Advocating for Positive Social Change
Advocacy takes many forms. One way is to communicate formally with an elected official, a government agency, or a private entity on behalf of service users to advocate for a specific change. In this Assignment, you will draft a 1-page formal letter to advocate, based on one of the following options:
Option A:
An individual service user has been denied a specific benefit or service and you need to address a specific person or entity to advocate on their behalf to receive that benefit or service.
Option B:
A population of service-users is being adversely impacted by a specific policy (or lack of policy) and you need to address a specific person or entity to advocate on behalf of this specific population.
If you choose Option A, the individual service user can be fictitious. If you are basing the letter on a real individual, the individual should be anonymous for the purposes of the Assignment, and any of the details shared in the letter should not give away private details or identifying information.
The specific person or entity you address in your letter could range from a property manager, employer, health insurance provider, judge, councilperson, or mayor, to a state representative, state commission, congressperson, senator, or governor, just to name a few examples.
You will also upload your advocacy letter to your Professional Portfolio to fulfill the requirements for this Assignment.
Sample Answer
Option B: Advocacy Letter for Improved Access to Mental Health Services for Low-Income Individuals
[Your Name] [Your Address] [Your Phone Number] [Your Email Address]
[Date]
[Recipient Name] [Recipient Title] [Organization Name] [Organization Address]
Subject: Advocacy for Increased Access to Mental Health Services for Low-Income Individuals
Dear [Recipient Name],
I am writing to express my deep concern regarding the limited access to affordable mental health services for low-income individuals in our community. As a [Your Profession, e.g., social worker, community advocate], I witness firsthand the devastating impact of inadequate mental healthcare on individuals struggling with mental health challenges.
Many low-income individuals face significant barriers to accessing mental health care, including:
- High costs: The cost of therapy, medication, and other mental health services can be prohibitive for individuals with limited financial resources.