Political Social Work: Using Power to Create Social Change

Description

This social work book is the first of its kind, describing practical steps that social workers can take to shape and influence both policy and politics. It prepares social workers and social work students to impact political action and subsequent policy, with a detailed real-world framework for turning ideas into concrete goals and strategies for effecting change. Tracing the roots of social work in response to systemic social inequality, it clearly relates the tenets of social work to the challenges and opportunities of modern social change. The book identifies the core domains of political social work, including engaging individuals and communities in voting, influencing policy agendas, and seeking and holding elected office. Chapters elaborate on the necessary skills for political social work, featuring discussion, examples, and critical thinking exercises in such vital areas as: Power, empowerment, and conflict: engaging effectively with power in political settings. Getting on the agenda: assessing the political context and developing political strategy. Planning the political intervention: advocacy and electoral campaigns. Empowering voters Persuasive political communication. Budgeting and allocating resources. Evaluating political social work efforts. Making ethical decisions in political social work. Political Social Work is a potent reference for social work professionals, practitioners, and students seeking core political knowledge and skills to practically advance their work. For specialists and generalists alike, it solidifies political action as vital for the evolution of the field. Front Matter ....Pages i-xxv Front Matter ....Pages 1-1 Consider Yourself Asked: Introduction to Political Social Work (Shannon R. Lane, Suzanne Pritzker)....Pages 3-21 Contexts for Political Social Work Practice (Shannon R. Lane, Suzanne Pritzker)....Pages 23-43 “Promoting the General Welfare of Society”: The Political Activity of Social Workers and Human Service Organizations (Shannon R. Lane, Suzanne Pritzker)....Pages 45-76 Power, Empowerment, and Conflict: Engaging Effectively with Power in Political Settings (Shannon R. Lane, Suzanne Pritzker)....Pages 77-109 Front Matter ....Pages 111-111 Getting on the Agenda: Assessing the Political Context and Developing Political Strategy (Shannon R. Lane, Suzanne Pritzker)....Pages 113-149 Planning the Political Intervention: Advocacy Campaigns (Shannon R. Lane, Suzanne Pritzker)....Pages 151-183 Planning the Political Intervention: Electoral Campaigns (Shannon R. Lane, Suzanne Pritzker)....Pages 185-225 Planning the Political Intervention: Voter Engagement (Shannon R. Lane, Suzanne Pritzker)....Pages 227-265 Front Matter ....Pages 267-267 Persuasive Political Communication (Shannon R. Lane, Suzanne Pritzker)....Pages 269-303 Volunteer and Staff Management (Shannon R. Lane, Suzanne Pritzker)....Pages 305-333 Understanding and Raising Resources (Shannon R. Lane, Suzanne Pritzker)....Pages 335-368 Budgeting and Allocating Resources (Shannon R. Lane, Suzanne Pritzker)....Pages 369-397 Front Matter ....Pages 399-399 Evaluating Political Social Work Efforts (Shannon R. Lane, Suzanne Pritzker)....Pages 401-430 Making Ethical Decisions in Political Social Work (Shannon R. Lane, Suzanne Pritzker)....Pages 431-460 Political Social Work Careers and Leadership: From Jane Addams To You! (Shannon R. Lane, Suzanne Pritzker)....Pages 461-497 Back Matter ....Pages 499-505