Advocacy Process Research Articles

Development of measures to evaluate youth advocacy for obesity prevention.

BackgroundYouth advocacy has been successfully used in substance use prevention but is a novel strategy in obesity prevention. As a precondition for building an evidence base for youth advocacy for obesity prevention, the present study aimed to develop and evaluate measures of youth advocacy mediator, process, and outcome variables.MethodsThe Youth Engagement and Action for Health (YEAH!) program (San Diego County, CA) engaged youth and adult group leaders in advocacy for school and neighborhood improvements to nutrition and physical activity environments. Based on a model of youth advocacy, scales were developed to assess mediators, intervention processes, and proximal outcomes of youth advocacy for obesity prevention. Youth (baseline n = 136) and adult group leaders (baseline n = 47) completed surveys before and after advocacy projects. With baseline data, we created youth advocacy and adult leadership subscales using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and described their psychometric properties.ResultsYouth came from 21 groups, were ages 9–22, and most were female. Most youth were non-White, and the largest ethnic group was Hispanic/Latino (35.6 %). The proposed factor structure held for most (14/20 youth and 1/2 adult) subscales. Modifications were necessary for 6 of the originally proposed 20 youth and 1 of the 2 adult multi-item subscales, which involved splitting larger subscales into two components and dropping low-performing items.ConclusionsInternally consistent scales to assess mediators, intervention processes, and proximal outcomes of youth advocacy for obesity prevention were developed. The resulting scales can be used in future studies to evaluate youth advocacy programs.

Experiences of Disability Advocates and Self-Advocates in Texas

Legislative advocacy is a prime channel for disability advocates to affect civil rights and disability-related legislation and policy that leads to improved quality of life for individuals with disabilities. To highlight the current status of disability legislative advocacy, this study examined advocacy experiences based on recent data from one state that involved 113 disability advocates and self-advocates. Analyses were conducted to examine the characteristics of advocates, the causes advocated, leadership positions, level of engagement, and frequency of engagement in the legislative advocacy process. Relations among advocates’ characteristics and advocacy experiences were also examined. Results revealed that individuals with disabilities mostly relied on their peers in the advocacy process, and the type of disability was associated with the causes advocated. In addition, holding a leadership position was associated with engagement in the legislative advocacy process.

AFSCME's Social Worker Overload: Digital media stories, union advocacy and neoliberalism

This article presents a case study analysis of Social Worker Overload, a digital media story created by the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) and shared publicly using the social media site YouTube. This story uses worker testimonials to present a compelling story about the effects of neoliberalism on social care work in the field of child protection. This story illustrates how the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) in Washington State uses ‘evidence based practice’ discourses to limit the forms of knowledge that may be utilized in discussions of work overload and work design within the child protection system. Through the creation and sharing of a digital media story about their experiences, the workers present narratives demonstrating how these and other elements of neoliberalism limit the workers’ capacity to actualize the potential benefits of professional social work. Finally, the analysis considers the process of worker advocacy using digital media practices, highlighting the roll that unions play in facilitating this type of resistance.

The Process of Advocacy in Romanian Public Policy

Influencing public policy in favor of interest groups can be achieved through advocacy associations legally constituted whose mission is to: promovate professional excellence in the application of advanced practices of advocacy, strengthen civil society participation in development of public policies and continuously develop policies to private firms. Through advocacy associations can uphold and enforce the values of entrepreneurship and free enterprise. Any resource used in advocacy efforts associations should generate added value and impact, contribute to the progress, development and improved quality of life. Advocacy associations must primarily promotes technical and professional skills of advocacy for any civil society interested group with honesty, dignity, mutual respect, transparency and social responsibility in order to strengthen the system of participatory democracy to which they are signatories.

Cochrane in CORR (®): Screening Women for Intimate Partner Violence in Healthcare Settings (Review).

Cochrane in CORR (®): Screening Women for Intimate Partner Violence in Healthcare Settings (Review).

