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Defining Policy Advocacy in Social Work
Policy advocacy is commonly referenced within social work. Jenkins defines it as, “any attempt to influence the decisions of any institutional elite on behalf of a collective interest”. Social work policy advocacy can be conceptualized broadly to encompass extrainstitutional (outsider) tactics such as boycotts and protests at one end. At the other end are institutional (insider) tactics, including lobbying and government work. In the middle of this continuum are mid-level tactics including writing letters, building policy-oriented coalitions, and educating on policy issues.

Social Work Policy Advocacy Roles
Social policy advocacy roles include the following :


 * Policy advocate- Develop policy proposals, recruit sponsors, monitor developments, and lobby
 * Policy researcher- Monitor implementation
 * Organizer- Organize supporters and coalitions
 * Public educator- Develop and distribute materials
 * Policy developer- Develop practice; draft or refine bills
 * Policy analyst- Summarize, interpret, research, and evaluate

Social Work Policy Advocacy Skills and Tasks
To engage in social policy advocacy requires proficiency in a number of skills. Advocacy skills include effective persuasion, representation, negotiating and bargaining, problem solving, interacting with authority figures, and virtual advocacy. Policy tasks include getting an issue on the agenda, gaining access to decision-makers, achieving favorable policies, helping to monitor and shape implementation, and influencing long-term priorities and resource allocation.

In addition to the efforts of individual social workers, human service agencies, community groups, and non-profit organizations also engage in social policy advocacy. The size, leadership composition, collaborative relationships, technological capacity, and dependence on government funding will all effect the degree to which an organization or group may engage in policy advocacy. (Mosley, 2010) Some potential policy advocacy activities of human services organizations include lobbying, working with government agencies, local authorities, and the media, legislative activity, research, information dissemination, and protest. Human service organization advocacy can be conceptualized in terms of agency, legislative, legal, and community advocacy.