scra webinar #2: social change through social policy

SOCIAL CHANGE THROUGH SOCIAL POLICY

Leonard A. Jason and Kenneth I. Maton SCRA Webinar Series Sept. 19, 2014

OVERVIEW

What are the principles of social change? What are the key elements of the social policy process

(actors, phases, contexts)? What methods and skills do community psychologists

employ to effectively influence policy?

5 PRINCIPLES OF SOCIAL CHANGE

Structural, second-order change

Confronting power abuses

Mobilizing coalitions

Having a long-term time perspective

Using feedback to fine tune work

FIRST PRINCIPLE OF SOCIAL CHANGE: FIRST VS SECOND ORDER

First-order change interventions are alluring because they promise to solve the most deeply rooted problems with simple solutions

These types of short-term solutions can render people

powerless to overcome their oppression

SECOND-ORDER CHANGE

Influences the individual and his or her social network Alters shared goals, roles, and power relationships

Kelly (1968) Moos (1979)

Environmental

Social

Individual

INTUITION CAN GUIDE OUR EFFORTS

Often it is the beginning of social change recognition that something is wrong and unfair

The feeling is clear something needs to change

Intuition can steer us in the right direction toward second-order change

SECOND-ORDER CHANGE

Second-order interventions alter shared goals, roles, and power social policy process

SOCIAL POLICY: OVERVIEW

Policy actors Policy phases Contextual factors

POLICY ACTORS

Legislative Branch Judicial

Branch

Advocacy and Intermediary Organizations

Media Internet

Universities

Citizens

Systems Organizations

Programs

Executive Branch

POLICY PHASES AND INFLUENCES

Agenda Setting Problems Solutions

Values Evidence

Capacity Expertise

Formulation & Adoption

Implementation

Evaluation & Revision

Politics Events

Ideology Interests

Relationships Networks

SOCIAL FORCES AND CONTEXTUAL FACTORS

Social Forces: Cultural, Demographic, Economic, Ideological

Contextual Factors: Circumstances, History,

Leadership, Personalities

POLICY SYSTEM

Legislative Branch Judicial

Branch

Advocacy and Intermediary Organizations

Media Internet

Social Forces: Cultural Demographic, Economic, Ideological

Universities

Citizens

Systems Organizations

Programs

Executive Branch

Agenda Setting Problems Solutions

Expertise Capacity

Values Evidence

Formulation & Adoption

Implementation

Evaluation & Revision

Politics Events

Ideology Interests

Relationships Networks

Contextual Factors: Circumstances, History,

Leadership, Personalities

SECOND PRINCIPLE OF SOCIAL CHANGE: IDENTIFY POWER HOLDERS

Creating second-order change can seem overwhelming Powerful people or organizations control whether change will be enacted Social inequalities are caused by an underlying abuse of power

SOMETIMES THE CAUSES OF ABUSE AND UNDERLYING POWER STRUCTURE

ARE DIFFICULT TO SEE

Gut instincts are a powerful tool to uncover the veiled power abuses to identify and analyze the distribution of power

For many social problems that involve abuses of power, it is important to work with community groups to influence the cultural and political landscape affecting social change Community coalitions can change power structures that

perpetuate first-order institutional ways of treating people

THIRD PRINCIPLE OF SOCIAL CHANGE: Mobilizing Coalitions

POLICY INFLUENCE METHODS

I N T E R N A L

Advisory boards, commissions, and committees Consultative relationships w/officials & legislators Face-to-face meetings, hearings, briefings, seminars

Co-directed the Family Services with Needs advisory board to the Connecticut General Assembly

Led to statewide reform Community-based services Family Support Centers rather than criminal sanctions