Documenting the Experiences of Special Education Advocates

Many parents struggle to advocate for their children with disabilities to obtain services at school. Subsequently, parents may turn to special education advocates to help ensure that their children receive appropriate services. However, it is unclear how special education advocates support families and secure services for children with disabilities. Before determining whether special education advocacy is effective, the advocacy process used by special education advocates needs to be understood. In this study, 33 special education advocates participated in individual interviews about advocacy. Participants reported that they used an advocacy process with five main stages: developing rapport with the parent, establishing clear expectations, learning about the child and the family, educating and empowering the parent, and participating in Individualized Education Program (IEP) meetings. Details about the advocacy process are provided, and implications for future research, policy, and practice are discussed.

The Process Of Advocacy In Romanian Public Policy

Influencing public policy in favor of interest groups can be achieved through advocacy associations legally constituted whose mission is to: promovate professional excellence in the application of advanced practices of advocacy, strengthen civil society participation in development of public policies and continuously develop policies to private firms.. Through advocacy associations can uphold and enforce the values of entrepreneurship and free enterprise. Any resource used in advocacy efforts associations should generate added value and impact, contribute to the progress, development and improved quality of life. Advocacy associations must primarily promotes technical and professional skills of advocacy for any civil society interested group with honesty, dignity, mutual respect, transparency and social responsibility in order to strengthen the system of participatory democracy to which they are signatories.

Community Psychology and Public Policy: Research, Advocacy and Training in International Contexts

Community Psychology and Public Policy: Research, Advocacy and Training in International Contexts

The East Asian age-friendly cities promotion - Taiwan's experience and the need for an oriental paradigm.

It is the consensus that the rapid increase of the ageing population has become a global phenomenon. In 2007, the World Health Organization (WHO) advanced a handbook called Global Age-friendly Cities: A Guide The core concept of the age-friendly cities (AFC) movement is 'active ageing'. Taiwan became one of the few Asian countries that initially responded to the WHO AFC movement in 2010. Following the guidance set by the WHO, Taiwan began its promotion at a national level, and with local authorities. However, during the advocacy process, the fundamental differences between Eastern and Western cultures in terms of family values and deep-rooted respect for the elderly have raised an awareness of the need for an oriental paradigm. This paper identifies three key elements for AFC promotion in East Asian countries based on an analysis of Taiwan's experience: during needs assessment take collectivism into consideration, during action plans at the community level community leaders' views will be more important (particularism), and when promoting AFC at the institutional level a top-down approach will be more acceptable (high power distance concept).

Policy and advocacy concepts and processes: innovative content in early childhood teacher education

ABSTRACTKnowledge and skills regarding policy and advocacy are important expectations for today's early childhood workforce, yet policy and advocacy content and processes have not traditionally been emphasized in teacher preparation programmes. This article describes an innovative undergraduate course that goes beyond traditional foci on developmental research and pedagogy and aims to inform future early childhood professionals about policies and policy-making procedures. The course also prepares students to engage in advocacy efforts on behalf of young children and their families by providing content on advocacy processes and opportunities, and by requiring students to complete an advocacy project. The authors present student responses to the course and discuss possible implications for research and practice.

Impact of Advocacy Initiatives on Nurses' Motivation to Sustain Momentum in Public Policy Advocacy.

The purpose of this study is to elicit insight from the public policy leaders of 2 regional professional nursing organizations on key qualities of their current advocacy initiatives that motivate nurses to sustain momentum in public policy advocacy beyond a single episode. The goal is to inform quality improvement in the development of future advocacy initiatives to increase sustained engagement of nurses. Social cognitive theory was used as the rationale for this qualitative, descriptive study. A purposive convenience sample of executive leadership and board committee members from 2 regional professional nursing organizations were recruited to complete an initial Web-based electronic survey, followed by separate semistructured interview focus groups. One organization was composed primarily of advanced practice registered nurses, and the other group composed of diverse, multispecialty nursing members with varied educational levels. Nine themes emerged, categorized as facilitators or challenges to the positive impact of advocacy initiatives on nurses' motivation. Highlighting and marketing facilitators to the positive impact of advocacy initiatives on nurses' motivation to sustain momentum in public policy advocacy, while designing and testing new initiatives that address the challenges, may increase the number of nurses who sustain engagement in the policy advocacy process.

"Tired of watching customers walk out the door because of the smoke": a content analysis of media coverage of voluntarily smokefree restaurants and bars.

