Becoming an effective policy advocate : from policy practice to social justice / Bruce S. Jansson.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Jansson, Bruce S.

Contributor:

Louis A. Duhring Fund.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Social service--United States.

Social service.

United States.

United States--Social policy.

Social policy.

Physical Description:

xvi, 544 pages : illustrations ; 24 cm

Edition:

Fifth edition.

Place of Publication:

Belmont, CA : Brooks/Cole, [2008]

Summary:

In Bruce S. Jansson's Becoming an Effective Policy Advocate, you'll go beyond just learning about policy by learning what to do with policy. Jansson's groundbreaking text provides you with a toolbox of strategies for conducting policy practice. You'll learn the essential skills in actually promoting change to social welfare policy.

New running examples-the rebuilding of New Orleans in the wake of Hurricane Katrina and efforts to address homelessness in Los Angeles County-which are revisited throughout the book, vividly illustrate policy-practice and policy-advocacy concepts. New Chapter 5, "Expanding Policy Advocacy Across National Borders," helps you to better understand how global forces and realities profoundly shape social problems within the U.S. and abroad. "Policy Advocacy Challenges"-with integrated video footage, website links, and Internet-based exercises on the Companion Website-show you how social workers from around the country have used their policy-advocacy skills to achieve important policy reform-bringing these challenges and successes to life.

Contents:

