Using the Social Work Advocacy Practice Model to Find Our Voices in Service of Advocacy

Social work has long embraced advocating for vulnerable populations, yet there has been concern the profession has moved away from this historical mission. A review of the literature reveals an abundance of articles on advocacy, most of which highlight strategies and tactics employed in specific settings. Less prominent are practice models that consist of comprehensive conceptual and operational frameworks to guide the advocacy process. The Social Work Advocacy Practice Model provides a framework for guiding social workers in developing, implementing, and evaluating advocacy efforts. Qualitative feedback from social work students who pilot-tested the model is provided. Lessons learned are discussed.