INTERNAL POLICY INFLUENCE METHODS EXAMPLE: PRESTON BRITTNER


I N T E R N A L


Consultant to the New York City Department of Homeless Services

Contributed to reforms such as the Housing First model

Housing provided without preconditions

INTERNAL POLICY INFLUENCE METHODS EXAMPLE: BETH SHINN


I N T E R N A L


Presentation to the Hawaii State Legislature Contributed to legislation prohibiting sale of

semi-automatic assault pistols

Internal Policy Influence Methods Example: Cliff O’Donnell

J U D I C I A L

Amicus curiae briefs Expert testimony, expert reports Class action suits


Director of the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Concerns office in the Public Interest Directorate at APA

Coordinated the submission of multiple amicus briefs

Advanced the cause of gay rights

JUDICIAL POLICY INFLUENCE METHODS EXAMPLE: CLINTON ANDERSON

J U D I C I A L

Amicus curiae briefs Expert testimony, expert reports Class action suits


Empirical study to determine whether Illinois was denying civil rights of mentally ill residents

Part of a class action suit; plaintiffs won Resulted in reform of entire system Community-based placement for many individuals

JUDICIAL POLICY INFLUENCE METHODS EXAMPLE: JACK TEBES

A POLICY EXAMPLE INVOLVING A COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION

Community organizations can revolutionize how we treat our most vulnerable citizens One example is the Oxford House movement; rented recovery homes

that are completely democratically run without staff

BOTTOM-UP SOCIAL CHANGE MOVEMENTS CAN BE COMPROMISED

SAMHSA tries to expand the Oxford House system

They considered the leadership of the Oxford House organization incapable of accomplishing this goal

Progress can be gradual and uneven There will be setbacks along the way Need patience and a long-term commitment critical aspects of social change movements allows us to build long term relationships

FOURTH PRINCIPLE OF SOCIAL CHANGE: SECOND-ORDER CHANGE TAKES TIME

EXTERNAL POLICY INFLUENCE METHODS: ADVOCACY

Political pressure Community organizing Social movements

Collaborated with an advocacy organization Generated evidence to show the link between

vacant housing and crime in Camden, NJ Effective political pressure Media coverage Millions in funding to support housing rehabilitation

EXTERNAL POLICY INFLUENCE METHODS ADVOCACY EXAMPLE: PAUL SPEER

News coverage, op eds, letters to editor, media interviews, news conferences, press releases. Social media.

EXTERNAL POLICY INFLUENCE METHODS: MEDIA

Used media to influence Nebraska state policy on sexual education in public schools

Collaborated with Planned Parenthood Op eds and meetings with newspaper editorial boards

Led to reversal of abstinence-only policy

EXTERNAL POLICY INFLUENCE METHODS MEDIA EXAMPLE: BRIAN WILCOX

POLICY METHODS: EXTERNAL OR INTERNAL

Documents Reports Policy briefs Fact sheets Publications

PATIENCE AND PERSISTENCE

Patience and persistence is essential in opposing powerful vested interests intent on

maintaining the status quo and in amassing coalitions to confront institutionalized

abuses of power

THE STARTING POINT FOR CHANGE?

Change begins by helping people identify issues for which they have strong feelings

– Paulo Freire (1970)

Social change more likely we have a passionate interest

HOW CAN ACTIVISTS STAY COMMITTED TO A CAUSE?

Small wins can help sustain and mobilize citizen groups to continue to pursue even larger objectives

In the pursuit of social justice the importance of small wins cannot be overemphasized

Is there a set of core policy skills that community psychologists apply

across the varied policy contexts, methods, and

vantage points?

CORE POLICY SKILLS: RELATIONSHIP BUILDING

Decision makers consider ideas and evidence from trusted sources

Development of trust involves Time investment: face-to-face meetings, network

development Mutuality: provide valued resources and protect

sensitive information

Takes place on policymaker’s turf

RELATIONSHIP BUILDING

“The mutual interests of psychologists and policy makers will be advanced the second we can figure out ways to develop relationships…at the outset…Take almost any other work community psychologists do… We do good work by developing relationships and partnerships…We have to have partnerships in policy.” (director, university policy center)

