{"id":141,"date":"2025-02-08T04:46:55","date_gmt":"2025-02-08T04:46:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/swpro.org\/danabrookeholloway\/?page_id=141"},"modified":"2026-03-01T16:17:12","modified_gmt":"2026-03-01T16:17:12","slug":"competency-5","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/swpro.org\/danabrookeholloway\/competency-5\/","title":{"rendered":"Competency 5: Engage in policy practice"},"content":{"rendered":"

Introduction<\/strong><\/h3>\n

In my role with the Georgia Professional Human Services Association, I will advocate for policies that strengthen the human services workforce and protect continuity of care. I will inform key stakeholders, including human services employees represented by GPHSA, agency leadership partners, and state policy decision makers such as legislators and legislative staff, through written communication that connects frontline conditions to policy outcomes. My advocacy messaging will translate practice-based concerns into policy themes such as workforce instability, secondary traumatic stress, burnout, and turnover-related service disruption. Using a trauma-informed lens, I will communicate how chronic exposure to client trauma can affect staff functioning and retention and how these workforce conditions contribute to reduced access, inconsistent service delivery, and weaker continuity of care for clients.<\/p>\n

5.1 \u2013 Advocate with and inform stakeholders to impact policy change<\/strong><\/p>\n

In my role with the Georgia Professional Human Services Association (GPHSA), I will advocate for policies that strengthen the human services workforce and protect continuity of care. I will inform key stakeholders, including human services employees represented by GPHSA, agency leadership partners, and state policy decision-makers (e.g., legislators and legislative staff), through clear written communication that connects frontline conditions to policy outcomes.<\/p>\n

My advocacy materials will translate practice-based concerns into policy themes such as workforce instability, secondary traumatic stress, burnout, and turnover-related service disruption. Using a trauma-informed lens, I will communicate how chronic exposure to client trauma can affect staff functioning and retention and how these workforce conditions contribute to reduced access, inconsistent service delivery, and weaker continuity of care for clients.<\/p>\n

When appropriate, I will use a policy comparison to support stakeholder understanding, such as referencing Georgia HB451 as an example of how job related trauma exposure can be formally recognized through protections and benefits. I will use this comparison to illustrate a transferable policy logic that acknowledges trauma exposure and supports workforce sustainability while maintaining accuracy about differences in roles and eligibility.<\/p>\n

For more information on GPSHA see: GPHSA \u2013 Helping Georgia’s professional staff who serve individuals, families, and children.<\/a><\/p>\n

Course Evidence Narrative (SOCW 609 \u2013 Advanced Policy):<\/strong>
In SOCW 609, I demonstrated policy practice by developing stakeholder-facing advocacy communication to support policy change related to Tennessee\u2019s TANF (Families First) program. I drafted a legislative outreach letter that translates practice-informed concerns (access barriers, uneven implementation, and accountability gaps) into clear policy messaging and a specific stakeholder \u201cask.\u201d The letter summarizes the policy issue, explains how system-level barriers affect families\u2019 access to supports, and advocates for reintroducing HB 0137\/SB 0144 with a targeted amendment to establish Direct Access Teams to strengthen county-level oversight, transparency, and consistent distribution of TANF resources. This coursework artifact reflects my ability to inform decision-makers using professional, evidence-informed communication aligned with macro practice and social work values. Legislative_Outreach_Letter<\/a><\/p>\n

5.2 \u2013 Develop and propose\/implement a policy and\/or advocacy plan<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Course Evidence Narrative (SOCW 609 \u2013 Advanced Policy):<\/strong>
In SOCW 609, I developed a comprehensive policy\/advocacy action plan focused on improving access, accountability, and implementation within Tennessee\u2019s TANF (Families First) program. The plan clearly states the policy change being advocated, identifies key stakeholders and potential supporters\/opposition, and outlines coordinated action steps for engaging decision-makers through consistent messaging and legislative outreach. I also addressed where the bill stood in the legislative process and proposed an amendment (Direct Access Teams) to strengthen county-level oversight and improve distribution of TANF funds to eligible families. This artifact demonstrates my ability to translate a social problem into an actionable policy strategy with clear goals, a stakeholder \u201cask,\u201d and structured steps to promote systems change.<\/p>\n

