) must always embody this term. A Social Worker must be able to empower their clients through their devotion to their client's well being. The Great Depression spanned the "advocate movement". At this time many individuals were in desperate needs of assistance. Social Workers emerged to relieve those in need. By doing this Social Workers got in-tune with their clients needs and began providing them with as much services as they possibly could. It is extremely important for Social Workers to know the term and to understand its function.
Chapter 14.
ReplyDeleteAdvocacy
In this chapter it defines advocacy and its relationship to the social work practice. I didn’t know there were so many different types of advocacy. Then there’s case advocacy which refers to activity on behalf of a single case. You must have knowledge for case advocacy, then there’s cause advocacy which involves social workers efforts to address an issue of overriding importance to some client group. I have learned that advocacy is a big part of social work. Every thing that I have read thus far pertains to advocacy. This just shows how social workers fight for their clients. I looked at the website in the back of the book www.advocacy.org and this is a wonderful website. Their approach is “Advocacy is a set of hands-on technical skills and practices needed to effectively press for change. It is also the foundation of active citizenship, a process through which ordinary people learn to participate in decision making at all levels. Identifying priorities, crafting a strategy, stepping forward, taking action, and achieving results are critical steps to finding one's voice, making oneself heard, and shaping one's future”.
Kirst ashman, K. (1993). Chapter 14. Grafton H. Hull (Ed.), Understanding Generalist Practice (4).
An advocate is one who speaks for those who cannot speak for themselves in relation to serving clients apart of various populations. Advocacy is essential within any practice of social work. A social worker must be willing to step outside the general description of their duties and fight for their clients no matter what the issue. It is the social worker's task to make sure that the clients is fully exercising all of their rights according to law. In being an advocate for your client you will use various interventions. For example in advocacy you will use the GIM which is the Generalist Intervention Model." It is the means the worker chooses as the most effective way of bringing about the change. Because it is more complex and potentially more problematic than other approaches, advocacy must be carefully considered during the assessment and planning phases (Ashman, Hull, 2006)". While advocating for clients the social worker must be able to utilize all resources available to the client. The practioner must be able to facilitate meetings and inform clients of all rules and regulations in relationship to policies affecting their issue. With interacting with clients you must assess them. " Clients must be closely involved in the decision to select advocacy strategies. You need to assess their motivation to participate and their ability to do so. There are at least five reasons for their involvement. First, the chance for success is greatest if clients participate in planning the intervention. Second, clients are more likely to use and value resources they had a hand in developing. Third, resources are more likely to be appropriate when clients have helped develop or create them. Fourth, clients gain an important sense of efficacy when they participate in actions designed to reach their goals (Ashman, Hull, 2006)". Finally the main goal in advocacy practice is to go above and beyond for the client to ensure that the client's needs are being met, and that they are not being treated unfairly.
ReplyDelete