CORE POLICY SKILLS: COMMUNICATION

Oral and written Clear and succinct

Critical aspects: Policy framing Tailor ideas and findings to maximize leverage Provide a compelling, practical contribution

Translation Communicate complicated findings in digestible form

COMMUNICATION

“Communication is hugely important, particularly the ability to communicate in the language of policy, quickly, efficiently…You should have the ability to talk to a very broad range of people… Know…how to be nice to people who may not seem very important at the time…And be able to communicate through the media” (policy insider)

FIFTH PRINCIPLE OF SOCIAL CHANGE

Measuring your success: evaluations can help redefine our tactics program evaluations can also

− reveal weaknesses − identify where the weaknesses stem from − help focus efforts on critical stages of systemic

change

CORE POLICY SKILLS: RESEARCH

Policy-relevant Quality Varied Methods Interdisciplinary

RESEARCH SKILLS

“Having multiple methods is really critical, to look…from multiple points of view...And so that one can have the appropriate research for the appropriate occasion.” (university faculty member)

“Training in both qualitative and quantitative…some of the work requires creative methodological solutions” (university faculty member)

CORE POLICY SKILLS: STRATEGIC ANALYSIS

STRATEGIC ANALYSIS

POLICY ANALYSIS

TEAM EFFORT

STRATEGY DEVELOPMENT


STRATEGIC ANALYSIS

POLICY ANALYSIS

TEAM EFFORT


Generate novel approaches

Contrast benefits and limitations of approaches

Evaluate impact of current policy


STRATEGIC ANALYSIS

POLICY ANALYSIS

TEAM EFFORT


Overarching plans and specific tactics

Generate plan for multi-year advocacy

Devise means to access a decision maker


STRATEGIC ANALYSIS

POLICY ANALYSIS

TEAM EFFORT


Collaboration Complementary skills,

knowledge, perspectives

STRATEGIC ANALYSIS

“There are two routes. The elite influence route is really important. …Make it a point to get to know someone in a powerful position…let them know about an issue and help them understand how they can operate on it… Then there’s the social mobilization strategy… You can do it through the media, or the way that Saul Alinsky did it [community organizing].” (university faculty member)

STRATEGIC ANALYSIS EXAMPLE: KEN MATON (me)

Provide ideas and evaluation data to university president Freeman Hrabowski

Supports strength-based approach to increasing minority student success Program has become a national model President Hrabowski was appointed to serve as Chair of

President Obama’s Advisory Commission Plays multiple consultative roles in national government

PRINCIPLES OF SOCIAL CHANGE Determining the nature of the change desired: is it a cosmetic, short-

term fix, or does it address the root of the problem.

Identify the power holders

Creating coalitions: identifying and working with others who share your goals.

Learning patience and persistence: small wins are crucial to attaining long-term goals.

Constantly evaluate and refine strategies and tactics to find the most effective means of bringing about change

SOCIAL POLICY INVOLVEMENT: KEY THEMES

Community psychologists make important contributions

Multiple vantage points

Multiple methods

Core skills

Determined, passionate, resilient, proactive

“I LOVE THIS WORK”

“I love this work…I feel like I’m making a difference. After trying a lot of different careers, in academia, foundations and clinical…the ability to work in the policy environment and bring good science to influence it, shape it and understand how to do that is just wonderful. I encourage anybody who’s oriented that way to figure out how to make it happen.” (director, intermediary organization)

“IF WE WANT TO HAVE SECOND ORDER CHANGE…”

“In terms of future generations, the message is that it is important to be engaged in public policy. We really can’t take our discipline far if we’re not. Every day I’m more convinced that if we want to have second-order change, it has to be at the broader level. Individual change is important, but…it won’t get us as far as we need to go.” (university faculty member)

Q & A

Please post questions in the chat box on your screen.

Questions after today’s webinar ends at 2PM can be directed to:

Dr. Leonard Jason at [email protected]

Dr. Kenneth Maton at [email protected]

mailto:[email protected]

mailto:[email protected]

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scra webinar #2: social change through social policy

Education