Social Advocacy

The end goal needs to be written first. It all comes back to a backward-design process. A process that helps professionals be able to make the best decisions. Decisions that will provide someone else with the best possible outcome for life.

Social advocacy is a process. Often, it is the humanitarian that we have to train first. We train them to be able to make meaningful referrals, and why we make them. It may take time, but by learning why, who, and when to make referrals, you may save a life. You guard your community.

While my background is inconsequential, I do understand enough to know when to stand down and provide referrals. I thank the State of Utah and the training I received from them for that knowledge and understanding.

FIX IT ALREADY!

It would be nice if we had a magic wand we could wave and fix all the world’s problems. The reality is, you can’t fix anyone, not unless they want to be helped. With a declining social environment, victimhood, while not sustainable, has been propped up by media to just about every social group imaginable. Victimhood can be any manipulative situation, or game played against one or more people to control or avoid an obligation. It is a symptom of our society, a cultural decline. Many can’t recognize it.

This summary gives some clarity to the meaning of Manipulative Behavior:

Manipulative behavior occurs when a person uses controlling and harmful behaviors to avoid responsibility, conceal their true intentions, or cause doubt and confusion. Manipulation tactics, such as gaslighting, lying, blaming, criticizing, and shaming, can damage a person’s psychological well-being ~ Geralyn Dexter, P. (2023, June 15). How to spot manipulative behavior. https://www.verywellhealth.com/manipulative-behavior-

Narcissists have played these games for years. Oh, but it’s surely not their fault. It’s the person over there or someone in the past – it’s their fault, right? No.

INTERAGENCY PARTNERS

Good partners are trying to fix things. At least there are some attempts to line up processes and programs that will help others get help when they ask for it. Interagency Partners have a big responsibility on their shoulders. A lot of people disagree with them. Why? Well because some are court-ordered to go to them. Others walk in freely seeking help. It’s all about your perspective.

If you are ignoring your interagency partners within your community, you may be contributing to a bigger problem. If you don’t refer, then most likely you are part of the problem. You could be liable if things go wrong.

An example: Child Welfare is one case where you could find yourself between your job, friends, family, and the best interests of a child. You might have a legal duty to report an unfit parent. It happens every day. Do it.

Someone’s mental health is not negotiable, neither is turning your back on the issues those health problems may be causing others. By not making referrals when needed, you can very easily become part of the problem. Unintentionally, you may even escalate the issue(s).

Interagency processes and development take time, knowledge, and experience to get it right. There is generally more than just one agency working together with clients and patients. Development experience is not something that the general volunteer will have. A few may have a background in development work, but not on average.

Volunteers work with interagency personnel on program tasks. Most developers will tell you that your volunteers are the backbone of many of these programs. Volunteers see themselves doing a civic duty for their community, and most want nothing in return. Volunteering and seeing work well done is all they seek. It’s a win-win. Volunteering to work on social programs is very rewarding. The hope is they have reached as many as they can, and the inter-agency programs can continue successfully on into the future.

Who do Volunteers in your program go to when problems come up? Asking for a friend.

ETHICS

If you know an issue and are just standing in the background flashing a certificate around from some power broker – that isn’t going to cut it. A certificate will help you in some instances, but it is not the same as a professional degree and years of experience. Don’t allow a piece of paper, degree, certificate, or book, to stand in the way of using common sense. Some problems are far outside one’s genre to fix. You just prolong the problems by not letting those who can help come in and take on the issues.

With a professional background, ethics enters the equation, so they need to listen to that inner voice of common sense. It’s a fine line, that you draw within yourself. But sometimes you have to get out of your “own” way. Even professionals make mistakes. If you have individuals who are continually failing the DMH program established for them, then maybe you need to allow those individuals to seek alternative counseling and/or psychiatric care where they can get the help they need. Part of this interagency circle you have at your fingertips includes Veterans, Rehabilitation, Mental Health, Higher Education Services, Job Services, Child & Family Services, Law Enforcement, and so many more. Refer them immediately.

I had a friend years ago, who was the Director for Voc Rehab, (Dan) and he told me that for every dollar spent to rehab someone, that person would pay 10 dollars back into society one day. He was right. He was part of the solution!

Don’t twist your nose up at good advice. It doesn’t have to be perceived as a failure to allow someone to move on in their recovery or rehab. It’s progress. Move aside and allow people to utilize alternative referrals and care. Just be thankful you did.

Be the solution. Be like Dan!

A CASEWORKER EXAMPLE

True story. In speaking with a case worker, they relayed their experience in helping gather belongings from a home for children they were working with. The father had just murdered the mother. The police had gone into the home and luckily were still on the scene after securing the home.

Unfortunately, the caseworker opened the hall closet, and there crouching in a corner was the perpetrator. He put his finger up to his mouth to tell the caseworker to be quiet. The caseworker gently closed the closet door, and the next person to open it was law enforcement. The scene went from there…

Close that door and walk away. Be the solution. It is one of the hardest lessons in any social occupation to learn. While any form of social work and/or advocacy has its moments of pure happiness in helping others, it also has moments that tear your heart out. There are memories that you will never be able to erase. You can’t unlearn them.

BE THE SOLUTION

It’s up to all of us to turn our social environment around.

When you step into the role of humanitarian, what do you know about giving?

No one wants your worn-out and dirty junk, just so you can clear your garage. Charities will tell you, that is their biggest burden, getting rid of the junk people dump on them.
Money? You know money helps, right? The number one way to give is money. Charities know what the greatest need is for the people they are helping. So they can send money to those in most need.
Who are you going to give the money to? How do you make sure the proper people you want to help, get that money? Interagency? Charities?
Interagency and social programs in your own backyard. Get to know them. Work with them, and volunteer. Utilize their services in your community. Help others connect with them.
Give out of your own need, but make sure it gets to the right people.
Foster Care in your state. Help kids aging out get started. Help foster youth with luggage so they don’t have to move their belongings in black trash bags.
Do your research. Forbes gives us their top 100 charities HEREand the best way to handle donating. They also give you a list of charities to avoid.

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