1. Advocating for the Social Service Workforce
Nicole Brown
Deputy Director
Global Social Service Workforce Alliance
March 20, 2019

2. Agenda Definition of the social service workforce
Role of the Global Social Service Workforce Alliance
What is advocacy?
Why do we need to advocate for the social service workforce? And why now?
Existing tools and resources
Successes from advocacy
World Social Work Day
Ways to you can get involved

3. The social service workforce
The social service workforce is defined as paid and unpaid, governmental and nongovernmental professionals and paraprofessionals working to ensure the healthy development and well-being of children and families. The social service workforce focuses on preventative, responsive and promotive programs that support families and children in our communities by alleviating poverty, reducing discrimination, facilitating access to needed services, promoting social justice and preventing and responding to violence, abuse, exploitation, neglect and family separation.

4. ABOUT THE Alliance
Launched in June 2013 as a network; recommendation of participants from 18 countries at June 2010 conference in Cape Town
Acts as a multi-sectoral convener to share good practices, advance knowledge and advocate for workforce improvements that will lead to better outcomes for children, families, communities and vulnerable groups
Funded by GHR Foundation & UNICEF, prior funding from USAID
Tides Center acts as fiscal sponsor and host
5 Staff based in four locations and a globally representative Steering Committee
The Global Social Service Workforce Alliance works toward a world where a well-planned, well-trained and well-supported social service workforce effectively delivers promising practices that improve the lives of vulnerable populations.

5. Role of the Global Social Service Workforce Alliance
Convene and Connect
28 webinars, 5 Annual Symposia
Integration of workforce-focused panels in conferences
Website member directory, discussion boards
Advance Knowledge
Development and dissemination of tools, reports and case studies
4 Interest Groups and joint product development
E-updates, blogs, website knowledge hub
Advocate
Annual State of the SSW Reports and SSW Week
Ambassador Program, Advocacy Toolkit, Call to Action
Social Media Presence

6. (update of this slide) ABOUT THE Alliance
Alliance Membership
Alliance Membership
(update of this slide) ABOUT THE Alliance
Since launch in June 2013:
2200 members from 134 countries

7. Framework for Strengthening the Social Service Workforce
Planning the Workforce
Adopt a strategic approach to planning the social welfare workforce
Collect and share HR data and promote data-driven decision making
Improve recruitment, hiring, and deployment practices and systems
Build alliances to strengthen leadership and advocacy among stakeholders
Supporting the Workforce
Develop or strengthen systems to improve and sustain social welfare workforce performance
Develop tools, resources and initiatives to improve job satisfaction and retention
Support professional associations in their efforts to enhance the professional growth and development of the social welfare workforce
Developing the Workforce
Align education and training for the social welfare workforce with effective workforce planning efforts
Ensure curricula incorporate both local/indigenous knowledge as well as international best practices for improving the well-being of children and families
Strengthen faculty and teaching methods
Provide broad range of professional development opportunities for workers
Country specific context, including social welfare, justice and child protection systems, cultural, local legislation, labor market, economy
Source: Global Social Service Workforce Alliance

8. Mapping and analysis Mapping and analysis in more than 30 countries
Regions include: East Asia and Pacific, South Asia and Middle East and North Africa
Survey responses from workers on their perceptions of supervision, training and education, role and title
Formation of government-led country-level task groups to develop national strengthening strategies
Building evidence-base to determine gaps and needs for better planning, development and support to the SSW
Next step is for stakeholders to use this data to advocate for more resources (human, financial, etc.)

9. What is Advocacy?
Advocacy aims at changing the pattern of decision-making, thus attempting to increase the probability of a specific decision being reached.
Advocacy efforts go beyond basic policy change - protect rights, educate the public and encourage civil or political participation, can seek fundamental institutional change and immediate gains for an organization or seek to address issues that need greater focus to create policy change.
Good advocacy is not a ‘one size fits all’ proposition. Advocacy for the social service workforce needs to be targeted and context-specific to resonate and move decision and policymakers to take specific actions in a wide range of contexts.
Doesn’t have to be complicated or time consuming if we know what the main criteria for effective engagement are.
Many of you are already involved in advocacy in some manner, even if you don’t realize it. The Alliance collaborated with WithoutViolence on the development of an Advocacy Toolkit that is research based, solutions-focused and includes lessons from behavioral science. It highlights what advocacy is, and more importantly the intent of advocacy efforts. Research shows that the widespread use of a common narrative can be a key factor in gaining political priority for social and health issues.Recent developments on national and regional levels suggest that interest in strengthening the social service workforce is gaining momentum among policy and decision makers, and a window of opportunity for leaders and advocates to increase support for the workforce currently exists, particularly due to the Sustainable Development Goals.

