Advocacy Resources Research Articles

Estimates of Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting in 27 African Countries and Yemen

The practice of female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) has been documented in many countries in Africa and in several countries in Asia and the Middle East, yet producing reliable data concerning its prevalence and the numbers of girls and women affected has proved a major challenge. This study provides estimates of the total number of women aged 15 years and older who have undergone FGM/C in 27 African countries and Yemen. Drawing on national population-based survey data regarding FGM/C prevalence and census data regarding the number of women in each country, we find that almost 87 million girls and women aged 15 and older have been cut in these 28 countries. Producing reliable figures for the number of women affected by FGM/C in these countries allows researchers and program directors to better comprehend the impact of the practice and to mobilize resources for advocacy against it.

Editorial: Advocacy for Technical Services

The term when used in reference to libraries, does not immediately bring to mind technical services. In 2011, I was invited to chair the ALCTS Task Force. (1) The task force was created in response to comments made by respondents to the Reshaping membership survey, (2) suggesting that advocacy is an area that ALCTS should examine. My colleagues Erin Boyd, Eleanor Cook, Louise Ratliff, and Duncan Stewart also served on the task force. During the course of the task force's work (which included many conference calls, countless email exchanges, and reports from various meetings), I came to realize that there is indeed a need for advocacy for technical services. It can be subtle and on a small scale, and within one's library, institution, or consortium. Or it can be on a larger scale, such as within a professional organization or the profession at large. The task force hosted a successful e-forum titled Advocacy: What Does it Mean for Technical Services? in 2012. (3) A total of 208 messages from fifty-four participants were exchanged during the e-forum, which covered a variety of topics, including how participants defined advocacy and what it meant to them; elevator speeches for technical services; what ALCTS can do for individuals and our profession in terms of advocacy; and critical areas of need that ALCTS can serve through publications and documentation to enable members to meet the needs of their libraries and to facilitate collaborative problem solving. As I prepared the task force's report, I researched existing advocacy resources within the American Library Association (ALA) and its divisions. ALA provides a wealth of resources, particularly the Office for Library (OLA) (www.ala.org/offices/ola) and the Clearinghouse (www.ala.org/advocacy/ advleg/advocacyuniversity/advclearinghouse). Notably, one of the key action areas of the ALA 2015 Strategic Plan is Advocacy for Libraries and the Profession: The association actively works to increase public awareness of the crucial value of libraries and librarians, to promote state and national legislation beneficial to libraries and library users, and to supply the resources, training and support networks needed by local advocates seeking to increase support for libraries of all types. (4) ALA divisions that provide advocacy resources for members include the American Association of School Librarians, the Association of College and Research Libraries, the Association of Library Trustees, Advocates, Friends and Foundations, the Association for Library Service to Children, the Library Information and Technology Association, the Public Library Association, and the Young Adult Library Services Association. It seems that technical services librarians often do not think of advocating for their work. The task force proposed the idea of backroom advocacy, which takes place at one's job, institution and community, and involves advocating for the work of technical services, not for a particular type of library or aspect of technical services. Certain aspects of technical services (collection development and management, for example) have a public component and have greater interaction with other parts of the library and user community. Catalogers sometimes interact with the public when there is a major culture change, such as RDA implementation. While all of the technical services areas represented by ALCTS affect our institutions' ability to provide services to our respective user communities, technical services librarians may lack mechanisms to advocate for their contributions. This in turn diminishes our ability to attract new librarians to the work we do and to ALCTS, and ultimately may be detrimental to technical services as a career path. …

Representing People with Disabilities - Chapter 22 Legal Research

Representing People with Disabilities - Chapter 22 Legal Research

Neighborhood Watch: Spatial Effects of Human Rights INGOs

This article examines the neighborhood effects of various activities of human rights international nongovernmental organizations (human rights INGOs or, as used hereafter, HROs). We argue that the presence of HRO members or volunteers “next door” increases the advocacy mobilization and resources of a domestic population, resulting in improvements in human rights performance. When contiguous countries have large numbers of HRO members within their borders, these members are able to mobilize resources that are either directly transmitted across borders or diffuse across state boundaries. Using spatial econometric techniques in a sample of 117 states from 1994 to 2003, we examine the effect of neighboring HRO membership, permanent location presence, and shaming on the probability of improvements in human rights practices. We find that the presence of neighboring HRO members increases the probability of human rights improvements, but that this is conditional on the ability of the groups to freely move across ...

