It is likely that anyone looking to go into the field of social work is not doing it for the money– or lack thereof. Should the new MSW graduate decide to pursue job opportunities working with nonprofit organizations, they will come face to face with the reality that program funding is hard to come by. They will see the rise and fall of many excellent causes and wonder, “How can I protect my client base when the money dries up?” The short answer would be: advocate! Actively reach out to local businesses, other organizations pursuing the same goal, and raise awareness about the work being done at the nonprofit agency. Most nonprofit organizations are funded through private donations and regional grants. As a social worker develops their advocacy plan, they will begin to integrate policy changing strategies into their work.
Practice Behavior
5A. Advocate with and inform stakeholders to impact policy change
This summer I have had the opportunity to explore a bill related to outpatient community mental health services and send a letter to Mayor Jerry Demings asking him to support and reform the Baker Act, a bill which is modeled after Kendra’s Law originating in New York City. The bill asks for state officials to provide outpatient services to severely mentally ill individuals living in a community setting. The purpose of my letter was to ask the mayor to revise the budget for outpatient services, ensuring sufficient funds are channeled to the right services.
I chose this particular bill because I am disappointed in the lack of services for our severely mentally ill community members. Mental health care for individuals with psychosis, mania, and substance dependency disorders is predominantly reactive rather than preventative or focused on medication maintenance. Law enforcement and in-patient facilities wait until an individual is violent toward self or others before intervening. This is not a sustainable model for mental healthcare. Not only is it costly, but it puts vulnerable people in danger.
5B. Develop and implement a policy and/or advocacy plan
In my Advanced Social Policy class, two peers and I decided for our project we wanted to reevaluate H.R. 507 Put Trafficking Victims First and determine if the bill adequately met the needs of the intended community. Through this project, I was able to put myself in the shoes of victims of trafficking and view service delivery from the perspective of the recipient. The purpose of this assignment was to identify areas of growth in the bill, deficits in service, and sections in need of reform. At the conclusion, I was able to make a valid argument in favor of making small amendments to the bill which allowed for more people to be eligible to receive services.