Deck 10: Advocacy

Question 1

Which of the following is an example of the use of INFORMATION POWER?

A) A social worker tells a client that if she does not cooperate, then the social worker will have to call the police.
B) A social worker performs a literature review in order to be better able to argue a case before an administrative board.
C) A social worker threatens to terminate a client's funding.
D) A social worker builds rapport with government officials in hopes that they will support her policy initiative.
E) A social worker take a position in a big chair behind a desk and only leaves a small chair for the client.

Answer 1

B

Question 2

POWER refers to

A) The intentional use of force to get one's way.
B) The capacity to influence others for one's own purposes, regardless of whether that influence is used.
C) Abuse of information, strength, or other bases of influence.
D) Facilitating self-determination, choice, and autonomy for a client.
E) The need to control another person.

Answer 2

B

Question 3

POWER WITH refers to

A) A type of associational power, where people join together for a common purpose.
B) Use of power between two people to try to exploit or compete with one another.
C) A type of personal power that an individual is born with.
D) A type of personal power that an individual learns through modeling.
E) The ability to wear "green" in a manner that makes others envious.

Answer 3

A

Question 4

If a social worker initially has AN ADVERSARIAL TYPE OF RELATIONSHIP with a decision maker, the social worker would be wise to begin advocacy by

A) Providing the decision maker with neutral information.
B) Taking steps to build trust or a better relationship.
C) Packing bags and moving to another country, because it would be impossible to advocate effectively.
D) Just agreeing with the decision maker and forgetting about the interests of the client that the social worker is representing.
E) Taking steps to build trust or a better relationship.

Question 5

If a social worker initially has a NEUTRAL relationship with a decision maker, this means that

A) The decision maker is highly distrustful of the social worker.
B) The social worker must be highly distrustful of the decision maker.
C) The decision maker will go along with whatever the social worker says.
D) The social worker will go along with whatever the decision maker says.
E) The decision maker is not necessarily going to agree with what the social worker advocates for, but the decision maker will at least give the social worker a fair chance.

Question 6

A social worker has a Moroccan American client who has been denied certain Medicaid benefits. The social worker explains the client's situation to the Medicaid representative in order to persuade the representative to reverse the earlier decision. This is an example of

A) Couscous advocacy (target is change for a family of a particular ethnic origin).
B) Cracker advocacy (target is change for an organization).
C) Cause advocacy (target is an administrative or policy change).
D) Case advocacy (target is change for an individual or client).
E) Collective advocacy (target is change for a community).

Question 7

A probation officer asks a client to go to an anger management program. The client initially refuses. The probation officer engages the client in a discussion about his anger and offers to put forward a positive probation report if the client cooperates. In this situation, what role is the probation officer taking?

A) Formal, contractual mediator
B) Advocate for the anger management program
C) Negotiator with the client
D) Buffer
E) Arbitrator

Question 8

A clinical therapist has a positive relationship with an intake worker at a program for families affected by AIDS. The program has a waiting list and the therapist is advocating for a client family to be placed high on the list, to be admitted as soon as possible. In this situation, the therapist can begin advocacy without needing to focus on the relationship because the intake worker is likely to be a(n)

A) Adversary.
B) Neutral.
C) Ally.
D) Avoider
E) Compromiser

Question 9

Advocates can advocate "with" clients or "for" clients. An example of helping clients advocate on their own behalf is when a helping professional

A) Writes a letter to the editor to educate the public about how to treat people with disabilities with respect.
B) Calls a state legislator to pass laws to fund programs for people with disabilities.
C) Speaks on behalf of people with disabilities at a public hearing.
D) Provides expert evidence at a hearing on the needs of people with disabilities.
E) Helps a group of people with disabilities to organize a rally in front of the state capitol to protest cuts for services for people with disabilities.