Shopping in the Political Arena

This article explores how advocacy organizations strategically select one or more venues for lobbying in a government system that provides multiple access points to state and local lawmakers. Advocates unable to make headway at the state level may refocus their efforts locally, convincing lawmakers in hitherto uninvolved venues to take-up an issue. The data used to test venue shopping hypotheses comes from a survey of charter school advocacy at state and local levels in three states. While ideological congruence between lawmakers and advocates matters, it also turns out that most advocates are also drawn to any venue actively working on an issue. Advocacy resources also limit the number of venues targeted and that implementing venues are chosen when they can be pressured by elected officials who support an advocate’s policy preferences.

Targeting Individual Empowerment to Raise Leaders for Local Oral Health Promotion in Japan

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the characteristics of human resources for health promotion advocacy in a rural community. A 16-item questionnaire was sent to 1000 residents of a rural Japanese town. Items concerned demographics, participation in organizational activities, awareness of volunteer activities, and willingness to participate in community-based oral health activities. Responses were measured on a 5-point scale. The response rate was 57.4%. To reveal potential factors from the distribution of responses, a principal component analysis was performed, and 4 components were extracted. The components were interpreted as "Municipality initiative," "Personal initiative," "Worth volunteering," and "Internal health locus of control (HLC)," respectively. The results of multiple regression analysis using the above components stratified by gender and age- group revealed that potential leaders in oral health activities in Japan are presently participating in social activities of their own accord and highly value volunteer activity. Target groups are senior males and middle-aged females.

Partnership research on nutrition transition and chronic diseases in West Africa – trends, outcomes and impacts

BackgroundNutrition-related chronic diseases (NRCD) are rising quickly in developing countries, and the nutrition transition is a major contributor. Low-income countries have not been spared. Health issues related to nutritional deficiencies also persist, creating a double burden of malnutrition (DBM). There is still a major shortage of data on NRCD and DBM in Sub-Saharan Africa. A research program has been designed and conducted in partnership with West African institutions since 2003 to determine how the nutrition transition relates to NRCD and the DBM in order to support prevention efforts.MethodsIn Benin, cross-sectional studies among apparently healthy adults (n=540) from urban, semi-urban and rural areas have examined cardiometabolic risk (hypertension, obesity, dyslipidemia, insulin resistance) in relation to diet and lifestyle, also factoring in socio-economic status (SES). Those studies were followed by a longitudinal study on how risk evolves, opening the way for mutual aid groups to develop a prevention strategy within an action research framework. In Burkina Faso, a cross-sectional study on the nutritional status and dietary patterns of urban school-age children (n=650) represented the initial stages of an action research project to prevent DBM in schools. A cross-sectional study among adults (n=330) from the capital of Burkina Faso explored the coexistence, within these individuals, of cardiometabolic risk factors and nutritional deficiencies (anemia, vitamin A deficiency, chronic energy deficiency), as they relate to diet, lifestyle and SES.ResultsThe studies have shown that the prevalence of NRCD is high among the poor, thereby exacerbating social inequalities. The hypothesis of a positive socio-economic (and rural–urban) gradient was confirmed only for obesity, whereas the prevalence of hypertension, insulin resistance and dyslipidemia did not prove to be higher among affluent city dwellers. Women were particularly affected by abdominal obesity, at 48% compared to 6% of men. Protective factors against the risk of NRCD were physical activity and adequate micronutrient intake. The research also showed that nutritional deficiencies were not restricted to schoolchildren in rural areas because in the capital of Ouagadougou, for example, 40% of schoolchildren were anaemic and 40% were vitamin A deficient. Partnership research has expanded to include advocacy and human resources training.ConclusionThese initial studies on NRCD in West Africa indicate the relevance and urgency of prevention, even among low-income groups and countries. They show that the fight against NRCD as well as nutritional deficiencies should focus on women. Seeing how researchers from the African partner institutions have connections with decision-making authorities, the research findings could have an impact on prevention policies and programs in communities and schools alike. Greater support must nevertheless be provided to lobbying and advocacy work for an even greater impact. As well, the sustainability of the research program remains a challenge that requires resource mobilization and training for the purpose.