BackgroundNews media are key sources of information regarding tobacco issues, and help set the tobacco control policy agenda. We examined US news coverage of voluntarily smokefree restaurants and bars in locales without mandatory policies to understand how such initiatives are perceived.MethodsWe searched three online media databases (Access World News, Lexis Nexis, and Proquest) for all news items, including opinion pieces, published from 1995 to 2011. We coded retrieved items quantitatively, analyzing the volume, type, provenance, prominence, and content of news coverage.ResultsWe found 986 news items, most published in local newspapers. News items conveyed unambiguous support for voluntarily smokefree establishments, regardless of venue. Mandatory policies were also frequently mentioned, and portrayed positively or neutrally. Restaurant items were more likely to mention health-related benefits of going smokefree, with bar items more likely to mention business-related benefits.ConclusionVoluntary smokefree rules in bars and restaurants are regarded by news media as reasonable responses to health and business-based concerns about worker and customer exposure to secondhand smoke. As efforts continue to enact comprehensive smokefree policies to protect all in such venues, the media are likely to be supportive partners in the advocacy process, helping to generate public and policymaker support.

Kebijakan Kampus Inklusif bagi Penyandang Disabilitas (Studi tentang Advokasi Kebijakan Kampus Inklusif di Universitas Brawijaya)

This research is done based on the point of view of the researcher in viewing the limited access of college education for students with disabilities. In line to the social model of disability, researcher views that the limited access caused by environment and social system which is not able in accommodating the needs of students with disabilities. As a consequence of the condition, students with disabilities do not have space and chance to actualize themselves. The limited access is also caused by the stereotypes which put them to the social exclusion. Social exclusion can be minimized by applying the concept of inclusivity. The presence of inclusivity concept in the education world gives the new light to the students with disabilities in accessing education. But, this education concept has not applied yet in the college. This research is due to initiate Universitas Brawijaya becomes the pioneer and the model of the first inclusive campus in Indonesia.The method of research used in this research is qualitative method with the action research approach. The focuses of this research are, first, the process of policy advocacy to the inclusive campus to the students with disabilities in Universitas Brawijaya. Second, the policy formulation process of inclusive campus to the students with disabilities. Third, is the effect of inclusive campus to the students with disabilities in Universitas Brawijaya. The location of this research is in Universitas Brawijaya, Malang. The method of collecting data uses observation, interview, and documentation.The conclusions obtained from this research are, first, advocacy done by advocacy team and researcher achieved the expected goal successfully. Second, Universitas Brawijaya accepted the grand design of inclusive campus offered by the advocacy team. Third, Universitas Brawijaya built Center for Disability Studies and Services (CDSS) which was known as the new institution focusing on the services and studies related to the disabilities issues. Fourth, Universitas Brawijaya opened the Special Selection Program to the Students with Disabilities (SSPSD) and serves 20 quotas for students with disabilities.

Reflections on a 38-year career in public health advocacy: 10 pieces of advice to early career researchers and advocates.

There are many important principles and lessons that public health researchers and advocates who hope to influence policy and practice need to consider. In this paper, I set out what I consider to be 10 of the most fundamental of these. Together, these focus on the importance of preserving public confidence in the evidence base underscoring public policy; being clear and concrete about the policy reforms you support; emphasising the values on which policy is based; understanding the structure, conventions and subtextual features of news reporting; developing 'killer facts' with 'earworm' potential; appreciating that the advocacy process leading to policy change almost always takes a long time; and growing a rhinoceros hide to assist in the inevitable attacks you will face.

Therapeutic recreation as a developing profession in South Africa

South Africa experiences socio-economic challenges with a high prevalence of poverty resulting in disability and non-communicable diseases affecting the health and welfare of communities. Health services are not always accessible or available to citizens, especially those of previously disadvantaged or rural communities. The South African National Plan for Development 2030 aims to address these inequality and health issues. One focus area of this plan is the inclusion of recreation, leisure and sport as an important service sector to improve the health and well-being of all individuals. Therapeutic recreation could play an important role in this regard. In South Africa, therapeutic recreation is in its developmental stages. This paper aims to provide the reader with an overview of therapeutic recreation in South Africa as a developing profession. An overview of the current status of the profession is discussed in terms of standard of practice and as it relates to health professions and recreation service providers, programmes with therapeutic value and training needs. The study concludes that there is still groundwork to be done, calling for interested parties to embark on an aggressive advocacy and strategic planning process to develop therapeutic recreation as a profession in South Africa.

