Becoming an Effective Policy Advocate : From Policy Practice to Social Justice

by JANSSON

• ISBN13: 9780534355203
• ISBN10: 053435520X
• Edition: 3rd
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1998-07-17
• Publisher: Brooks Cole

Summary

Go beyond the ordinary, with Bruce Jansson's groundbreaking look at the ins-and-outs of conducting policy-practice. BECOMING AN EFFECTIVE POLICY ADVOCATE gives you hands-on experience building the skills that will empower you to implement policy reform as an effective social work practitioner Jansson includes case studies and examples that illustrate how and why policy is important as well as a toolbox of strategies to help you implement policy reform over the course of your own career. And to enhance your course experience, this text features access to ThomsonNOW, an integrated online suite of services and resources that will help you save time, focus your study, and get the grade you want!

Table of Contents

PART 1 Policy Practice and Policy Advocacy: The Fourth Dimension of Social Work Practice	1	(120)
Why Engage in Policy Practice and Policy Advocacy?	3	(26)
Joining a Tradition of Policy Advocacy	4	(2)
Joining the Reform Tradition within Social Work	6	(1)
Policy Devolution, Technology, and Policy Advocacy	6	(1)
Diversity and Policy Advocacy	7	(3)
What are Policy Practice and Policy Advocacy?	10	(3)
What Policy Practitioners and Policy Advocates Seek to Change	13	(6)
Becoming an Effective Policy Advocate	19	(10)
Developing a Vision	19	(1)
Seeking Opportunities for Policy Advocacy	20	(1)
Taking Sensible Risks	21	(1)
Balancing Flexibility with Planning	22	(1)
Developing Multiple Skills	22	(1)
Being Persistent	23	(1)
Tolerating Uncertainty	23	(1)
Becoming a Policy Advocate	24	(1)
Combining Pragmatism with Principle	24	(1)
The Rewards of Policy Advocacy	24	(2)
Chapter Summary	26	(1)
Suggested Readings	27	(1)
Notes	27	(2)
Ethical, Analytic, and Political Rationales for Engaging in Policy Advocacy	29	(32)
The Ethical Rationale for policy Advocacy	29	(13)
Beneficence and Professional Practice	29	(2)
Policy-Sensitive and Policy-Related Practice	31	(2)
Moving toward Policy Advocacy	33	(2)
Policy Advocacy and Powerless Groups	35	(3)
Fairness and Policy Advocacy for Out-Groups	38	(4)
The Merits of Government Intervention	42	(5)
Other Ethical Principles in Policy Advocacy	43	(2)
Other Types of Ethical Reasoning	45	(2)
Toward an Eclectic Approach to Ethical Reasoning	47	(1)
The Analytic Rationale for Policy Advocacy	47	(6)
Choosing Sides: Controversy and Advocacy	50	(3)
The Political Rationale for Policy Advocacy	53	(3)
Interlocking Rationales for Policy Advocacy	56	(1)
Chapter Summary	57	(1)
Suggested Readings	58	(1)
Notes	58	(3)
A Policy Practice Framework for Policy Advocates: Skills, Tasks, and Actions	61	(28)
A Policy Practice Framework	61	(8)
The Policy Context	62	(1)
Patterns of Participation	63	(1)
The Six Tasks of Policy Practitioners	64	(1)
Four Skills That Policy Practitioners Need	65	(1)
Policy Competencies	66	(3)
Styles of Policy Practice	69	(2)
Applications of Policy Tasks and Skills	71	(3)
Building Agendas	71	(1)
Analyzing Problems	72	(1)
Writing Proposals	72	(1)
Enacting Policy	73	(1)
Implementing Policy	73	(1)
Assessing Policy	74	(1)
Analyzing Policy Practice	74	(1)
Describing Policy Practice: A Case Example	75	(5)
The Context	75	(1)
The Policy Tasks	76	(1)
Using Skills to Accomplish Policy Tasks	77	(3)
The Diversity of Policies	80	(1)
