According to one of my lecturers, Dr. Ismail Baba, advocacy might be what truly makes social work as a profession. In every field of social sciences, there is a role that every respective practitioner has to play to practice the knowledge he or she learned in the field. Psychologists will use what he learns about the science of behaviors and mental processes to develop or alter an aspect of the individual's behaviors or mind. Economics use financial studies and theories as the main focus in their practice. Political analysis break down the political phenomena in the world into a more understandable perspective by using science of governance and public administration. And there are a lot more why a certain field is its own.
But for social work, it might be the role of advocacy that a social worker plays. Advocacy in act in social work where a social worker defends his or her client in all terms as possible. This includes but not limited to the resources of needs fulfillment, communication to other parties, and advancement of social justice. A social worker playing advocate must be able to know the policies that concern the particular client and to argue on behalf of the latter if the policies do not seem to be plausible to fulfill the client's needs. Just like a lawyer, according to my lecturer, an advocating social worker needs to know to argue, defend, and even manipulate.
Being a social worker is challenging, just like any other fields. But the challenge there is in this one is that you have to have contacts, a lot of them, and be able to know who you can call to secure a certain need for your client. You have to have the numbers of the nearest counseling agency, or medical assistance, or educational institution, or financial aids, etc.
2 comments:
if i may add on.. advocacy is also about being the eyes, ears and the voice of marginalised communities who are often denied or doesn't have access to fight for their rights.. :)
that is spot-on!
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