Reflections on Macro Advocacy and Professional Development for Social Workers
by Gina R. Rosich, PhD, MSW, and Shalymar Cruz, BA
Clinical social workers and those working in management positions, whether in community-based agencies or private practice, hold unique and valuable perspectives and knowledge that can be harnessed to inform and influence elected officials. Often, advocacy work can seem daunting or time consuming. Yet, it does not have to be. In this essay, an MSW faculty member and an MSW student reflect on advocacy as it relates to their professional development.
Dr. Gina R. Rosich - Advocacy From an Academic Perspective
Changing careers can seem daunting. Starting a new adventure in a new avenue of one’s professional development is an exciting risk to take. It’s something I think about for my students entering their MSW program, as well as for myself, having segued from direct practice into academia as a faculty member in an MSW program. I found myself asking: How can I teach my students about ethics in micro and macro practice and lead by example when I am no longer at a social services agency? I can tell them stories about my professional practice, as all faculty do. But I want to remain engaged in social change.
Section 6 of the NASW Code of Ethics compels social workers to shape public policies and institutions, and to engage in social and political action to create a more equitable and socially just society. This is something I take seriously, and it was a significant aspect of my own MSW education. Now that I am a member of a social work faculty and no longer working in the field, I think back to how and why advocacy and social justice were emphasized when I was a student. These principles guide my teaching, research, and service to the profession and community.
I moved to a new state when I accepted my position. This meant I needed to build new networks. Through the Connecticut chapter of NASW, I found an organized and structured way to do this work. I joined the ELAN committee. ELAN stands for the Education and Legislative Action Network, a committee of social workers around the state who meet to engage in public policy work in a variety of ways. Although most chapters of NASW have a legislative committee, not every state chapter of NASW has an ELAN committee based on a grassroots organizing approach to the work. Some utilize a government relations approach.
What does grassroots look like for us? Lobby days and lobby day trainings are held annually to teach social workers and social work students about the legislative process as well as effective ways to advocate for policies with the state legislature. We then meet during the active state legislative session to identify and follow bills aligned with social work values, obtain and disseminate timely information for action alerts, write testimony, and testify in person. We also follow up on those legislative action alerts with phone banking to our members, encouraging them to call their elected officials in support of (or against) specific bills heading for a vote.
COVID presented a challenge to grassroots organizing, but also an opportunity. The Connecticut General Assembly utilized Zoom, so anyone wishing to testify could do so from a safe distance. These sessions were held live, broadcast via YouTube, and remained available for the public to watch at any time. For the first time in my career, I could testify and have a recording to actually show my students what it is like to speak before elected officials. We were able to watch it together and critique what I did. This meant not only leading by example in terms of advocacy work, but also in showing what self-reflective practice looks like. How did I prepare? How did I use my professional background to inform my testimony and to answer questions the legislators had? What went through my mind? What could I have done better? The particular testimony I showed my students was on funding homeless shelter referral and prevention services. I was able to draw upon my many years of experience working in the shelter system in New York City, my knowledge of research on housing insecurity, and what I have learned about prevention and shelter services in my new statewide community. How did this impact my students? One of them joins me in this essay to share her own journey of professional development.
Shalymar Cruz - Advocacy From a Student Perspective
First-year students in MSW programs often enter their courses with a skewed view of what it means to be a social worker. We often think of it as being a counselor, therapist, or case manager. It is not often that students consider politics, let alone policy activism, as a part of the responsibilities of a social worker. Upon entering my Social Policy II class, I had an understanding that social work is political and that, according to the NASW Code of Ethics, we have a responsibility to advocate for social justice. However, within the confines of the field, it did not seem possible to me to advocate for policy change. Nor did I see how it was related to a clinical role.
Having a professor who integrated the two aspects of social work in one course provided the example of not only policy’s relevance to clinical work, but also how to go about balancing the two. As students, we were empowered to utilize the social positions we had already acquired and the knowledge of client/community needs to advocate for change at the macro level that would support the clinical work being done on the micro level. Viewing testimonies in class and better understanding the legislative process and rights of citizens to participate in it showed me that I had the responsibility, even as a student of social work, to take part in advocating for public policy change that would lead to social justice and equity. I thought to myself: If citizens are expected to participate in this process, then it is feasible for social workers to do so, too. This is what sets social workers apart from other therapeutic roles. It was then that I decided throughout my education and future career to find opportunities to utilize my network to advocate for policy change.
This real-life classroom experience pushed me to look within organizations I’m a part of to see how I could contribute to advocacy efforts. I am a member of Lambda Theta Alpha Latin Sorority, Incorporated. Each year, they host an annual “Lambda Hill Days” event that brings together members from different states to the state capitol to meet with legislators and advocate for the unique needs of their communities. Being more familiar and comfortable with policy, thanks to my Social Policy II course, as well as COVID-19 necessitating the event taking place online, I decided to leave my comfort zone and apply to be a part of this year’s cohort.
My class not only instilled a duty to advocate while also making advocacy feel simple and not intimidating, but it also made me realize that this is my right. Legislators work for their constituents, and I am a constituent. The Lambda Hill Days event, along with my sense of duty and the confidence I gained from policy class, allowed me to schedule meetings with my state Senator and House Representative to discuss proposed bills that would impact my clients, communities, and even myself.
My completion of both the Lambda Hill Days event and my Social Policy II course has influenced my view of social work, advocacy, and what my career as a social worker post-grad should entail. I’m aware that it can become difficult to fulfill the many responsibilities of social work and to function on micro and macro levels. But I’ve come to realize just how important a duty it is. I now feel empowered and confident in policy and will continue to familiarize myself with public policy and politics.
I no longer see a divide between clinical work and policy. I see the connection and how this connection informs my continued participation in advocacy. I plan to embrace Section 6 of the Code of Ethics, bringing advocacy leadership into the agencies I work for and joining with the clients and communities I serve to elevate their voices from a position of strength and lived experience. Competent social workers advocate for change, and policy is one intervention in all of our toolboxes.
Gina R. Rosich, PhD, MSW, is Assistant Professor at the University of Saint Joseph Department of Social Work and Equitable Community Practice. She teaches courses in policy history and advocacy, generalist clinical practice, culture, diversity and human rights, and issues impacting LGBTQ+ people.
Shalymar Cruz is an MSW student at the University of Saint Joseph Department of Social Work and Equitable Community Practice. She holds a BA in psychology, human development, and family studies.