Overcoming Discomfort with Power	81	(2)
Social Policy's Role in Ecological Frameworks	83	(1)
Policy Practice as a Unifying Theme	83	(1)
Chapter Summary	84	(3)
Suggested Readings	87	(1)
Notes	88	(1)
The Big Picture: Policy Practice in Governmental, Community, and Agency Settings	89	(32)
The Players in Legislative and Governmental Settings	89	(12)
Elected Officials	90	(7)
Unelected Officials (Bureaucrats)	97	(2)
Lobbyists and Interest Groups	99	(1)
Connections between Interest Groups, Legislators, and Bureaucrats	100	(1)
Public Opinion	100	(1)
The Mind-Sets of Elected Officials	101	(3)
The Environment of Public Servants: Elected Officials	101	(1)
Shortcuts: Aides, Lobbyists, and Priorities	102	(1)
The Calculus of Choice	103	(1)
The Mind-Sets of Nonelected Officials	104	(2)
Political Appointees	104	(1)
Civil Servants	105	(1)
Strategy in Legislative Settings	106	(1)
The Political Economy of Social Agencies	106	(3)
The Political Economy of Programs and Social-Work Units	109	(1)
Mapping Agencies' Policies	109	(4)
The Players in Organizational Settings	113	(3)
Overlay 1: The Organizational Chart	114	(1)
Overlay 2: Budget Priorities	115	(1)
Overlay 3: Boundary Spanners and Mission Enhancers	115	(1)
Overlay 4: Informal Relationships among Organizational Members	116	(1)
The Political Economy of Communities	116	(1)
Chapter Summary	117	(1)
Suggested Readings	117	(1)
Notes	118	(3)
PART 2 Preparatory Work: Building Agendas, Analyzing Problems, and Writing Proposals	121	(136)
Building Agendas	123	(24)
Taking the First Step	124	(1)
Why Agenda Building is Needed	125	(2)
Legislatures	125	(1)
Communities	126	(1)
Three Challenges in Agenda Building	127	(11)
The Diagnosing Stage	129	(3)
The Softening Stage	132	(4)
The Activating Stage	136	(2)
Can Direct-Service Staff Help to Build Agendas?	138	(1)
Policy Advocacy for Powerless Populations and Unpopular Issues	139	(1)
Developing Links with Advocacy Groups	140	(4)
Chapter Summary	144	(1)
Suggested Readings	145	(1)
Notes	145	(2)
Analyzing Problems	147	(62)
Do Policy Advocates have to Analyze Problems?	147	(3)
Using a Flowchart to Analyze Problems	150	(4)
The Causes of Social Problems	154	(3)
Developing Interventions and Programs	157	(10)
Curative Strategies	157	(2)
Preventive Programs	159	(4)
Measuring the Magnitude of Problems	163	(2)
Locating Problems Spatially	165	(2)
Assessing Policy Reforms	167	(1)
Social Problems as Slippery Concepts	168	(4)
When Are Social Problems ``Real,'' and When Are they ``Invented''?	169	(1)
Many Social Problems Defy Simple Solutions, but Many People Favor Panaceas	170	(1)
Priorities are not Chosen Rationally	170	(1)
``Solving'' One Problem can Create others	171	(1)
Variations in Problems	171	(1)
Challenges for Policy Advocates	172	(1)
Chapter Summary	173	(3)
Suggested Reading	176	(1)
Notes	176	(3)
Finding Policy Options	179	(1)
Recurring Policy Issues and Policy Options	180	(16)
Establishing a Mission	180	(1)
Designing the Structure of Service	181	(2)
Planning the Resource Path	183	(5)
Defining Services	188	(3)
Rationing Scarce Resources	191	(2)
Addressing Agency Network Issues	193	(2)
Addressing Community Factors	195	(1)
Guiding and Overseeing Policy Implementation	196	(1)
Assessing Implemented Policies	196	(1)
An Overview of the Proposal to Fund Shelters for Battered Women	196	(1)
The Anatomy of Policy Proposals	197	(3)
Linking Policy Skills	200	(1)
Intersecting Arenas and Stakeholders	200	(2)
