Respond to your colleagues' responses within the small group discussion. Offer alternative strategies for presenting policy proposals to one or more colleagues. (Use 1 APA refereference be detailed in response and ask a question to the student)

Response to Joey L. Wallace

How might you communicate the needs of vulnerable populations to policy makers who may not share your views about the need for services?

As an effective social worker who deals with policy changes it is important to know your state legislators and policy makers. Emotional appeals are effective when you are trying to influence a behavior or change the opinion of someone (Jones, 2017). When using this strategy, the social worker must be able to present the material for their cause in a manner that elicits an emotion that causes change. The social worker can get on the legislator’s calendar by getting to know the legislator personally and enlisting the support and resources of policy organizations (Jackson-Elmoore, 2005). Once the social worker is scheduled time they can hold conferences, meetings, and workshops for legislative staff and policymakers to appeal to their human side about important issues such as poverty, police brutality and other serious concern brought to them from the voters.

Jackson-Elmoore, C. (2005). Informing state policymakers: opportunities for social workers. Social Work, (3), 251. Retrieved from https://ezp.waldenulibrary.org/login?url=https://s…

Jones, R., (2017). Communication in the real world. Flat World Knowledge. Retrieved October 10, 2018, from https://open.lib.umn.edu/communication/chapter/11-…

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Respnse to Kurtis Lahring

There will most likely be policy makers who do not know about many of the issues that are faced by vulnerable populations. A social workers duty is to uphold the dignity and worth of a person, and to do everything they can to protect and enhance their wellbeing (NASW, 2008). This can include advocacy on behalf of the vulnerable populations to policy makers (Jansson, 2018). One of the most important steps about communicating the needs of vulnerable populations is by collecting data and research (Jansson, 2018). This can be done by visiting local agencies and collecting statistics, or be done by searching for research articles pertaining to the issue. This is necessary to build a case, as not many people will listen and act on a cause without fully understanding the importance or scope of the issue.

Another way of attempting to convince policy makers that services are needed is by bringing the issue to a similar interest group to gain their backing (Northouse, 2018). Interest groups can play an important role in getting policy makers to act by spreading knowledge of the issue to the public, and by getting others interested in the cause. The interest group can also reach many people through the use of media such as print, advertisements, and social media (Jansson, 2018).

References:

Jansson, B. S. (2018). Becoming an effective policy advocate: From policy practice to social justice (8th ed.). Pacific Grove, CA: Brooks/Cole Cengage Learning Series.

Workers, N. A. (2008). NASW code of ethics (Guide to the everyday professional conduct of social workers). Washington, DC: NASW.