Snow (2013) defines advocacy as the process of “eliminating oppressive forces in clients’ lives and working at a systems level towards achieving a more just and fair society” (p. 6). Advocacy often requires advanced human services professional practitioners to make an argument about why a specific service user—or group of service users—need a service. This argument could be made to those in power who control the allocation of services or to the general public to raise awareness about a specific social justice issue. Therefore, practitioners must be able to present a clear and concise argument that is persuasive enough to secure services or mobilize the public to support an issue.
In this Discussion, you create an advocacy pitch on behalf of a service user from one of the Hart City scenarios assigned this week.