Question 10

To raise the likelihood of success in advocacy efforts, a helping professional can

A) Work in coalitions with like-minded organizations.
B) Select and support leaders who act as initiators, have established track records, and/or the ability to revitalize stagnant organizations.
C) Ensure that resources are used in a cost-effective manner.
D) Balance organizational flexibility with consistency and continuity.
E) All of the above.

Question 11

A mediator sets the agenda, facilitates communication, and organizes who will be in the room at what time. In terms of "power," these examples show that the mediator has

A) Moral power.
B) Associational power.
C) Procedure power.
D) Nuisance (or sanctioning) power.
E) Interest-based power.

Question 12

To help a client use "moral power" in conflict resolution, an advocate could

A) Help the client access more financial resources.
B) Teach the client assertiveness skills.
C) Build an alliance between the client and others like the client.
D) Assist the client with ways to frame the client's cause in a positive light, showing that good values or ethical principles are on the client's side.
E) Sanction the client if the client does not cooperate.

Question 13

A clinical supervisor has responsibility within an organization for monitoring clinical practices to ensure that they are competent, ethical, and in accordance with agency policy. This official role within an agency gives the supervisor

A) Legitimate power in relation to frontline workers.
B) Moral power in relation to clients.
C) Habitual power in relation to the board of directors.
D) Nuisance power in relation to the cleaning staff.
E) All of the above.

Question 14

The PREPARATION STAGE OF ADVOCACY includes

A) Telling the other party your goals and objectives.
B) Focusing on the issues currently being discussed.
C) Providing the other party with relevant and persuasive information.
D) Becoming informed with all sides of the issue.
E) None of the above.

Question 15

A social worker is advocating strongly for the rights of people living in poverty. In the heat of a public debate, the social worker states that a particular senator is corrupt and that he is advocating for laws that reduce legal protections for tenants because the senator will financially benefit from undisclosed interests in slum apartments. Despite the social worker's positive goal of helping clients, the social worker could be liable for "defamation" if the

A) Social worker is also a landlord and does not disclose this conflict of interest.
B) Information is untrue and causes harm to the senator's reputation.
C) Senator really is corrupt and the social worker's claims are true.
D) Social worker has no agency mandate to advocate.
E) Social worker does not make her points very clearly and nobody really understands what the social worker is saying.

Question 16

Social workers who work for agencies that have charitable foundation status for tax purposes can be restricted on whether and how they advocate, particularly in relation to

A) Advocating for the rights of an individual client, such as a person with physical disabilities.
B) Legislative or political advocacy, such as supporting a particular candidate for election.
C) Helping clients build self-esteem.
D) Providing funding for other charitable causes.
E) Use of conflict avoidance strategies.

Question 17

A social worker is advocating for an individual client during a case conference at a homeless shelter, asking her co-professionals to extend the stay of the client beyond the 30-day maximum stated in the agency policies. The client has been unable to find alternate accommodations and wants to stay 2 more weeks. Although a social worker has an ethical obligation to advocate for the needs of a client, this principle conflicts with an ethical obligation regarding

A) Following the laws of the state and country.
B) The social worker's personal belief in client self-determination.
C) The needs of other clients, or in this case, the group of potential clients who could use the resources at the homeless shelter.
D) The client's right to informed consent.
E) All of the above.

Question 18

A community organizer has been asked by a group of Haitian immigrants to help them organize a group that can confront discrimination against Haitian immigrants by government officials and policy makers in the United States. The community organizer is concerned this goes beyond the mandate of her agency, which is to help immigrants with cultural and linguistic adaptation to the United States. Before initiating such a group, the community organizer should seek

A) Authorization of the Haitian government.
B) Authorization of the agency.
C) Authorization of substitute decision makers, because immigrants have no mental capacity to give informed consent to the social worker.
D) Authorization of the National Association of Social Workers.
E) No authorization from anyone but the social worker's higher power, as the social worker defines that power.

