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SR20-33 - Advocacy in Social Work

Course specification
Type of study Bachelor academic studies
Study programme
Course title Advocacy in Social Work
Acronym Status Semester Number of classes ECTS
SR20-33 elective 5 2L + 2E 6.0
Lecturers
Lecturer
Lecturer/Associate (practicals)
Prerequisite Form of prerequisites
Upisana treća godina studija
Learning objectives
Advocacy for the interests of clients in social work is an ethical responsibility of social workers. This is implemented at the level of individual, social groups and communities. Rejecting the value principal of being neutral, social workers become an active and responsible actor in the process of making changes. Advocacy is always directed towards the decision makers. Therefore it is extremely important that social workers are capable to analyze the political environment and power, establish realistic goals, develop communication skills, identify target groups, strategies and critics. The final aim of advocacy is to empower individuals, groups and communities to successfully advocate for their interests. The objective of this course is to equip students with theoretical and practical knowledge and skills for advocacy as service for social work clients.
Learning outcomes
It is expected that students: (1) understand the importance and contents of advocacy in social work; (2) to distinguish different types of advocacy; (3) to develop basic communication skills for advocacy; (4) to show practical skills to identify goals, develop strategies and tactics depending on the target group whose interests they are advocating for (5) able to apply knowledge and understand the importance of having a professional approach to tasks.
Content
Definitions and characteristics of advocacy in social work; Types of advocacy: case advocacy, group advocacy, internal administrative advocacy, civil/independent advocacy, legislative advocacy; Advocacy theories: social work theories and influence of perspectives in social work, practice of advocacy in social work; Relation between advocacy and social work; Professional and ethical dilemmas in advocacy; Characteristics of good advocate; Advocacy process' Strategies and tactics in advocacy.
Teaching Methods
- Lectures and discussions in class, reading of different materials, tests and assessment papers as pre final exam tasks. Final exam.
Literature
  1. Brkić M. (2010). Zastupanje u socijalnom radu. Beograd: Fakultet političkih nauka. Čigoja. (Original title)
  2. Payne M. (2001). Savremena teorija socijalnog rada. Banja Luka: Filozofksi fakultet, 201-218 (Original title)
  3. Jovanović V. (2006). Nezavisno zastupanje i besplatna pravna pomoć. Časopis Aktuelnosti. br.6, 29-36 (Original title)
  4. Grbić, O., Panić, G. & Brkić, M. (2011). Advocacy - a form of social work activity on meitigating marginalization and social exclusion. Proceedings. International Scientific Conference „Social Work and Fight against Poverty and Social Exclusion – Professional Dedication to the Protection and Promotion of Human Rights.“ , 475-488. (Original title)
Evaluation and grading