Social Change and Policy Advocacy in Human Services

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Week 9: Social Change and Policy Advocacy in Human Services

Policy advocacy is one of the key roles of human services professionals. It differs from advocating for clients in that it looks to inform those who are responsible for policy formation, such as politicians and leaders of large-scale organizations. Whether at a national, regional, or state level, policy advocacy efforts will have broad implications for how and when human services are delivered. In today’s world of diminished resources, policy advocacy can be the difference between being funded and not having the funds needed to help your clients. By engaging in opportunities with programs and organizations that receive federal or state funding, you may further support your advocacy effects and gain greater access to necessary resources. By watching the media presentation in the Weekly Resources you will get a feeling about how community organizations can engage in advocacy.

Chahana Fisher has applied for a part-time position in this Community Center in the role of advocacy support person. In this role she is going to identify the needs for advocacy for the populations served by the Center and draft information that will be used in advocacy for the Community Center. For this Discussion, review Chapter 7, “Visit The New Harbor Community” in the Weekly Resources. Then explore the Community Center in the Weekly Resources and read the description of the Community Center and the people who work there currently.

With these thoughts in mind:

By Day 4

Post a brief description of what you see as possible advocacy needs for this Community Center. Examples may be the needs for youth programming, immigrant language skills support, or recreational facilities for latchkey children after school. Explain how this Community Center could be involved in policy advocacy. Then, from the perspective of the community center and one organization from your area of interest, explain one benefit and one limitation of engaging in policy advocacy. Be specific and provide examples.

Reid Mandell, B., & Schram, B. (2012). An introduction to human services: Policy and practice (8th ed.). Boston, MA: Pearson Education.

· Chapter 13, “Organizing and Changing Systems” (pp. 469–506)

This chapter focuses on how to organize and change systems. The authors also examine challenges for human services professionals trying to influence change.

· Chapter 14, “Understanding Legal Issues” (pp. 507–538)

In this chapter, the authors examine legal issues that are common for workers in the helping professions. They also explain how to help clients with their legal rights.

Finding Your Place on the Scholar–Practitioner Continuum

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Assignment 2: Finding Your Place on the Scholar–Practitioner Continuum

An I/O professional has the unique opportunity to both participate in research for the development of the field and apply in practice the fruits of such research efforts. I/O professionals may suggest new lines of research or even conduct their own scientific studies. Conversely, I/O professionals may choose to focus exclusively on the practitioner side of the continuum.

Using the Argosy University online library resources, locate an empirical article that represents a strong example of the dual nature of I/O research and practice. Then, do the following:

  • Analyze and critique the article by following the Argosy University online article critique guidelines.
  • Clearly indicate the elements in the article that are I/O research-oriented and those that are I/O-applied practice-oriented.
  • Considering your own career aspirations, explain where you think you will be on the research, practitioner, or scholar continuum.

Support your statements with appropriate examples and scholarly references.

Your final product will be a 3- to 5-page Microsoft Word document written in APA format and utilize at least three sources from professional literature. Professional literature may include the Argosy University online library resources, relevant textbooks, peer-reviewed journal articles, and websites created by professional organizations, agencies, or institutions (.edu, .org, and .gov). Your paper should be written in a clear, concise, and organized manner; demonstrate ethical scholarship in accurate representation and attribution of sources; and display accurate spelling, grammar, and punctuation.

Submission Details:

  • By the due date assigned, save your document as LastnameFirstInitial_M2_A2.doc and submit it to the Submissions Area.

 

Explain the difference between the purpose of a business strategy and a business model

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Assignment 2: Business Operation Training

You are an internal consultant working for a large organization. Top management believes all managers should understand how and why they operate the business in the manner they do. You have been asked to create a document to be used in an internal training program for newly appointed or newly hired managers. The company develops its strategic/business plans, objectives, and goals on the basis of competitor strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) analysis. The training program will focus on this process.

In a Microsoft Word document, respond to the four elements as described below, each in its own dedicated section.

  • On the basis of the research, generically explain the difference between mission and vision statements. Provide two examples (of mission and vision statements) of two actual companies and compare and contrast the statements of the two companies.
  • Explain the difference between the purpose of a business strategy and a business model. Provide examples (of the business strategy and the business model) of two actual companies, discussing them.
  • After researching the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) analysis, explain each element, describing how each might be used to gain a competitive advantage.
  • Discuss why each level of an organization must set goals that support the overall organizational goals (i.e., goal alignment) and ramifications for the organization if they are not aligned.

Your final product should be a 3- to 5-page Microsoft Word document using a minimum of three scholarly sources. Be sure you write in a clear, concise, and organized manner; demonstrate ethical scholarship in accurate representation and attribution of sources; and display accurate spelling, grammar, and punctuation. Use APA forma

Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats (SWOT) Analysis

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Assignment 1: Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats (SWOT) Analysis

The assigned readings for Module 2 on strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) analysis highlighted the importance of such an activity and provided the method of conducting it. In this assignment, you will conduct a hypothetical strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) analysis.

Envision you and a handful of colleagues wish to start a business. In order to develop the best strategy for entering the market, you need to conduct a strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) analysis.

Perform the following:

  • Select a product or a service to base the business on.
  • List (at least) four strengths, four weaknesses, two opportunities, and two threats. These should be thoughtful and realistic for a start-up organization.
  • Outline the business strategy on the basis of the results of the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) analysis.

Hints:

  • Leverage your small, agile size and innovative product/service for strengths.
  • Consider the downside of being new and small for weaknesses.
  • Think big for opportunities.
  • Beware of the market leader or technology changes as threats.
  • All of these should be tailored to the selected product or service.

Note: Click here to view an example of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) analysis and its resulting strategy.

Submission Details: