An Introduction to Advocacy TRAINING GUIDE - Ritu R. Sharma

Book excerpt: In order for an advocacy effort to succeed, the goal must be narrowed down to an advocacy objective based on answers to questions such as: Can the issue bring diverse groups together into a powerful coalition? Is the objective achievable? Will the objective really address the problem? Using Data and Research for Advocacy Data and research are essential for making informed decisions when choosing a. [...] Given the data, can you realistically reach the goal? What data can be used to best support your arguments? Identifying Advocacy Audiences Once the issue and goals are selected, advocacy efforts must be directed to the people with decision- making power and, ideally, to the people who influence the decision makers such as staff, advisors, influential elders, the media and the public. [...] In this way, the facts can be made to speak the language of policy makers, community leaders, advocates, the public and the media, and the influence of data and research will be amplified. [...] Examples of criteria are: Is the objective achievable? or Do the data show that achieving this objective will have a real impact on the problem? A Checklist for Selecting an Advocacy Objective1 The purpose of this checklist of criteria is to assist you in making an informed choice about what advocacy objective to pursue. [...] SARA/AED Advocacy Training Guide30Selecting an Advocacy Objective 3 Will working on the advocacy objective provide people with opportunities to learn about and become involved with the decision-making process? Advocacy can serve the important purpose of opening the decision-making process to input from stakeholders, such as researchers, service providers, beneficiaries, and the public itself.