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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Recorded presentation

Roger E. Boyd, PhD, MSW, Department of Social Work, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, College of Arts and Sciences, Edwardsville, IL 62026-1450, 618-650-3014, roboyd@siue.edu

Advocating for social justice and human rights equality for disadvantaged and disenfranchised populations is fundamental to the social work profession. This presentation will describe an educational experience that cultivates the values of self-determination, self-worth, and self-empowerment among senior social work students at a major midwestern university. The primary component of this experience is a trip to NASW Lobby Day where students actively advocate for selected legislation to members of the Illinois General Assembly. Prior to the exercise, students must research selected legislative issues, initiate contact with their legislative representatives and bill sponsors, and set appointments to discuss their issues. Outcomes of this assignment are an understanding of the state legislative process and a heightened sense of self-efficacy towards policy advocacy. In the 2005 legislative session, social work students from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville petitioned approximately 15%--six senators and 21 representatives--of the 93rd General Assembly to address a number of bills pertaining to issues of social justice and human rights. One of our students was invited to provide testimony in support and subsequent passage of HB 0058: Health Education Required Instruction which mandates education in secondary schools on clinical depression, suicide prevention, and the spread and transmission of HIV/Aids. Other highlights included students assisting in the re-introduction and passage of SB 0150: Medical Malpractice which addresses tort reform in medical liability, and the addition of key members of the state legislature as sponsors to additional legislation of importance to the students.

Learning Objectives:

• 1)Gain knowledge of educational approaches to policy advocacy for social work students
• 2)Develop an awareness of the importance of policy-practice for social work students and social work professionals
• 3)Learn how students can become effective policy advocates for human rights and public health.

Keywords: Advocacy, Legislative

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No

Recorded presentation