Identifying Fiscal Space: Options for Social and Economic Development for Children and Poor Households in 184 Countries

It is often argued that social and economic investments that benefit children and poor households are not affordable or that government expenditure cuts are inevitable during adjustment periods. But there are alternatives, even in the poorest countries. This working paper offers an array of options that can be explored to expand fiscal space. These include: (i) re-allocating public expenditures, (ii) increasing tax revenues, (iii) lobbying for increased aid and transfers, (iv) tapping into fiscal and foreign exchange reserves, (v) borrowing and restructuring existing debt, and/or (vi) adopting a more accommodative macroeconomic framework. To serve as a general advocacy resource, the annex provides a summary of the latest fiscal space indicators for 182 countries.

Towards an improved investment approach for an effective response to HIV/AIDS

Substantial changes are needed to achieve a more targeted and strategic approach to investment in the response to the HIV/AIDS epidemic that will yield long-term dividends. Until now, advocacy for resources has been done on the basis of a commodity approach that encouraged scaling up of numerous strategies in parallel, irrespective of their relative effects. We propose a strategic investment framework that is intended to support better management of national and international HIV/AIDS responses than exists with the present system. Our framework incorporates major efficiency gains through community mobilisation, synergies between programme elements, and benefits of the extension of antiretroviral therapy for prevention of HIV transmission. It proposes three categories of investment, consisting of six basic programmatic activities, interventions that create an enabling environment to achieve maximum effectiveness, and programmatic efforts in other health and development sectors related to HIV/AIDS. The yearly cost of achievement of universal access to HIV prevention, treatment, care, and support by 2015 is estimated at no less than US$22 billion. Implementation of the new investment framework would avert 12·2 million new HIV infections and 7·4 million deaths from AIDS between 2011 and 2020 compared with continuation of present approaches, and result in 29·4 million life-years gained. The framework is cost effective at $1060 per life-year gained, and the additional investment proposed would be largely offset from savings in treatment costs alone.

Still a burning issue: trends in the volume, content and population reach of newspaper coverage about tobacco issues

Tobacco control advocates expend considerable effort in generating news stories on tobacco issues to assist progress in tobacco control, and the news coverage itself may have important policy and behavioral influences. Yet, studies of trends in such news coverage are uncommon. Between 2001 and 2006, we conducted a content analysis of tobacco-related newspaper articles in the 12 major daily Australian newspapers and coded them for type of article, topic, and tone. Overall, 6483 tobacco-focused articles were published, representing an average of one article every 4 days for each newspaper. There was variability in volume between years but no decline over time. Overall, 67% of articles reported on events that represented progress for tobacco control, 21% on setbacks, and 7% on events that were of mixed impact. Newspaper coverage of tobacco issues was dominated by articles on smoke-free issues (32% of articles), health effects of smoking (12%), education, prevention and cessation programs and services (12%), and the tobacco industry (9%). During the 6-year period, on average, Australian adults were potentially exposed to around one article on tobacco issues every week, or using a more stringent prominence-adjusted measure, one article every 2 to 3 weeks, a level comparable to paid media campaigns in some jurisdictions. Temporal variation in population exposure to news coverage about tobacco issues may reflect variability in newsworthiness of tobacco control issues, media advocacy resources and success, and/or preparedness of editors and journalists to entertain news stories on tobacco.

2011 ADA Member Benefits Update

2011 ADA Member Benefits Update

The Evolving Healthcare Landscape

The landscape of healthcare is changing, and professional nurses are key cultivators for influencing, leading, and guiding the evolution of nursing and healthcare delivery systems into the future. Healthcare policy and political advocacy provide golden opportunities for professional nurses to collaboratively create and implement healthcare systems, processes, practices, and policies that meet the needs of patients and families and also an opportunity to cultivate the clinical discipline of nursing into the future. Professional nurses are natural advocates. There are many stress-free opportunities available at local, regional, and national levels to assist individuals in overcoming personal and/or professional barriers to getting started in political advocacy. The following article will provide the reader with advocacy and political context resources, tools, and knowledge of policy and political context of the 112th Congress; current political policy issues important to the profession of nursing; an overview of the Nurse in Washington Internship program; and basic background on federal policymaking and how nurses can have an impact on its outcome.

Advocating for Whole Health: The Role of the Mental Health Professional in Promoting Diet, Nutrition, and Management of Physical Disease With American Indian Clients

A strong correlation between mental health issues, substance abuse issues, and diabetes has been found within the American Indian (AI) community. This multimorbidity exists at higher rates than any other population within the United States. As research shows that more AI are living outside of tribal statistical areas and opting to receive services from the general mental health community, knowledge of the possible interplay between physical and mental health for AI clients and the possible treatment issues they could represent has become increasingly important. Strategies and resources for referral and advocacy are also discussed.

