Title: Explore opportunities for advocacy, activism, and change agency in the human services field.
Course: Introduction to Family and Human Services (19001-18) > Section: Exploring the Human Services Career Pathways

Exploration may include

- promoting self-determination
- differentiating between advocacy and activism
- differentiating between advocacy, advocacy of the client population, and soft advocacy
- identifying appropriate roles for advocacy in the local, state, and federal levels.

Exploration should also include low-, middle-, and high-level advocacy strategies:

- Low—gather information and network
- Middle—maintain memberships in professional organizations and communicate with federal and local agencies and legislators
- High—communicate with stakeholders and voters

Process/Skill Questions:

Thinking

- What are the resources human services personnel use to advocate for their clients?
- What challenges may one face when advocating for oneself and one’s clients?

Communication

- What communication skills are needed to advocate?
- Who can assist a professional who would like to begin advocating for a group?

Leadership

- Why are human services professionals required to have more advocacy responsibilities?
- How can a professional become active in human services legislation at the state and national levels?

Management

- How can advocates delegate responsibilities to others?
- What are the negotiation and mediation skills involved in being an effective advocate?