Continuing Education

Policy and Governmental Advocacy

Empowering Change through Advocacy and Social Justice

Mental Health Education

About The Course

Course Title: Policy and Governmental Advocacy

Learning Method: Record asynchronous distance (non-interactive). This course includes a recorded video and access to the presented resources.

Amount of CE Credit Offered: 1 credit (general). ASWB ACE and NBCC.

Fees: This course can be purchased individually for $25 or as part of an annual unlimited continuing education subscription available for $99/year.

Posttest: Following the course, the participant will take a 10 question posttest. A score of 70% correct is required to pass and obtain a certificate. If you do not pass the posttest, it can be re-taken after fully reviewing the materials again.

Certificate of Completion: In order to receive a certificate of completion, you must indicate that you’ve watched the entire video portion of the course, earn a passing grade on the test, and complete the requested course evaluation.

Description of the Course:

Why is understanding this topic important?

1. Policy Impact on Client Services:

Understanding policy and governmental advocacy is crucial for social workers and mental health professionals as it directly affects the services and resources available to their clients. Being knowledgeable in this area enables social workers to navigate and influence policies that can enhance or hinder client well-being.

2. Advocacy and Social Justice:

Social workers and mental health professionals play a vital role in advocating for vulnerable populations. By comprehending policy mechanisms, they can effectively champion social justice causes, push for systemic changes, and address issues such as human trafficking and asylum.

3. Interdisciplinary Collaboration:

Knowledge of policy advocacy allows social workers and mental health professionals to collaborate with other professionals, including policymakers, to create comprehensive solutions to complex social issues. This collaboration can lead to more robust and sustainable outcomes for the communities they serve.

Learning Objectives:

Develop Actionable Advocacy Strategies: Students will learn how to create and implement effective advocacy strategies that influence policy changes, enhancing the ability to support and protect vulnerable populations through legislative and policy reform.
Demonstrate Interdisciplinary Collaboration Techniques: Gain practical skills in collaborating with policymakers, other professionals, and organizations to address complex social issues, ensuring a holistic approach to client and community well-being.
Apply Policy Analysis: Understand how to apply advanced statistical models and data analysis in policy development and evaluation, allowing social workers to contribute to evidence-based policy recommendations that improve service delivery and client outcomes.

Target Audience:

Masters and Clinical level licensees pursuing continuing education and mental health professionals.

Content Level:

Both beginning and intermediate-level content are included in this course.

Instructor Bio(s):

Aaron Nodjomian-Escajeda, LMSW: Policy Analyst at U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants (USCRI)

Aaron Nodjomian-Escajeda is a Policy Analyst at the U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants (USCRI), focusing on asylum and anti-human trafficking policies. He brings a rich background in social work and policy advocacy, underpinned by his commitment to applying a person-centered approach to complex social issues.

Growing up in the border town of El Paso, Texas, Aaron was deeply influenced by his community’s challenges, driving his passion for social justice and community service. His roles at USCRI include being a Program Officer for the Trafficking Victim Assistance Program and conducting impactful research and policy development as a Domestic Policy Intern at Refugees International.

Aaron’s expertise in survey design, research, and interdisciplinary collaboration informs effective policy decisions. His dedication to advocacy ensures that the needs of asylum seekers, survivors of human trafficking, and other displaced persons, highlighting his commitment to creating significant, positive change in the lives of vulnerable populations.

Meagan Mitchell is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and has been providing individualized and group instruction for over 8 years.

Meagan Mitchell, LICSW, is currently a Child and Adolescent Therapist and owner of Brain Space Wellness. She is working towards her Play Therapy credential. Meagan is also the founder of Agents of Change Social Work Test Prep – a learning platform and community designed for social workers preparing for their licensing exams.

She loves combining her passion for learning and sharing her knowledge with the social work community. Meagan has a strong interest in tech & and innovation, specifically exploring the intersection of technology with social work practices. She is also passionate about multicultural supervision & and ethics; ensuring diverse voices are heard, understood, and supported in supervision and consultation.

Lastly, Meagan is currently a DSW student at SUNY Buffalo.

Course Outline:

1) Introduction and Background

Introduction of Aaron Nodjomian-Escajeda
Overview of Aaron’s background and his journey into policy work
Initial discussion on the importance of macro-level social work

2) Understanding Policy and Government Advocacy

The significance of policy and government advocacy in social work
Aaron’s role as a policy analyst at the US Committee for Refugees and Immigrants
Focus areas: Asylum and anti-human trafficking policies
The impact of policies on client services and advocacy work

3) Advocacy Strategies and Community Involvement

Developing actionable advocacy strategies
Importance of coalition building and interdisciplinary collaboration
Role of community involvement in advocacy

4) Challenges and Continuous Learning

Changes in asylum policy and their implications
Challenges faced in policy advocacy work
The importance of continuous learning and adaptability
Balancing short-term and long-term advocacy goals

5) Empowering Clients and Future Directions

Empowering clients and giving them a voice in advocacy
Encouraging voting and political engagement
The role of social workers in political advocacy
Final thoughts on the future of social work advocacy and continuous improvement

Course Creation Date: 7/25/24

Requesting Accessibility Accommodations:

Please email [email protected] to request accessibility accommodations.

System Requirements:

The most recent version of Google Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Microsoft Edge browser
Javascript enabled
PDF plugin
Graphic and audio output capability
Broadband internet connection with a minimum speed of 5Mbps (recommended)
TLS 1.2 supported by your web browser

Refund Policy: In general, refunds will not be provided. However, if you do have any concerns or grievances, please contact us at the email address below. Registrants who do not complete their course(s) will not receive a refund. Registrants who purchased the course but did not achieve a passing grade will not receive a refund. The Agents of Change Grievance Policy can be viewed here.

Cancellation Policy: If an Agents of Change Continuing Education course is canceled, a full refund will be provided to all participants.

Please email [email protected] with any questions about the course.

Agents of Change is Approved by ACE

Agents of Change, #1919, is approved as an ACE provider to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. ACE provider approval period: 7/26/2023 – 7/26/2027. Social workers completing this course receive 1 continuing education credit.

Agents of Change is Approved by NBCC

Agents of Change has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 7620. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. Agents of Change is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.

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