Part 1 Becoming Motivated to Become a Policy Advocate and a Leader 1

1 Joining a Tradition of Social Reform 2

Diversity and Policy Advocacy 2

Advancing the Public Interest at Home and Abroad 8

Using an Ecological Perspective 9

What Policy Practitioners and Advocates Seek to Change 9

What Are Policy Practice and Policy Advocacy? 14

Challenges Encountered by Policy Advocates 15

Joining a Tradition of Policy Advocacy 20

Joining the Reform Tradition Within Social Work 23

Policy Devolution, Technology, Globalization, and Policy Advocacy 24

Becoming an Effective Policy Advocate 25

Developing a Vision 25

Seeking Opportunities for Policy Advocacy 25

Taking Sensible Risks 26

Balancing Flexibility with Planning 26

Being Appropriately Assertive 27

Developing Multiple Skills 27

Being Persistent 28

Tolerating Uncertainty 28

Becoming a Policy Advocate 28

Combining Pragmatism with Principles 29

The Rewards of Policy Advocacy 29

Changing the Composition of Decision Makers 30

Becoming Leaders 32

Chapter Summary: What You Can Now Do 36

2 Articulating Four Rationales for Participating in Policy Advocacy 39

The Ethical Rationale for Policy Advocacy 40

Beneficence and Professional Practice 40

Policy-Sensitive and Policy-Related Practice 41

Moving Toward Policy Advocacy 43

Policy Advocacy and Powerless Groups 47

Policy Advocacy for Vulnerable Populations 51

Other Ethical Principles in Policy Advocacy 54

Other Types of Ethical Reasoning 55

Toward an Eclectic Approach to Ethical Reasoning 56

Returning to Ideology 58

The Analytic Rationale for Policy Advocacy 61

Choosing Sides: Controversy and Research 63

The Political Rationale for Policy Advocacy 67

Interlocking Rationales for Policy Advocacy 70

Chapter Summary: What You Can Now Do 73

Part 2 Surmounting Cynicism by Developing Policy-Advocacy Skills 77

3 Obtaining Skills and Competencies for Policy Advocacy 78

A Policy Practice Framework 79

The Policy Context 79

Perspectives of Stakeholders and Policy Advocates 81

Patterns of Participation 83

The Six Tasks of Policy Practitioners 84

Four Skills That Policy Practitioners Need 86

Policy Competencies 87

Styles of Policy Practice 87

Applications of Policy Tasks and Skills 93

Building Agendas 93

Analyzing Problems 94

Writing Proposals 95

Enacting Policy 95

Implementing Policy 96

Assessing Policy 96

Analyzing Policy Practice 96

Ballot-Based Advocacy 102

The Variety of Policies 102

Overcoming Discomfort with Power 104

Social Policy's Role in Ecological Frameworks 105

Policy Practice as a Unifying Theme 106

Chapter Summary: What You Can Now Do 106

Part 3 The Ecological of Policy in the United States and in a Global World 109

4 Understanding the Ecology of Policy in Governmental, Electoral, Community, and Agency Setting 110

The Players in Legislative and Governmental Setting 111

Elected Officials 112

Unelected Officials or Bureaucrats 119

Lobbyists and Interest Groups 120

Connections Among Interest Groups, Legislators, and Bureaucrats 121

Public Opinion 121

Advocacy Groups 121

The Electoral Process 122

Early Maneuvering 122

Running Campaigns 124

The Mindsets of Elected Officials 125

The Environment of Public Servants: Elected Officials 125

Shortcuts: Aides, Lobbyists, and Priorities 126

The Calculus of Choice 126

The Mindsets of Nonelected Officials 128

Political Appointees 128

Civil Servants 128

Strategy in Legislative Setting 129

Advocating for Resources 129

The Law and Social Policy 130

The Political Economy of Social Agencies 133

The Political of Programs and Social Work Units 137

Mapping Agencies' Policies 138

The Players in Organizational Setting 142

Overlay 1 The Organizational Chart 143

Overlay 2 Budget Priorities 144

Overlay 3 Boundary Spanners and Mission Enhancers 144

Overlay 4 Informal Relationships among Organizational Members 144

The Political Economy of Communities 145

Different Layers of Government and Policy 146

Maneuvering in a Multi-Layered Policy Ecology 147

Chapter Summary: What You Can Now Do 153

5 Expanding Policy Advocacy Across National Borders 156

Social Problems in an Interdependent World 156

Why Globalization Sometimes Harms Vulnerable Populations in the United States 157

Why an Economic Gap Developed Between Developing and Developed Nations 161

Why Globalization Sometimes Harms Vulnerable Persons in Developing Nations 165

Another Vulnerable Population: Migrants Within and Between Nations 167

Globalization's Impact on the Environment 170

Threats to Public Health 172

Creating a Mono-Culture? 173

The Great Caveat: Globalization's Positive Effects 173

Policy Advocacy for Populations Harmed by Globalization 174

Policy Options in the United States 174

Policy Options to Help Vulnerable Populations Abroad 176

Chapter Summary: What You Can Now Do 181

Part 4 Committing to Problems and Solutions Through Building Agendas and Policy Analysis 183

