Becoming an Effective Policy Advocate, 6th Edition

Now in its sixth edition, BECOMING AN EFFECTIVE POLICY ADVOCATE continues to embrace the policy-practice framework that made it a success while including completely updated coverage of important recent developments in the field. This groundbreaking text goes beyond the traditional foundational approach to policy and helps students develop the skills they need to become advocates for social change. Students are taught the ins and outs of conducting policy-practice so that they will be prepared to implement policy reform during their own careers. Coverage has been updated to include topics such as the recent presidential elections and economic turmoil as well as examples such as post-hurricane New Orleans and homelessness in Los Angeles County.

Bruce S. Jansson’s interests include empirical research examining the policy making and planning processes in social agencies; the procurement of resources for social service agencies; the monitoring function of public agencies; and the history and practice of social welfare policy. He joined the University of Southern California faculty in 1973 after working in Michigan as a community organizer and planner for tenant rights. He also has served as the Moses Distinguished Research Professor at the City University of New York Graduate Center.

Preface. 

PART I. BECOMING MOTIVATED TO BECOME A POLICY ADVOCATE AND A LEADER. 

1. Joining a Tradition of Social Reform. 

2. Articulating Four Rationales for Participating in Policy Advocacy. 

PART II. SURMOUNTING CYNICISM BY DEVELOPING POLICY-ADVOCACY SKILLS. 

3. Obtaining Skills and Competencies for Policy Advocacy. 

PART III. NAVIGATING THE ECOLOGY OF POLICY IN THE U.S. AND A GLOBAL WORLD. 

4. Understanding the Ecology of Policy in Governmental, Electoral, Community, and Agency Settings. 

5. Expanding Policy Advocacy Across National Borders. 

PART IV. COMMITTING TO PROBLEMS AND SOLUTIONS THROUGH BUILDING AGENDAS AND POLICY ANALYSIS. 

6. Committing to an Issue: Building Agendas. 

7. Analyzing Problems in the First Step of Policy Analysis.

8. Developing Policy Proposals in Second, Third, and Fourth Steps of Policy Analysis. 

9. Presenting and Defending Policy Proposals in the Fifth and Sixth Steps of Policy Analysis.

PART V. ADVOCATING FOR CHANGE. 

10. Developing and Using Power. 

11. Developing Political Strategy and Putting It Into Action.

12. Engaging in Ballot-Based Policy Advocacy. 

PART VI. TROUBLESHOOTING AND ASSESSING POLICIES. 

13. Troubleshooting Policies.

14. Toward Evidence-Based Policy.