Description: This lecture will explore the foundational aspects of legislative advocacy at the local level. Participants will learn about the structure of local government, key stakeholders, and effective strategies for engaging with community leaders and policymakers. We will discuss case studies of successful local advocacy campaigns and provide practical tools for social workers to influence local legislation and policy changes.
Trainer:Max Shafir, MSW, LCSW is a dedicated social worker and advocate with 15 years of experience in community-based mental health, outreach, direct care, and policy work. His career has been marked by a deep commitment to improving care for vulnerable populations, with early efforts focusing on counseling and crisis management for at-risk youth and families. Max continues to champion these communities through advocacy and volunteer work, serving as Chair of the Legislative Breakfast on Mental Health, where he educates policymakers and community members on mental health reform, funding, and programming across North Carolina. He also serves on the Governor’s Juvenile Crime Prevention Committee, collaborating to create opportunities for at-risk youth and their families involved in the legal system. As a private practice clinician, trainer, and consultant, Max is passionate about mentoring new clinicians and fostering the next generation of social workers. Through his company, Therapy Cred, he partners with hospitals, agencies, universities, and other organizations to provide impactful continuing education and promote critical thinking in mental health practice. His work reflects a steadfast dedication to bridging the gap between policy and practice, empowering communities, and advancing systemic change.
Learning Objectives:
At the end of the training participants will be able to:
- Examine the structure of local government and identify its key roles in shaping legislation to effectively navigate and engage in local policy-making.
- Apply strategies for engaging with community leaders and policymakers to advocate for legislative changes that reflect social work values and address community needs.
References:
- Bliss, D. L., & Ginn, H. (2021). Expanding presence of social work advocacy on the national stage. Journal of Social Work Education, 57(3), 432-444. https://doi.org/10.1080/10437797.2019.1671266
- Boys, S., Bartholomew, J., & Patras, A. (2022). Where are the social workers? A practicum model to engage social workers in political advocacy for social justice. Journal of Teaching in Social Work, 42(5), 489-500. https://doi.org/10.1080/08841233.2022.2120162
- Brusseel, A., Raeymaeckers, P., & Verschuere, B. (2024). How can nonprofit policy advocacy influence policymakers? A factorial survey experiment on the effects of nonprofit advocacy strategies on policymakers’ willingness to act. Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Quarterly, https://doi.org/10.1177/08997640241252616
- Temko, E. (2023). “Piecemeal” advocacy, radical accomplishments: Adding normatizing to the advocacy toolbox. Journal of Policy Practice and Research (Online), 4(1), 76-98. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42972-022-00072-3
UNC SCHOOL OF SOCIAL WORK MACRO LECTURE SERIES