Competency Five

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Competency 5: Engage in policy practice.

I stay informed about current policies and legislative updates that impact the communities I work with, especially related to disability services, education access, and volunteer involvement. When I notice gaps in how policies affect day-to-day practice, I bring those concerns to supervisors or consider how they might be addressed in future planning. Locally, I’ve used feedback from volunteers to suggest changes that make our programs more accessible and inclusive.

I also follow statewide policy efforts through organizations like Disability Rights Tennessee to stay aware of legislation that could impact service delivery. On a federal level, I monitor broader policy trends that affect social work, such as funding for education and public health programs. Staying engaged with policy helps me connect individual needs with systemic issues, and guides the way I approach advocacy in my role.

5.1 Advocate with and inform stakeholders to impact policy change.

Field Evidence: ( Volunteer Hour Tracking Microsoft form)

While working on program development at Signal Centers, I noticed that there wasn’t a clear system in place for tracking volunteer hours across different departments. This made it difficult to document engagement and recognize volunteer contributions accurately. I brought this concern to my supervisor and suggested creating a more consistent process for logging hours, including calendar invites and centralized records.

By raising the issue and offering a solution, I helped inform internal stakeholders about a gap that was affecting program accountability and volunteer recognition. This advocacy led to improved communication between departments and a more organized system for tracking involvement. It was a small but important policy adjustment that helped strengthen volunteer management and ensure people’s time was valued.

5.2 Develop and propose/implement a policy and/or advocacy plan.

Course Evidence: SOCW Advocacy plan

In collaboration with peers, I developed a policy and advocacy action plan focused on eliminating criminal history disclosure requirements in higher education admissions through Tennessee House Bill 0369 (TN HB0369). Our proposal addressed a critical social issue that disproportionately affects justice-involved individual, especially those from marginalized communities, by presenting a legislative amendment aimed at increasing equitable access to college. The plan included a practical policy recommendation to remove blanket disclosure questions while adding safeguards for high-risk educational fields such as healthcare and education.

To implement this plan, we designed a comprehensive advocacy strategy that involved coalition building with civil rights groups, universities, and justice reform organizations. We also created a multiphase media campaign, engaged stakeholders through community events and town halls, and developed policy briefs tailored to legislators. Our approach incorporated both qualitative storytelling and data-driven messaging to elevate the voices of affected individuals and influence decision-makers. This project reflects my ability to analyze systemic barriers and contribute to a sustainable policy solution that promotes fairness, public safety, and long-term economic benefit for the state.