Using the Social Work Advocacy Practice Model to Find Our Voices in Service of Advocacy

Social work has long embraced advocating for vulnerable populations, yet there has been concern the profession has moved away from this historical mission. A review of the literature reveals an abundance of articles on advocacy, most of which highlight strategies and tactics employed in specific settings. Less prominent are practice models that consist of comprehensive conceptual and operational frameworks to guide the advocacy process. The Social Work Advocacy Practice Model provides a framework for guiding social workers in developing, implementing, and evaluating advocacy efforts. Qualitative feedback from social work students who pilot-tested the model is provided. Lessons learned are discussed.

LIBERTAD DE EXPRESIÓN EJERCIDA EN EL ESPACIO PÚBLICO. ANÁLISIS DE LA PERCEPCIÓN DE LOS Y LAS ADOLESCENTES Y JÓVENES EN DIEZ COLEGIOS DE PORTOVIEJO

Este trabajo tiene como propósito mostrar cómo perciben los adolescentes y jóvenes de los cursos superiores de 10 colegios representativos del cantón Portoviejo, provincia de Manabí, la relación entre las variables libertad de expresión y espacio público, determinantes para medir la participación de éstos en procesos formales de incidencia pública. La evidencia empírica fue recolectada mediante la aplicación de encuestas y entrevistas. La información tabulada e interpretada fue validada mediante una sesión de trabajo con gestores sociales inherentes a la participación juvenil. Aunque la noción referente al Espacio Público es poco clara en el grupo sujeto de la investigación, es alto el potencial que existe para la incidencia política de adolescentes y jóvenes por medio del ejercicio de la libertad de expresión, asociada a una buena comunicación, formación en derechos, ciudadanía y liderazgo.

Heart Foundation's Blueprint for an Active Australia 2014–2017: Power through partnership – Collective action toward increasing Australia's physical activity levels

Introduction: Public health advocacy is a disciple informed by science, supported by partnerships, illuminated by policy manifestos and executed through artful diplomacy and well timed communication. This symposium will explore the advocacy process and showcase The Blueprint for an Active Australia a foundation document co-created by researchers and supported by health advocates which effectively translates evidence into specific policy recommendations.

Creating measurement addiction – a tool for better advocacy and improved management

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to address an important but neglected aspect of evidence-based management, how to apply actionable data to strategic decision making to support the organization in reaching appropriate decisions. This process involves connecting advocacy work with active measures to collect and interpret impact data, which are the real ingredient to help understand the big picture and make advocacy more efficient. Design/methodology/approach – The paper presents two complementary models of intervention to better use relevant data to help management decisions, within the program team and beyond the program team. In both cases the paper attempts to identify the key factors in understanding outcome evidence in order to have better communication and help the decision-taking process. Findings – Customizing evaluation results in order to present the information in an accessible form for various stakeholders appears to be a key factor in delivering the right message and having a successful advocacy campaign. Originality/value – This paper reports on two complementary approaches to persuade stakeholders (program managers, or stakeholders external to the program team) to take action based on specific impact or management data delivery. The idea is potentially appropriate for any program, or project, where advocacy processes are needed to determine appropriate actions. Processing and presenting data in an actionable way is a key success factor to determine the expected management decision or successful advocacy step.

What Does Healthy Sex Look Like among Youth? Towards a Skills-Based Model for Promoting Adolescent Sexuality Development

Sexuality is central in human life, perhaps especially in adolescence when multiple dimensions of change constitute physical, psychological, and social challenges and opportunities for the developing young person. Understanding this constellation of challenges and opportunities and formulating constructive, supportive interventions would be greatly facilitated by a skills-based model for promoting sexuality development in adolescence. Moving beyond the deficit, sex-negative approach, I propose a model that identifies three key elements of skillful adolescent sexuality development: sexual selfhood, sexual negotiation, and sexual empowerment. I link these components through the processes of personal agency, interpersonal intimacy, and social advocacy. I consider limitations of the model as well as the next steps for applying this theoretical framework to future empirical studies that seek to describe, explain, and optimize sexuality development throughout the adolescent years.