He drove me mad – Advocacy strategies to address the needs of women driven mad by domestic violence

Experiencing abuse in a domestic setting can cause women to become mentally ill and to abuse drugs and alcohol. Domestic violence and related services perform a crucial role in helping...

Nonprofit Organizations, Bureaucratic Agencies, and Policy: Exploring the Determinants of Administrative Advocacy

Scholarly interest in the ways in which nonprofit organizations (NPOs) engage in the policy process has increased markedly in recent years, but one arena of participation about which we still know very little is administrative lobbying. To date, no study has investigated the factors that influence the strategic decision by an NPO to focus their advocacy resources on the bureaucracy. This essay models the decision to engage in administrative advocacy by 501(c)(3) organizations as a function of the state-level political environment in which they deliver services and the organizational resources that they possess. Data on advocacy activities and organizational characteristics of family planning NPOs are drawn from tax records and data compiled by the National Center for Charitable Statistics.

2010 ADA Member Benefits Update

2010 ADA Member Benefits Update

Indigenous men's support groups and social and emotional wellbeing: a meta-synthesis of the evidence

Indigenous men's support groups are designed to empower men to take greater control and responsibility for their health and wellbeing. They provide health education sessions, counselling, men's health clinics, diversionary programs for men facing criminal charges, cultural activities, drug- and alcohol-free social events, and advocacy for resources. Despite there being approximately 100 such groups across Australia, there is a dearth of literature on their strategies and outcomes. This paper is based on participatory action research involving two north Queensland groups which were the subject of a series of five 'phased' evaluative reports between 2002 and 2007. By applying 'meta-ethnography' to the five studies, we identified four themes which provide new interpretations of the data. Self-reported benefits included improved social and emotional wellbeing, modest lifestyle modifications and willingness to change current notions of 'gendered' roles within the home, such as sharing housework. Our qualitative research to date suggests that through promoting empowerment, wellbeing and social cohesion for men and their families, men's support groups may be saving costs through reduced expenditure on health care, welfare, and criminal justice costs, and higher earnings. Future research needs to demonstrate this empirically.

Experiences of Children and Adolescents With Type 1 Diabetes in School: Survey of Children, Parents, and Schools

More than 160,000 children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes are enrolled in public and private schools in the United States.1,2 School children with type 1 diabetes must be afforded the proper time and tools for diabetes self-care to be safe, learn effectively, and be able to participate in all school activities.3,4 In addition, knowledgeable school personnel are needed to assist them when they do need help. Thanks to the efforts of the American Diabetes Association (ADA), the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF), the National Diabetes Education Program (NDEP), and the Children with Diabetes Web site, much progress has been made in the past 20 years to ensure that children in schools are safe and protected. Each of these organizations has provided valuable educational and advocacy resources for parents and educational materials for school systems. The daily self-management of children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes is complex and dynamic. It requires frequent self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG), insulin injections, and individual meal plans.5-7 However, changes in daily schedules (e.g., recess, physical education class, school outings, and participation in sports) or an acute illness complicate children's blood glucose management while at school. In addition, children are continually growing during each academic year, requiring frequent changes to their individualized treatment plans. Decisions concerning adjustments in insulin doses occur often while children are in school and frequently must be made by a school nurse, parent, or guardian following protocols in the comprehensive diabetes care plan prescribed by the children's physicians.8,9 School nurses are the principal contact person between parents and guardians and health care providers with regard to updating children's individualized diabetes care plans for management of acute problems during the school day. Unfortunately, some school systems do not have …

Teaching & Learning Guide for: Social Psychology and Media: Critical Consideration

Teaching & Learning Guide for: Social Psychology and Media: Critical Consideration

Interest Group Competition and Coalition Formation

This article investigates how interest group competition, a state of conflicting policy preferences stemming from how organizational memberships are defined, can resolve into conflict or cooperation. The strategic choices of competing lobbyists are modeled as the results of a trade‐off between the need to represent members and please legislators, and the additional advocacy resources they hope to gain by agreeing to form coalitions with their competitors rather than fight them in resource‐draining conflicts. Hypotheses derived from the model are tested with data from interviews with lobbyists on six issues taken up by the U.S. Congress from 1999 to 2002. The results suggest that while group members do have some limited power to constrain the policy positions taken on issues by their lobbyists, it is primarily the pressures from legislators and competitor groups that push lobbyists into collectively supporting coalition positions different from those desired by their members.