Policy in Action: The Practice of Social Work Policy Advocacy at the 2023 Capitol Action Day

9:00am to 3:00pm EST

NYS Capitol Empire State Plaza Convention Center - Meeting Room 2
279 Madison Ave, Albany, NY 12242

Presenter: Evelyn G. Williams, MSW

Workshop Attendees: $10

There will be no refunds if you are not able to attend. Walk-in registration on the day of is welcome! If you do not need CE credit, registration is free (Click register now for free or CE option)!

This workshop is approved for 2.0 continuing education credit hours for licensed social workers, licensed mental health counselors, licensed marriage and family therapists and licensed psychologists

Workshop Description

What is advocacy? We advocate to give voice; to speak out for the interests of others. As Mark S. Homan notes in Promoting Community Change, Making It Happen in the Real World: “Our professional identity, values, and ethics require us to advocate for the rights of members of the society” p. 445.

This program will explore how social workers can undertake advocacy aligned with the NASW-NYS 2023 legislative priorities through meeting with NYS legislators. . The program is split into two hour-long sessions throughout the day, with an activity of engaging in policy advocacy in between the two sessions. The first session will focus on an overview of policy advocacy, and tips and tactics for a successful advocacy undertaking. In addition, the facilitator will explore the reasons why we advocate and describe the strengths and limitations of advocacy.

After the first session, participants will have the opportunity to apply the skills they learned through joining group meetings, or hosting individual meetings with their representatives. The second session will occur in the afternoon, after the meetings with legislators. This session will consist of a debrief as well as a discussion of experiences of participants throughout the day, and a Q & A session.  

Learning Objectives

After the completion of this webinar, participants will be able to:

• Describe the practice and process of legislative advocacy.
• Identify and practice ways to engage in policy advocacy for the rights of clients and community members through discussions with legislative representatives.
• Explain political strategies to assist in building an effective advocacy undertaking.
• Describe ways that social workers can contribute to positive social change through advocacy, and prevent detrimental impacts of policy on communities.

This workshop is approved for 2.0 continuing education credit hours.

NASW-NYS is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers (Provider ID #0014), licensed mental health counselors (Provider ID #MHC-0053), licensed marriage and family therapists (Provider ID #MFT-0037) and licensed psychologists (Provider ID #PSY-0088).

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Presenter:

Evelyn G. Williams, MSW has over 30 years of progressive experience in health care administration, consulting, legislative advocacy, and teaching at the baccalaureate and graduate levels. Her primary professional direction was in community health care assisting in opening three community health centers (CHC) and providing technical assistance to CHC’s in the federal Region II locations. She also held several administrative positions in the NYS Department of Health. In 1999, after completing eleven years as the President/CEO of Whitney M. Young Jr. Health Center, Evelyn chose to pursue her consulting career, working with community-based organizations in the areas of program development, strategic management, and leadership.

Her consultant endeavors include providing consultant services to state and federal agencies, community-based organizations, and social/cultural groups. She assisted organizations in opening health care programs, developing short and long-term strategic plans, writing grants, conducting organizational performance evaluations, designing fundraising projects, facilitating governing board retreats, and planning and implementing statewide and national conferences and professional meetings.

Concurrent with the progressive experience in health care, Ms. Williams has had varied teaching positions since 1979. Completing her tenure in FORUM and the Center of International Programs within Empire State College, she is currently a lecturer within the School of Social Welfare, University at Albany.

Ms. Williams’ leadership skills are represented through serving on several statewide and regional professional organizations’ governing boards, as well as her role as legislative chair and chairperson of the community health care statewide association.