6 Committing to an Issue: Building Agendas 184

Taking the First Step 185

Why Agenda Building Is Needed 186

Legislatures 186

Agencies 188

Communities 189

Three Challenges in Agenda Building 189

The Diagnosing Stage 192

The Softening Stage 196

The Activating Stage 200

Coupling 203

Framing and Finding Titles 203

Negotiating and Bargaining 203

Assembling Early Sponsors and Supporters 204

Routing 204

Media Coverage 204

Can Direct-Service Staff Help to Build Agendas? 205

Policy Advocacy for Powerless Populations and Unpopular Issues 206

Electoral Processes 207

Developing Links with Advocacy Groups 208

Using Multiple Skills in Agenda Building 209

Chapter Summary: What You Can Now Do 214

7 Analyzing Problems in the First Step of Policy Analysis 216

Putting It All Together: A Six-Step Policy Analysis Framework 216

A Six-Step Policy Analysis Framework 216

Do Policy Advocates Have to Analyze Problems? 220

Using a Flowchart to Analyze Some Social Problems in Step 1 222

Five Cells in a Flowchart Format in Step 1 223

Illustrating a Flow Chart with Welfare Reform 229

Analyzing the Causes of Social Problems in Step 1 234

Developing Interventions and Programs in Step 1 237

Developing Preventive Programs in Step 1 240

Measuring the Magnitude of Problems in Step 1 245

Locating Problems Spatially 247

Social Problems as Slippery Concepts 248

When Are Social Problems Real, and When Are They Invented? 248

Many Social Problems Defy Simple Solutions, But Many People Favor Panaceas 249

Priorities Are Not Chosen Rationally 250

Solving One Problem Can Create Others 250

Variations in Problems 251

Challenges for Policy Advocates 252

Chapter Summary: What You Can Now Do 252

8 Developing Policy Proposals in the Second, Third, and Fourth Steps of Policy Analysis 258

Returning to the Six-Step Policy Analysis Framework 258

Intersecting Arenas and Stakeholders 258

Identifying Recurring Policy Issues and Policy Options in Steps 2, 3, and 4 260

Establishing a Mission in Steps 2, 3, and 4 261

Designing the Structure of Service in Steps 2, 3, and 4 261

Planning the Extent of Devolution and the Resource Path in Steps 2, 3, and 4 263

Defining Services in Steps 2, 3, and 4 271

Rationing Scarce Resources in Steps 2, 3, and 4 274

Addressing Agency Network Issues in Steps 2, 3, and 4 276

Addressing Community Factors in Steps 2, 3, and 4 278

Guiding and Overseeing Policy Implementation in Steps 2, 3, and 4 278

Assessing Implemented Policies in Steps 2, 3, and 4 279

An Overview of the Proposal to Fund Shelters for Battered Women 279

The Anatomy of Policy Proposals 280

Trade-Offs: Systematically Comparing Policy Options in Step 3 280

Identifying Options in Step 2 280

Selecting and Weighing Criteria in Step 3 282

Creating a Decision-Making Matrix in Step 3 283

Qualitative

Rankings 285

Using Different Policy Skills in Tandem in Steps 2, 3, and 4 287

Chapter Summary: What You Can Now Do 292

9 Presenting and Defending Policy Proposals 296

Ideology and Policy Positions 297

Proposals and Ideology 297

Electoral Politics and Proposals 299

Combative Persuasion 300

Adversarial Debates 300

Coercive Messages 304

Negotiations: Hardball and Win-Win Options 306

Adversarial or Friendly Communication: Which Is Preferable? 307

Persuading Specific Audiences 309

Determining Objectives 309

Diagnosing Audiences 310

Strategies of Persuasion 311

Selecting a Medium 312

Using a Sequence of Presentations 313

Selecting a Format 313

Developing an Effective Presentation Style 316

Tactics for Specific Audiences 317

Other Tactical Choices 318

Assembling a Strategy 319

The Hostile Audience 319

The Sympathetic Audience with Some Hostile Members 320

The Expert Audience 320

Interpersonal Discussions 320

Gaining Support for Grant Proposals 321

Writing an Imaginative Title 321

Giving a Compelling Rationale 322

Drawing on Research Findings 322

Setting Clear Objectives 322

Including an Evaluation Component 322

Demonstrating Feasibility 322

Establishing Partnerships 323

Demonstrating Support 323

Developing a Realistic Budget 323

Finding Funders 323

Revising the Proposal 324

Chapter Summary: What You Can Now Do 340

Part 5 Advocating for Change 343

10 Developing and Using Power 344

In Defense of Politics 345

Analytic and Political Approaches to Policy Advocacy 346

The Nature of Power 351

Person-to-Person Power 352

Power Resources that Stem from Policy Maneuvering 356

Substantive Power 356

Power in Decision-Making Procedures 358

Process Power 359

Shaping Contexts Including Use of the Internet 361

Successful Power Users 366

Power in Organizations 366

Discretion, Compliance, and Whistle-Blowing 366

Defining Zones of Discretion 367

Issues of Compliance 368

Whistle-Blowing 368

Power Differentials 369

Ethical Issues 370

Developing and Using Power in Situations Where Advocates Are Disadvantaged as Compared to More Powerful Players 372

