Systems Advocacy: helping systems help families BETH OLSON, MSW

Hierarchy How does the hierarchy affect your work as an advocate?

Role for Advocates in Creating System Change and Social Change Advocates are voluntary Advocates respond to self identified and prioritized needs of family Advocates do not have cases or “clients”, they have kids and families they work with Advocates bring forth the voices of children and families

Advocates look at the big picture Advocates work long term for safety and stability Advocates work outside of criminal justice system Advocates fill in the gaps of the systems, when it is no one else’s job Advocates do not ensure compliance for families to system needs Role for Advocates in Creating System Change and Social Change

Changing Systems: Advocating for Families Believe it is your responsibility Understand the problem Understand the system and the players Develop talking points Explore and try solutions Evaluate and maintain

Believe its Your Responsibility Use your understanding of the Hierarchy Build change work into job descriptions Build change work into culture of organization Be willing to change yourself Build community

Understand the problem Find out if others see the problem too Talk to those affected by the problem: ask about impacts and possible changes, get details….Focus Groups! Talk to those in positions of power about what they see regarding the problem

Focus Groups Who will do the focus groups? Who will participate? How will they be recorded? Support for families to encourage participation Transportation Child care Compensation

Focus Groups Continued Determine what you want to know. Develop general questions. Informed Consent How will info be used? Who will see it? Anonymous? Look for themes/commonalities

Understand the System and the Players What is creating the problem – policies, practitioners, beliefs? Who has the ability to make change? If there is resistance – why? What are their ideas? Does this require a system change or can you “get around” the system? Who are your allies?

Developing Talking Points Articulate the harm. What is the problem with the proposed intervention? What might be a better course of action? How can the practitioner be a part of solution? What keeps them from being part of the solution Rules Administrative Procedures Resources Lack of Information Pressure from others Don’t agree with you analysis of the problem Motivation

Explore and Try Solutions Just do it You will likely not get everything you want Look for unintended consequences Create a long term understanding of the issue from multiple perspectives Accept multiple solutions or variables in solutions Connect stories to the issue

Evaluate and Maintain How do you know the change is effective and addressing the issue it was created to address? What is in place to maintain and what will be needed long term to maintain change?

Getting started – we are all busy! Pick one thing Pick something you think is easy or already has some support Pick something that keeps you up at night –so your passion will be in full force Get to know other advocates and community organizers in your community Start talking to everyone and asking questions Get comfortable with ambiguity – you don’t have “the answer” Credibility matters – where does yours come from?

First Witness Advocacy Trainings and Conference Duluth, MN Training for Advocates Working in a CAC April 8-10, 2015 October 7-9, 2015 Training for Advocates: Co-occurrence of Domestic Violence and Child Abuse May 18-19, 2015 October 19-20, 2015 Stand Against Child Abuse Conference July 13, 14 Track for advocates: 12 workshops and one plenary that speak just to you!