Formal Advocacy Snow (2013) defines advocacy as the proce

Formal Advocacy

Snow (2013) defines advocacy as the process of “eliminating oppressive forces in clients’ lives and working at a systems level towards achieving a more just and fair society” (p. 6). Advocacy often requires advanced human services professional practitioners to make an argument about why a specific service user—or group of service users—need a service. This argument could be made to those in power who control the allocation of services or to the general public to raise awareness about a specific social justice issue. Therefore, practitioners must be able to present a clear and concise argument that is persuasive enough to secure services or mobilize the public to support an issue.

In this Discussion, you create an advocacy pitch on behalf of a service user from one of the Hart City scenarios assigned this week.

Reference:
Snow, K. C. (2013). The importance of advocacy and advocacy competencies in human service professions. Journal of Human Services, 33(1), 5–16. Retrieved from https://www.nationalhumanservices.org/assets/Journal/journal-of-human-services_fall-2013.pdf 

Resources

• Schram, B., Mandell, B.R., Dann, P.L., & Peterson, L. (2020). An introduction to human services: Policy and practice (9th ed.). Pearson.
  • Chapter 7, “Working with Diversity” (pp. 160–206) 
  • Chapter 12, “Indirect Strategies: Organizing for Change” (pp. 299–322)
• Snow, K. C. (2013). The importance of advocacy and advocacy competencies in human service professionsLinks to an external site.. Journal of Human Services, 33(1), 5–16.  Links to an external site.
• Walden University, LLC. (2020b).Hart CityLinks to an external site. [Interactive media]. Walden University Canvas. https://waldenu.instructure.com

Note: Visit the Hart City Human Services Agency, the Hart City Middle School, and The Families With Disabilities Support Center. View the scenarios associated with each organization.

• TEDx Talks. (2016, June 21). Advocacy through social media: Why trending topics matter: Karen McAlister: TEDxUTALinks to an external site. [Video]. YouTube. 
  Note: The approximate length of this media piece is 12 minutes.
• UN Human Rights. (2018, March 15). Our champions: Kevin-Prince BoatengLinks to an external site.[Video]. YouTube. 
  Note: The approximate length of this media piece is 2 minutes.
• Walden University Academic Skills Center. (2020). Filming yourself tip #1 – Write a scriptLinks to an external site. [Video]. 
  Note: The approximate length of this media piece is 4 minutes.
• Walden University Academic Skills Center. (2020). Filming yourself tip #2 – Using equipmentLinks to an external site.[Video]. 
  Note: The approximate length of this media piece is 5 minutes.
• Walden University Academic Skills Center. (2020). Filming yourself tip #3 – The camera eyeLinks to an external site. [Video]. 
  Note: The approximate length of this media piece is 5 minutes.
• Walden University Academic Skills Center. (2020). Filming yourself tip #4 – Move aroundLinks to an external site.[Video]. 
  Note: The approximate length of this media piece is 3 minutes.
• Walden University Academic Skills Center. (2020). Filming yourself tip #5 – Editing your filmLinks to an external site. [Video]. 
  Note: The approximate length of this media piece is 3 minutes.
• TEDx Talks. (2016, June 21). Advocacy through social media: Why trending topics matter: Karen McAlister: TEDxUTALinks to an external site. [Video]. YouTube. 
  Note: The approximate length of this media piece is 12 minutes.
• UN Human Rights. (2018, March 15). Our champions: Kevin-Prince BoatengLinks to an external site.[Video]. YouTube. 
  Note: The approximate length of this media piece is 2 minutes.
• Walden University Academic Skills Center. (2020). Filming yourself tip #1 – Write a scriptLinks to an external site. [Video]. 
  Note: The approximate length of this media piece is 4 minutes.
• Walden University Academic Skills Center. (2020). Filming yourself tip #2 – Using equipmentLinks to an external site.[Video]. 
  Note: The approximate length of this media piece is 5 minutes.
• Walden University Academic Skills Center. (2020). Filming yourself tip #3 – The camera eyeLinks to an external site. [Video]. 
  Note: The approximate length of this media piece is 5 minutes.
• Walden University Academic Skills Center. (2020). Filming yourself tip #4 – Move aroundLinks to an external site.[Video]. 
  Note: The approximate length of this media piece is 3 minutes.
• Walden University Academic Skills Center. (2020). Filming yourself tip #5 – Editing your filmLinks to an external site. [Video]. 
  Note: The approximate length of this media piece is 3 minutes.

Be sure to review the Learning Resources before completing this activity.
Click the weekly resources link to access the resources. 

WEEKLY RESOURCES

To Prepare

• Review your Course Announcements for possible information related to this week’s Discussion and Assignment.
• Review the Learning Resources on the role of advocacy in human services. Think about the challenges diverse groups of service users face and the ways in which advanced human services professional practitioners can advocate for service users.
• Review the Learning Resources on developing an advocacy message. Pay particular attention to how to film yourself and upload media in the Blackboard classroom.
• Go to the Hart City virtual community using the link that is provided in the Learning Resources. Visit the Hart City Human Services Agency, the Hart City Middle School, and The Families With Disabilities Support Center. View the scenarios associated with each organization and select one to focus on for this Discussion.
• Use Kaltura to record a 2-minute advocacy pitch for the service user in the Hart City scenario you selected.

By Day 4

Post the 2-minute video of yourself giving the advocacy pitch. Within your post, indicate the Hart City scenario to which you are responding.

By Day 6