Comprehensive_Policy_Advocacy_Action_Plan_SOCW609<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Field Evidence:<\/strong> Advocacy Plan & Legislative Outreach Packet (GPHSA)<\/h3>\n

I will contribute to developing and implementing an advocacy plan that organizes policy priorities, outlines action steps, and guides coordinated outreach to legislators and key stakeholders. I will support implementation by drafting legislative correspondence, developing consistent talking points and messaging, and helping prepare outreach materials that include an issue summary, a clear stakeholder ask, and supporting information. This advocacy plan will strengthen strategic engagement by ensuring the message remains clear, credible, and actionable and by anticipating stakeholder questions and concerns. Through structured outreach, I will demonstrate how macro level advocacy can be implemented consistently over time to promote systems improvement and strengthen workforce stability.<\/p>\n

GPHSA_Stakeholder_Advocacy_Packet_Comp5_Evidence<\/a><\/p>\n

\n

Integration of 5 Dimensions<\/h2>\n

Social Work Knowledge Used<\/strong>
I will apply knowledge of legislative processes, advocacy strategies, and organizational workforce well being to shape policy messaging and outreach. I will integrate trauma informed organizational concepts to explain how secondary traumatic stress affects retention, burnout, and service quality. I will use policy comparison when relevant to communicate how job related trauma protections can be structured and discussed in a policy context. This knowledge will help me present workforce needs as system level issues that affect client outcomes.<\/p>\n

Social Work Values Present<\/strong>
Service and social justice will guide my focus on policy issues that impact both the workforce and the people served through continuity and quality of care. Integrity and competence will be reflected in accurate, professional messaging that represents frontline conditions responsibly without exaggeration. I will emphasize fairness and dignity by advocating for policies that recognize trauma exposure and promote sustainable working conditions for helping professionals. These values will shape advocacy rooted in ethical communication and systems improvement.<\/p>\n

Social Work Skills Presented<\/strong>
I will demonstrate policy communication skills through drafting stakeholder facing advocacy materials and legislative correspondence. I will use advocacy planning skills by supporting a structured outreach plan with clear priorities, consistent messaging, and coordinated engagement. I will strengthen coalition building and professional leadership skills by organizing messaging that elevates frontline voices within an association setting. These skills will reflect my ability to translate practice experience into policy relevant advocacy actions.<\/p>\n

Cognitive Processes<\/strong>
I will use critical thinking to identify workforce related gaps, clarify policy goals, and shape messaging that links staff well being to client service outcomes. I will analyze how turnover, burnout, and secondary trauma contribute to system strain and reduced access and I will frame these issues in policy terms stakeholders can act on. I will use strategic reasoning to select policy examples that are relevant and understandable to stakeholders, supporting advocacy that is practice informed and policy relevant.<\/p>\n

Affective Processes<\/strong>
I will demonstrate persistence and professional responsibility by engaging in advocacy work that requires sustained effort, clarity, and follow through. I will use empathy and respect for the workforce and clients by centering human impact while maintaining professional boundaries and ethical messaging. I will remain attentive to tone and cultural humility when describing trauma exposure and workforce vulnerability to avoid stigma and blame. These affective skills will support advocacy that is grounded, credible, and client centered.<\/p>\n

Theoretical Foundation<\/strong>
Systems Theory will guide my understanding that workforce conditions, agency policy, and legislation interact across micro, mezzo, and macro levels to shape service access and outcomes. Empowerment Theory will support my focus on elevating frontline perspectives and strengthening collective voice through professional association advocacy. Together, these frameworks will inform my approach to policy practice as a strategy for amplifying lived experience, promoting equity, and improving system functioning.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Introduction In my role with the Georgia Professional Human Services Association, I will advocate for policies that strengthen the human services workforce and protect continuity of care. I will inform key stakeholders, including human services employees represented by GPHSA, agency … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":843,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"class_list":["post-141","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/swpro.org\/danabrookeholloway\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/141","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/swpro.org\/danabrookeholloway\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/swpro.org\/danabrookeholloway\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swpro.org\/danabrookeholloway\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/843"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swpro.org\/danabrookeholloway\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=141"}],"version-history":[{"count":22,"href":"https:\/\/swpro.org\/danabrookeholloway\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/141\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":566,"href":"https:\/\/swpro.org\/danabrookeholloway\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/141\/revisions\/566"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/swpro.org\/danabrookeholloway\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=141"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}