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Advocacy at NASW/Texas

Susan P. Milam, Ph.D., LMSWDirector of Government Relations

National Association of Social Workers/Texas ChapterJuly 14, 2012

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National Association of Social Workers/Texas Chapter Board

NASW/Texas will advocate for actions that will enable professional social workers to provide high quality, effective services to strengthen Texas communities.

Advocacy at NASW/Texas

Board of Directors- Adopts legislative agenda- Allocates resources

Texas Political Action for Candidate Election

(TPACE)- Evaluates and endorses candidates- Determine level of support

Social Work Advocacy Day (SWAD) Committee

- Organize Social Work Advocacy Day at the Capitol- Encourage local advocacy activities

Government Relations Office

- Lobbying for legislative action- Developing advocacy materials- Interacting with advocacy groups and public agencies- Staff support for advocacy groups

Branches/Members/ Committees

- Local advocacy- Vote/campaign for candidates- Contact with elected officials: phone calls, letters, visits, petitions

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NASW/Texas Advocacy Groups

Texas Political Action for Candidate Election (TPACE) Evaluate and

endorse candidate

Determine level of support

Social Work Advocacy Day Committee Organize annual

advocacy day at the legislature

Encourage local advocacy efforts

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Social Work Advocacy Day (SWAD) Committee

Chair: Janet Tuohy

Members: Virginia Manuel April Young Joan Holland Lois McDonald Lucia Leo-Diaz Kelsee Jones Mike Gianotti Mari Lynn Garcia Bert Beauman Elizabeth Gonzalez

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Government Relations Office

Legislative and regulatory action Collaborating with partners

Research Advocacy for clients and issues

Working with public and private employers Pursuing opportunities in new fields of

practice Educating ourselves and others Grassroots advocacy training

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Branch and Member Advocacy

The power of a constituent!

Knowledge of community needs

Impacted by legislative decisions

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Texas Government

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General Facts about the Texas Legislature

There are 150 Texas Representatives

There are 31 Texas Senators

Both houses are in session for 5 months (January thru May) every odd year

In 2011, 5,796 bills were filed; 1,387 passed Nearly 80% of all House bills died About 70% of all Senate bills died 26% of Republican bills (797) and 19% of Democratic

bills (585) were sent to the governor Governor Rick Perry vetoed 24

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Texas 82nd Legislature Demographics

House Senate

Male 118 25 Female 32 6

Democratic 49 12

Republican 101 19

Incumbent 125 29 Freshman 26 2

Caucasian 103 22 African-American 17 2 Hispanic 28 7 Asian-American 2 0

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Social Workers in the Texas Legislature

Elliott Naishtat, Texas Representative

o He has served District 49 in Austin since 1990

o Holds social work and law degreeso Worked as VISTA volunteer for LBJ’s War

on Poverty

NASW/Texas Legislative Agenda

2013 Legislative Agenda

3 Top Issues Loan Repayment Higher Pay S.W. Center for

Workforce Studies Messaging

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Loan Repayment…

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Social Work Our discipline’s unique ethics of social justice and

political advocacy

Our mission to our most vulnerable populations Promotion of social justice and social change

Our core values: service social justice dignity and worth of the person importance of human relationships integrity competence

Political action, lobbying, and advocacy: unique and essential component to social work

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Social Workers in PoliticsNecessary to:

reassert our role in social welfare policy represent populations who are

marginalized and hold little power stabilize authority, rights, and power for

the social work profession

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Social Workers and the Democratic Process

“In a democracy, where every vote and voice count, doing nothing is a political act.”

Nancy Amidei

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How to Do Grassroots Advocacy:

Advocate: to speak or write in favor of; support or urge by argument; recommend publicly

Branch and Member Advocacy

NASW/TX can provide: Individual legislator

information Issue summaries Letter templates Petition templates Phone call scripts Postcards Action plan Suggestions for advocacy

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Letter/Postcard Advocacy

U. S. Officials Sen. Cornyn Sen. Hutchison Your Member in

Congress State Officials

Governor Perry Your Representative Your Senator

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Calling Your Legislator

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As a social worker, what have you done to assist a

Texan to obtain, retain, or regain their independence

and self-sufficiency?

Your Bootstrap

Story

Your Bootstrap Story What kind of social

work do you do? How does your work

contribute to the overall strength/quality of life for Texas?

Does your work save an expense in another area of the economy?

Do you have a statistic that confirms the value of what you do?

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What Can I Do… Vote Write letters, make phone calls, sign petitions

to include on line, e-mail, and visit my representative and senator

Join/Invite others to join NASW. Join NASW/TX “Take Action Now” Listserv Get involved in a candidate’s race Run for public office! Join a NASW Critical Issue Advisory

What Does a Texas Social Work Advocate Look Like?Lara Hulin, School Social Worker, Houston ISD

Katharine Ligon, TPACE Trustee, CPPP

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It looks like YOU!!

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