Obtaining Power Resources 376

Building Personal Credibility 377

Networking 379

Power Challenges Encountered by Members of Vulnerable Populations 381

Developing Assertiveness 382

Can Direct-Service Staff Use Power Resources? 384

Returning to New Orleans 384

Chapter Summary: What You Can Now Do 386

11 Developing Political Strategy 390

Establishing Some Objectives 390

Determining a Position 391

Selecting the Extent of Policy Changes 393

Selecting a Time Frame 393

Grounding Strategy in Current Realities 393

The Power Distribution 393

Identifying Contextual Factors 397

Past Stances 397

Vested Interests 398

Cohesion of Likely Opponents and Proponents 398

Situational Realities 399

Adapting Strategy to the Setting 399

Developing Alternative Scenarios 400

Selecting a Strategy 400

Revising the Strategy 401

Seven Recurring Steps in Strategy 401

Organizing a Team or Coalition 401

Establishing Policy Goals 403

Specifying a Proposal's Content and Getting Early Sponsors 403

Establishing a Style 403

Selecting Power Resources and Framing Strategy 404

Implementing Strategy 405

Revising the Strategy 405

A Policy Advocacy Challenge: How to Block Ill-Advised Policy Proposals 405

Chapter Summary: What You Can Now Do 409

12 Putting Political Strategy Into Action 411

Strategy in Legislative Settings 412

Organizing Legislative Advocacy Projects 412

Organizing a Team or Coalition 412

Establishing Policy Goals in a Legislative Context 414

Writing a Policy Brief: Specifying a Proposal's Content and Getting Early Sponsors 415

Establishing a Style 419

Selecting Power Resources and Framing Strategy 419

Implementing Strategy 421

Revising the Strategy 429

Strategy in Agency Settings 429

Organizing a Team or Coalition 429

Establishing Policy Goals in the Organizational Context 429

Specifying a Proposal's Content 432

Establishing a Style 432

Selecting Power Resources and Framing Strategy 433

Revising the Strategy 433

Developing Strategy in Community Settings 433

Establishing Policy Goals in the Community Context 433

Specifying a Proposal's Content 434

Establishing a Style 434

Selecting Power Resources and Framing Strategy 434

Revising the Strategy 435

A Primer on Task Groups 435

Policy Advocates' Roles in Task Groups 436

What Successful Task Groups Need 437

The Task Group's Mission 437

The Task Group's Leadership 437

The Task Group's Developmental Needs 437

The Task Group's Procedures 438

The Task Group's Structure 438

The Task Group's Deliberative and Interactional Processes 438

The Task Group's Staff and Resources 439

Forming Coalitions 439

Establishing Networks 440

Addressing Dysfunctional Group Processes 440

An Advocacy Campaign in Sacramento, California 442

Chapter Summary: What You Can Now Do 445

13 Engaging in Ballot-Based Policy Advocacy 447

Why Ballot-Based Policy Advocacy Is Important 448

Policy Advocacy in the Electoral Process 453

Developing Population Profiles 453

Using Power Resources to Persuade Voters 456

Using One-on-One Power Resources 456

Using the Media 457

Interacting with Opposing Candidates in Public Forums 458

Developing Positions on Issues and Demonstrating Positive Personal Qualities 458

Conducting Negative Attacks on Opponents 459

Getting Out the Vote 460

Securing Endorsements 461

Convincing Other Potential Candidates Not to Run 462

Gaining Support from Party, Trade Unions, and Other Groups 462

Finding Resources 462

Creating a Campaign Organization 464

Developing Campaign Strategy 465

Strategy Options at the Outset of a Campaign 465

Strategy During the Mid-Phase of a Campaign 465

Conducting Issue-Oriented Campaigns 467

Making Issue Campaigns and Electoral Politics Intersect 467

Participating in Electoral and Issue-Oriented Campaigns 469

Deciding to Run for Office 472

Selecting Other Public-Service Positions 475

Why Social Policy Often Hinges on Elections 478

Chapter Summary: What You Can Now Do 483

Part 6 Troubleshooting and Assessing Policies 487

14 Troubleshooting and Assessing Implemented Policies 488

A Framework for Implementing Policy 489

The Context of Implementation 491

Policy Innovations or Major New Initiatives 496

Oversight Organizations and Staff 499

Primary Implementing Organizations 501

Interorganizational Processes 503

Diagnosing Implementing Processes 507

Actual Outputs: The Evaluation of Implemented Policies (Policy Assessment) 508

Reforming the Implementation Process 509

Do Policy Advocates Ever Sabotage Policies? 511

Case Study of Implementation 512

Two Examples of Implementation Projects in New Orleans Post-Hurricane Katrina 522

Policy Assessment 532

Chapter Summary: What You Can Now Do 533.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and indexes.

Local Notes:

Acquired for the Penn Libraries with assistance from the Louis A. Duhring Fund.

ISBN:

0495006238

9780495006237

OCLC:

80970341