Chapter Summary	202	(3)
Suggested Readings	205	(1)
Notes	206	(3)
Writing Policy Proposals	209	(22)
Trade-Offs: Systematically Comparing Policy Options	210	(6)
Identifying Options	210	(1)
Selecting and Weighing Criteria	211	(1)
Creating a Decision-Making Matrix	212	(3)
Qualitative Ranking	215	(1)
Using Multiple Skills in Constructing Proposals	216	(1)
Writing Memos	216	(4)
Gaining Support for Policy Proposals	220	(8)
Writing an Imaginative Title	220	(1)
Giving a Compelling Rationale	221	(1)
Drawing on Research Findings	221	(1)
Setting Clear Objectives	221	(1)
Including an Evaluation Component	221	(1)
Demonstrating Feasibility	221	(1)
Establishing Partnerships	222	(1)
Demonstrating Support	222	(1)
Developing a Realistic Budget	222	(1)
Finding Funders	222	(2)
Revising the Proposal	224	(4)
Putting It All Together	228	(1)
Chapter Summary	229	(1)
Suggested Readings	229	(1)
Notes	229	(2)
Policy Persuasion	231	(26)
Persuading Specific Audiences	232	(3)
Determining Objectives	232	(1)
Diagnosing Audiences	233	(1)
Tailoring Objectives to the Audience	234	(1)
Strategies of Persuasion	235	(7)
Selecting a Medium	235	(1)
Using a Sequence of Presentations	235	(1)
Selecting a Format	236	(1)
Fine-Tuning a Presentation	236	(3)
Developing an Effective Presentation Style	239	(1)
Tactics for Specific Audiences	240	(1)
Other Tactical Choices	240	(2)
Assembling a Strategy	242	(5)
The Hostile Audience	242	(1)
The Sympathetic Audience with some Hostile Members	242	(1)
The Expert Audience	243	(1)
Interpersonal Discussions	243	(4)
Combative Persuasion	247	(5)
Adversarial Debates	247	(3)
Coercive Messages	250	(1)
Negotiations: Hardball and Win-Win Options	251	(1)
Adversarial or Friendly Communication: Which Is Preferable?	252	(2)
Chapter Summary	254	(1)
Suggested Readings	254	(1)
Notes	254	(3)
PART 3 Policy Advocates and the Political Process	257	(98)
Understanding ``Power'' and ``Politics''	259	(26)
In Defense of Politics	259	(2)
Analytic and Political Approaches to Policy Advocacy	261	(4)
The Nature of Power	265	(2)
Person-to-Person Power	267	(1)
Substantive Power	268	(2)
Using Indirect Power	270	(4)
Power in Decision-Making Procedures	270	(1)
Process Power	271	(2)
Shaping Contexts	273	(1)
Successful Power Users	274	(1)
Power in Organizations	274	(3)
Discretion, Compliance, and Whistle-Blowing	274	(1)
Defining Zones of Discretion	275	(1)
Issues of Compliance	276	(1)
Whistle-Blowing	277	(1)
Exerting External Pressure	277	(1)
Power Differentials	278	(1)
Ethical Issues	279	(1)
Chapter Summary	280	(1)
Suggested Readings	281	(1)
Notes	281	(4)
Developing and Using Power	285	(24)
Obtaining Power Resources	285	(10)
Building Personal Credibility	286	(7)
Networking	293	(2)
Out-Group Members' Problems	295	(1)
Developing Assertiveness	296	(1)
Can Direct-Service Staff Use Power Resources?	297	(1)
Group Process Skills	298	(6)
Working with Task Groups	298	(2)
What Successful Task Groups Need	300	(2)
Forming Coalitions	302	(1)
Establishing Networks	303	(1)
Addressing Dysfunctional Group Processes	304	(1)
Chapter Summary	305	(1)
Suggested Readings	305	(1)
Notes	306	(3)
Developing Political Strategy	309	(18)
Establishing Some Objectives	309	(5)
Selecting the Extent of Policy Changes	314	(1)
Selecting a Time Frame	314	(1)
Grounding Strategy in Current Realities	314	(6)
The Power Distribution	314	(3)
Identifying Contextual Factors	317	(1)
Situational Realities	318	(1)
Predicting Future Developments	319	(1)
Adapting Strategy to the Setting	319	(1)
