Advocacy can be defined as “action taken by a counseling professional to facilitate the removal of external and institutional barriers to clients’ well-being” (Toporek & Liu, 2001, p. 387 cited in Toporek et al., 2009). Furthermore, the ACA Advocacy Competencies outlines two dimensions of advocacy: extent of client involvement (acting on behalf to acting with client) and level of intervention (microlevel to macrolevel).
For this project you will revisit and build upon the research that you identified in your 6.3 Advocacy assignment (“Research and identify a persisting client/community problem that you feel is pervasive within the addictions field and which has a demonstrated need for advocacy”). The potential advocacy plan must be executed within the Public Arena domain of the ACA Advocacy Competencies. While it is not necessary to fully carry out the project to execution, the plan should reflect elements that would be “action ready” and capable for future implementation.
Describe at what level on the Public Arena domain (i.e., Public Information or Social/Political Advocacy) of the ACA Advocacy Competencies your project targets and why this level was chosen. Additionally, after reviewing the Multicultural and Social Justice Counseling Competencies, identify which of the “Counseling & Advocacy Interventions” competencies are required in order to effectively identify, develop, and implement this project and provide a rationale (3 page maximum).
Proposed project outline, containing a 5 page maximum.
Description of advocacy plan
Potential timeline (beginning date, important milestones, completion date, etc ).
Potential resources and support needed (money, time, specific expertise, support systems, community partners, training, etc.)
Anticipated outcome/impact (how will this proposed project plan address and ameliorate the identified problem? Is there an estimated number of people that your project will impact? How will you know that your project plan impacted this issue (include proposed follow-up strategies for assessment of impact)?
An example of an advocacy project could include identifying a Behavioral Health/Addiction Bill (e.g. S.524, 114 Congress- Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act of 2016). If the Bill has not been passed then create a comprehensive plan to raise awareness of this Bill, which may include identifying stakeholders and mediums of communication.