Question 19

One of the main problems with using NUISANCE POWER to try to influence others for a particular cause is that

A) There is no moral right or wrong in most issues.
B) The status quo is usually the best way to go ("If it ain't broke, why fix it?").
C) Nuisance behaviors provoke a response, but the response might be a negative response rather than a positive response that the advocate was hoping for.
D) You need to have a lot of expert power to create an effective good nuisance.
E) Most people are conflict avoiders, regardless of how large the nuisance becomes.

Question 20

A psychologist suggests that a child protection worker leave a child in a home because the child seems to be functioning well, even though the parents lack certain parenting skills. This argument to "leave things as they are" is an example of using

A) Moral power.
B) Associational power.
C) Physical power
D) Habitual power.
E) Flower power.

Question 21

An ADVOCATE is a person who

A) Negotiates for what he or she wants.
B) Helps two parties communicate, by acting as a neutral third party.
C) Decides what is best for a client in need.
D) Helps clients negotiate for themselves or helps negotiate on behalf of clients.
E) Uses a competitive approach to advocate for a win-win solution.

Question 22

INDIVIDUAL ADVOCACY refers to

A) Helping to change a policy
B) Negotiating for a change in the rules that apply to every individual
C) Promoting a change in the way that a program administers services to all its clients
D) Advancing the interests or wishes of a specific person
E) Bribing an individual decision maker

Question 23

ADMINISTRATIVE ADVOCACY refers to

A) Promoting change in the laws of an entire country
B) Advancing the interests of a particular client
C) Advancing the wishes of a particular client
D) Promoting change within a particular agency or organization
E) Only (a) and (b)

Question 24

If an advocate assesses that a decision maker is an ALLY, then

A) Advocacy will be relatively more challenging because the decision maker is initially biased against the advocate or his cause.
B) Advocacy will be relatively easier because the decision maker is initially supportive of the advocate or his cause.
C) Advocacy will be impossible because the decision maker will not be open to reason.
D) The advocate should resign, because advocates should not have allies.
E) The client should find a new advocate, because otherwise the client will be at a disadvantage.

Question 25

If an advocate assesses that a decision maker is an ADVERSARY, then

A) The advocate should resign from the case, because it unethical to advocate with an adversary.
B) Advocacy will be relatively more challenging, because the decision maker is initially biased against the advocate or her cause.
C) Advocacy will be relatively easier because the decision maker is initially supportive of the advocate or her cause.
D) Advocacy will be impossible because adversaries never change their minds.
E) The advocate would be justified in paying a bribe the decision maker.

Question 26

An advocate can help a client advocate on HIS OWN BEHALF by

A) Speaking for the client at a public hearing.
B) Educating the client about his rights.
C) Educating the public about an issue.
D) Lobbying individual policy makers.
E) Writing an advocacy brief that the advocate will submit to the decision makers.

Question 27

An advocate can help advocate FOR A CLIENT by

A) Speaking for the client at a public hearing.
B) Educating the client about her rights.
C) Helping the client gain confidence in public speaking.
D) Helping the client articulate her priorities.
E) Coaching the client on how to negotiate for herself.

Question 28

A party with a POWER DISADVANTAGE has

A) No power.
B) Much more power than the other party.
C) Relatively less power than the other party.
D) A better chance of winning if she uses power-based negotiation strategies.
E) Only (a) and (b).

Question 29

SANCTIONING POWER refers to the capacity to influence gained through

A) Having lots of money.
B) Relationships with others.
C) Having a formal position within an organization.
D) Being able to create havoc or difficulties for other people.
E) Being able to reward or punish.

Question 30

EXPERT POWER refers to the capacity to influence gained through

A) Having lots of money.
B) Relationships with others.
C) Having a formal position within an organization.
D) Being able to create havoc or difficulties for other people.
E) Having specific knowledge or information.

