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
- 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

- Why should human services personnel advocate for their clients?
- What are the resources human services personnel use to advocate for their clients?

Communication

- How might a family and human services professional advocate for clients?
- Who can assist a professional who would like to begin advocating for a group?
- What are the communication skills needed to be an effective advocate?

Leadership

- Why are human services professionals required to have more advocacy responsibilities?
- What are the benefits of advocacy?

Management

- How do advocates balance family and work responsibilities?
- How can advocates delegate responsibilities to others?