Advocacy Practice of Social Workers

Abstract

The author presents empirical information on the extent and nature of advocacy activity among a random sample of social workers. Almost all employed social workers in the sample performed both job-related and volunteer advocacy. They averaged less than five hours per week of on-the-job advocacy and less than one hour per week of volunteer advocacy. Agency goals and functions as well as job characteristics strongly influence the amount of job-related advocacy a social worker does. As a rule, social workers tend to be involved in case advocacy while at work and class advocacy while volunteering. Social workers were case oriented in their advocacy for or with their clients and were inclined to use approaches internal to their agency. An advocacy research agenda is recommended.