Question 31

ASSOCIATIONAL POWER refers to the capacity to influence gained through

A) Having lots of money.
B) Relationships with others.
C) Having a formal position within an organization.
D) Being able to create havoc or difficulties for other people.
E) Being able to reward or punish.

Question 32

NUISANCE POWER refers to the capacity to influence gained through

A) Having lots of money.
B) Relationships with others.
C) Having a formal position within an organization.
D) Being able to create havoc or difficulties for other people.
E) Being able to reward or punish.

Question 33

Melody can support her position by drawing support from the Bible. This support is an example of using

A) Habitual power.
B) Sanctioning power.
C) Moral power.
D) Resource power.
E) Procedure power.

Question 34

Sebastian asks to be the chair of the meeting. ACTING AS CHAIR provides Sebastian with

A) Habitual power.
B) Sanctioning power.
C) Moral power.
D) Resource power.
E) Procedure power.

Question 35

Triton uses his PHYSICAL STRENGTH to win a fight. This example demonstrates Triton's use of

A) Habitual power.
B) Sanctioning power.
C) Personal power.
D) Resource power.
E) Procedure power.

Question 36

Erica uses her CHARISMA to help win a debate. This example demonstrates Erica's use of

A) Habitual power.
B) Sanctioning power.
C) Personal power.
D) Resource power.
E) Procedure power.

Question 37

Ursula uses her company's SMART PHONES AND TABLETS to help her advocate. This example demonstrates Ursula's use of

A) Habitual power.
B) Sanctioning power.
C) Personal power.
D) Resource power.
E) Procedure power.

Question 38

To PREPARE for advocacy, an advocate should

A) Use clear and concise language.
B) Present with confidence.
C) Ensure that everyone will follow up with the agreement.
D) Assess the nature of the conflict.
E) Use nonjudgmental language.

Question 39

Christopher is a state senator who campaigned on a firm position on keeping minimum wages at the same level for at least 5 more years. Describe how an advocate could help Christopher undo his commitment, so he could support an increase in minimum wages and still save face.

Question 40

Describe three strategies that an advocate could use to help an adversary become more of an ally.

Question 41

Arthur is advocating for better treatment of a patient. He wants to persuade Winnifred to provide the patient with a private room. If he assesses that Winnifred is a NEUTRAL, what types of strategies should Arthur use to try to persuade her?

Question 42

Deirdre has a disease that is not currently recognized by Medicare. Explain how Deirdre's advocate could make use of ASSOCIATIONAL POWER to help Deirdre get the Medicare policy changed.

Question 43

Quincy is a teenager who lives in a group home and wants the home to allow him to switch schools. He is thinking of acting up as a way to persuade the group home. As an advocate for Quincy, describe the advantages and disadvantages of his use of NUISANCE POWER to try to persuade the home to allow him to switch schools.

Question 44

Identify five key strategies for writing an effective ADVOCACY BRIEF.

Question 45

What is the difference between a conflict resolution coach and a mediator? Identify at least two strategies that might be appropriate for a coach, but not for a mediator.

Question 46

A client's parents want a social worker to advocate for the client to get into a special program for adults with autism. The social worker thinks that the client is not eligible and does not want to waste anybody's time. What ethical issues are raised by this case? How should the social worker resolve these issues?

Question 47

A probation client asks her psychotherapist to release information to her attorney for an upcoming court hearing. The client wants the psychotherapist to advocate that she no longer needs probation. What are the ethical issues for the psychotherapist in this situation? How should she resolve the issues?

Question 48

Diversity Plus provides services from Monday to Friday, from 9 am to 5 pm. You are advocating for a client who wants to come on the weekend or during an evening. What are the advantages and disadvantages of advocating for a POLICY CHANGE, rather than advocating for an exception for this one individual?

Question 49

How could an advocate use "visualization exercises" to empower a client to negotiate more effectively? Provide examples using a situation involving a high school student who is preparing to participate in a school disciplinary hearing. The student has been charged with vandalizing school property.