Building Scenarios to Construct Political Strategy	320	(2)
Developing Alternative Scenarios	320	(1)
Selecting a Strategy	321	(1)
Revising a Strategy	321	(1)
Seven Recurring Steps in Strategy	322	(2)
Organizing a Team or Coalition	323	(1)
Establishing Policy Goals	323	(1)
Specifying a Proposal's Content and Getting Early Sponsors	323	(1)
Establishing a Style	323	(1)
Selecting Power Resources and Framing Strategy	323	(1)
Implementing Strategy	324	(1)
Revising the Strategy	324	(1)
Chapter Summary	324	(1)
Suggested Readings	325	(1)
Notes	325	(2)
Putting Political Strategy into Action	327	(28)
Strategy in Legislative Settings	328	(1)
Organizing Legislative Advocacy Projects from Scratch	328	(11)
Organizing a Team or Coalition	328	(1)
Establishing Policy Goals in a Legislative Context	329	(1)
Specifying a Proposal's Content and Getting Early Sponsors	329	(1)
Establishing a Style	330	(1)
Selecting Power Resources and Framing Strategy	330	(1)
Implementing Strategy	331	(6)
Revising the Strategy	337	(2)
Working in the Political Process Generally	339	(6)
Strategy in Agency Settings	345	(5)
Organizing a Team or Coalition	346	(1)
Establishing Policy Goals in the Organizational Context	346	(2)
Specifying a Proposal's Content	348	(1)
Establishing a Style	349	(1)
Selecting Power Resources and Framing Strategy	349	(1)
Revising the Strategy	350	(1)
Developing Strategy in Community Settings	350	(2)
Organizing a Team or Coalition	350	(1)
Establishing Policy Goals in the Community Context	351	(1)
Specifying a Proposal's Content	351	(1)
Establishing a Style	351	(1)
Selecting Power Resources and Framing Strategy	352	(1)
Revising the Strategy	352	(1)
Chapter Summary	352	(1)
Notes	353	(2)
PART 4 After Enacting Policy	355	(52)
Securing the Implementation of Policies	357	(32)
A Framework for Implementing Policy	358	(12)
Policy Innovations	359	(3)
Oversight Organizations and Staff	362	(1)
Primary Implementing Organizations	362	(4)
Implementing Processes	366	(1)
The Context of Implementation	367	(3)
Actual Outputs: The Evaluation of Implemented Policies	370	(1)
Reforming the Implementation Process	370	(2)
Do Policy Advocates Ever Sabotage Policies?	372	(1)
A Case Example of Implementation: The Patient Self-Determination Act of 1990	373	(6)
Context of the Patient Self-Determination Act	374	(2)
Oversight Organizations	376	(1)
Implementing Process	376	(3)
Perceptions of Policy Outcomes	379	(1)
Advocates' Options for Reforming the Implementation of PSDA	379	(3)
Changing the Content of the Policy	379	(1)
Changing the Context	380	(1)
Changing Actions of Oversight Agencies	380	(1)
Changing Implementing Processes	380	(1)
Securing Evaluations of Policy Outcomes	381	(1)
Participating in Community-Based Advocacy Projects	381	(1)
Using Multiple Skills when Reforming Implementation	382	(2)
Chapter Summary	384	(1)
Suggested Readings	385	(1)
Notes	386	(3)
Assessing Policy Implementation	389	(18)
The Fundamental Logic of Policy Assessment	390	(1)
Similarities between Assessing and Analyzing Policy	391	(2)
Similarities between Policy Assessment and Policy Debates	393	(2)
Tools for Countering Criticism	395	(3)
Barriers to the Use of Policy and Program Evaluation	398	(3)
Qualitative Evaluations	401	(1)
Policy Advocates' Use of Data	402	(1)
Why all Social Workers Should Assess Policies	402	(1)
Chapter Summary	403	(1)
Suggested Readings	404	(1)
Notes	404	(3)
Appendix	407	(4)
Name Index	411	(6)
Subject Index	417