SW Policy and Politics

As I was watching the Democratic Debate tonight, I was thinking about the very few social workers I know that are involved in policy work and political change. I think people too often want to box in the field of social work in advocacy of youth.

I am very much into working on policy changes within social work. I wouldn’t have fought so hard and succeeded against my graduate program when they openly discriminated against students with disabilities. My favorite professor in graduate school was my advanced policy instructor. She was very politically involved. She encouraged me to be brave in my advocacy and continue to raise my voice for positive social change.

In the past I’ve been involved in political and social policy change campaigns. I’ve done door to door canvassing, phone bank calling on election day, community interfaith events, and initialized local action groups for larger statewide campaigns.

The majority of the news I pay attention to is political news. So I am unfazed when political candidates make grand campaign promises. I know that the most successful political and social changes occur in grassroots efforts. Which means at the local community levels.

I used to be inclined to burn bridges when it came to my style of advocacy. However I promised myself that I would stop doing that when I began this blog and this personal brand. It’s funny, Abraham Lincoln used to write very angry letters to people that he got mad at until he was challenged to a duel. After that his tune changed and he was more civilized in his ways of dealing with confrontations.