10. top challenges facing the social service workforce
The 2016 report included responses from 8 of the countries that participated in the 2010 conference, all within Africa (Cote d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda, South Africa, Uganda and Zimbabwe).
The Alliance, in collaboration with the UNICEF Regional and Country Offices in East Asia and Pacific and Middle East and North Africa and Southeast Asia regions is supporting mapping and assessment of the social service workforce in 35 countries.
Data collection in all countries is still in progress, though preliminary findings from several EAPRO countries show that lack of support and development, namely lack of career advancement opportunities and lack of training and professional knowledge are considered as top challenges by many representatives of the social service workforce.
Source: Global Social Service workforce. The State of the Social Service Workforce Report

11. The time is now
The Sustainable Development Goals offer an unprecedented opportunity to attract the proper political and financial support.
First time clear child protection-related targets are part of the global development agenda.
A recent report by The European Social Network suggested that 65% of the 169 targets underlying the 17 SDGs will not be reached without proper engagement of and coordination with local and regional authorities that usually have a responsibility for social services.  
The Alliance, in collaboration with the UNICEF Regional and Country Offices in East Asia and Pacific and Middle East and North Africa and Southeast Asia regions is supporting mapping and assessment of the social service workforce in 35 countries.
Data collection in all countries is still in progress, though preliminary findings from several EAPRO countries show that lack of support and development, namely lack of career advancement opportunities and lack of training and professional knowledge are considered as top challenges by many representatives of the social service workforce.

12. tools for Advocacy Global Advocacy Toolkit
Provides advocates with a common set of tools to bring about greater political and programmatic priority for strengthening the social service workforce
Includes infographics, case studies, fact sheets, worksheets

13. Tools for Advocacy Call to Action
Advocacy document intended for government and decision-makers
Country level and global level recommended actions for strengthening the social service workforce
35 organizations have signed on to show their support

14. Tools for advocacy Interest Group on Advocacy and Outreach
Comprised of 45 Alliance members
Purpose is to advance knowledge, discussion, tools and information exchange related to a thematic area of concern
Gathering existing tools into a compendium (audio visual, gray literature, press releases, presentations, case studies, worker profiles)
Will then assess gaps and needs toward developing new tools
Media and Advocacy Training
Developing a facilitator’s guide
Pilot training to be held in June in Uganda
Ambassador Program
Leadership and advocacy skills development
Second cohort 11 individuals in 11 countries working collaboratively to support each other in national advocacy efforts

15. Successes of advocacy– global examples
South Korea
6,000 social workers successfully advocated to the government for increased funding for children's centres, salaries and program costs
Uganda
Development of national para-social worker training curriculum
Incorporation of workforce language within new National Child Policy
Discussion on creation of Social Work Council to regulate planning and development of social service workforce
Creation of a government-led country task force for developing an national SSW strengthening strategy
Use of VAC studies to advocate for greater funding and policy support

16. Successes of advocacy– global examples
Save the Children
Establishment of the Child Protection Systems Task Group
Development of the Common Approach for Case Management that includes social service workforce training
Drafting of guidance on Para Social Workers drawing from existing resources
Standardization of job descriptions
Kenya
Increase in budget allocations by the Department of Children’s Services by 20% from $800M to $1.2B, resulting in employment of an additional 250 children officers and 120 social protection officers due to sharing common advocacy messages
Strengthening collaboration between three different professional associations
East Africa
SSW strategy and incorporation within the policy Minimum Standards for Comprehensive Services for Children and Young People in the EAC

17. Successes of advocacy– global examples
Haiti
Database with the government child protection office is also in development and efforts remain underway to obtain funding to remunerate new and existing staff
In process of establishing a national association
Held viewing parties with following group discussions toward professionalization
Georgia
Georgian Association of Social Workers advocated for the development of the Law on social work and ensured that the recently adopted legislation provides for extending numbers, strengthening and registration of SW, etc.
GASW organized activism and drafted several petitions to request better working conditions for the state social workers
South Africa
Government bill to support establishment the SA Council on Social Service Professions, bring together social work and child and youth care work for professionalization, accreditation and registration
Multi-disciplinary and integrated approach for case management across worker cadres

18. Successes of advocacy– global examples
India
Increasing support from the government toward recognition of the role of social workers and para professionals in mental health service provision
Initiating steps for mapping the social service workforce in India
Bringing together 6 associations to form a national association
Indonesia
Development of a certification test for social welfare workers.
Bill before Parliament that students must be certified and pass test
United States
Participation in marches over last 2 years to take a stand on human rights and social justice issues
NASW has drafted proclamations & issued statements opposing government policies

19. Role of social work associations – global examples
Philippines
Work with the Continuing Professional Development Council and other state agencies to support:
registration
regulation
mandatory continuing professional development
implementation of ethical standards
Malaysia and Indonesia
Advocate for legal recognition of professional social workers and establishing a licensing system
Kenya
Engage members in recommending language on SW in the new Children’s Act
Provide a forum where social workers can grow professionally
Update members on new trends in the profession

20. World social work day Tuesday, March 19, 2019
Poster translated and available from IFSW
Events being planned in Sierra Leone, Uganda, Cambodia, Georgia and many more!
Social Work month – materials from NASW on theme “Elevate Social Work”

21. SW Day at the UN Event held on March 19 at UN in Geneva
Organized by OHCHR, IFSW and Avenirsocial
Topic: Social workers standing up for human rights
SW Day at the UN in NY to be held on April 1
36th annual event
Theme: Strengthening Human Relationships, Policies and Programs to Protect Children
Organized by IFSW, IASSW and ICSW
Student event on international social work day prior

22. Get involved Submit existing resources for advocacy compendium
Share how you’re using advocacy tools and outcomes
Send us World Social Day event details and photos
Join the Global Social Service Workforce Alliance and the advocacy interest group
Contribute expertise – blogs, resources and webinars
Attend or view SSW Strengthening Symposium on May 7 on topic of Evidence for Action

23. Alliance Membership Registration
To become a member please visit

24. For more information, please visit: www.socialserviceworkforce.org
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Thank you!