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2017, pp. 182-185) Maternal, Infant, and Early ChildhoodHome Visiting Bill (David Olds; Maton,2017, pp. 64-68) Expert testimony (Greg Herek; Maton,2017, pp. 89-90) focused on overturningCalifornia’s ban on gay marriage Expert witness testimony regarding biasin employment assessment (JanetHelms; pp. 11-127) Expert witness testimony regardingdiscrimination against women in theworkplace (Susan Fiske; Maton, 2017, pp.86-89).At the state and local levels, psychologistshave also been engaged in many importantefforts ongoing over decades. These effortsmay not be as visible as national legislation,executive branch programming or judicialdecisions yet they have had importantimpacts on the well-being of individuals,families and communities. Examplesinclude:New York City (Hiro Yoshikawa; Maton,2017, pp. 201-203) Contributing to a community organizingeffort that generated substantial fundingin Camden, New Jersey to addressvacant housing (Paul Speer; Maton,2017, pp. 83-84).Important advocacy efforts over the yearshave also occurred within the profession,including the removal of homosexuality as adisorder in the DSM-III (Evelyn Hooker;Floyd & Szymanski, 2007), and more recently reversing APA’s policies and ethical standards regarding the role of psychologists inperforming interrogations (multiple psychologists). There are countless other localexamples, too numerous to name. Of note,8 of 29 psychologists honored by APA in2018 as exemplary citizen-psychologistswere involved in local advocacy efforts(DeAngelis, 2018). Our hope is that thistoolkit can assist even more psychologiststo envision and put their expertise intoaction. Leading a statewide effort in Connecticut to divert status offenders (non-criminal offenses such as running away fromhome or being truant from school) fromthe juvenile justice system (PrestonBrittner; Maton, 2017, pp. 68-70), Preserving affirmative action at theUniversity of Michigan (Nancy Cantor,Patricia Gurin; Maton, 2017, pp. 197-198,250-252), Contributing to innovative programmingfor undocumented immigrant families inPSYCHOLOGISTS AS ADVOCATES14

psychologists ’skills forsuccessfuladvocacy

PSYCHOLOGISTS’SKILLS FORSUCCESSFULADVOCACY.Psychologists bring to bear multiple sets ofskills shown to be important for successfuladvocacy (Maton, 2017). Relationship building skills. From working with one’s graduate school advisorand committee members, to negotiatingone’s first professional position, tointeracting with strangers at a conference, many psychologists have the skillsto navigate a variety of interpersonalsituations. These skills are helpful in alldomains of the policy arena, includingdevelopment of trusting working relationships with policymakers and theirstaff. Such relationships typically arebuilt upon mutuality, including thewillingness to provide informationor other resources of value in a timelymanner to policymakers, as well asan understanding of confidentialitysurrounding sensitive information. Communication skills. Psychologists arefrequently teaching others, even whenwe do not realize it. Teaching oftenoccurs outside of the traditional classroom. Sometimes, we are explaining ourcurrent research project to a relative at afamily dinner; other times, we are sharing our area of expertise with a new16  COMMUNITY ADVOCACYacquaintance at a conference. Psychologists who have experience and/ortraining working in applied or non-academic settings are already skilled in thetask of translating complex researchfindings into a user-friendly and conciseformat with clear, jargon-free language.These skills will be important when weengage in advocacy via direct communication, such as face-to-face meetingswith stakeholders or policymakers. Inaddition to oral communication, psychologists are trained to have strongwritten communication skills. Theseskills are essential when writing policyreports and recommendations or mediapieces for broad audiences. Our oral andwritten communication skills are applicable to advocacy work with communitymembers, coalition partners, legislators,executive branch officials, and in thejudicial context. It is also important forus to be flexible in adjusting the way ourideas are communicated and presenteddepending on the audience, their priorities, and their perspectives. Strategic analysis skills. Strategic analysisencompasses both policy analysis andstrategy development (Maton, 2017).Psychologists are able to criticallyevaluate social problems, generatepotential solutions, and formulate a planof action to achieve a policy goal. Policyanalysis may include the generation ofnovel policy approaches for a givensocial issue, contrasting benefits andlimitations of differing approaches, andexploring both systemic and unintended

consequences of proposed policyapproaches. Strategy developmentincludes identifying the policymakerwho needs to be targeted to effectchange, and the pathways throughwhich we can share our findings,perspectives, and expertise with thatindividual or group. Our capacity andtraining in complex strategy development to influence outcomes will provehelpful in this regard. More generally,many psychologists are trained in anecological model (e.g., consideringindividual and systemic factors), whichincorporates multiple levels of analysis,a useful framework for understandingcomplex policy issues and working inthe policy realm.Therefore, you reach out to this personwith your idea and try to persuade themto support your cause (hypothesistesting). Based on the legislator’sresponse (collecting data), you gaugewhether they are, indeed, an ally to yourcause (interpreting the data) and decideon the next steps (developing futuredirections). Research skills. Policy can be influencedby various types of research, includingevaluation research, applied theorybased research, and systems-focusedresearch. These skills allow us to generate policy-relevant findings, and tosynthesize and translate findings tocontribute to policy change. Ourresearch skills also help us to critiquethe quality of research that may be usedto support the efforts of those workingin opposition to our policy goals. From adifferent perspective, research skills canbe applied in novel ways for the purposeof doing policy advocacy. For example,you review a legislator’s record (this isakin to conducting a literature review),and you gather that this legislator isamenable to your cause and would bea good ally (formulating a hypothesis).PSYCHOLOGISTS’ SKILLS FOR SUCCESSFUL ADVOCACY17

the policyarena

THE POLICY ARENAThe policymaking process is highly complex—comprising multiple phases, levels,policy players, and sources of influence(Maton, 2017). The four primary phases ofthe policy cycle are agenda setting (e.g.,determining what policies will be addressedduring a legislative session), policy formulation and adoption (e.g., writing and passinglegislation), policy implementation (e.g., theprocess of applying/carrying out passedlegislation), and policy evaluation andrevision (e.g., reviewing the efficacy of thelegislation in addressing the targeted policyissue and altering the legislation or implementation as needed). These phases areinteractive and iterative, and this dynamicand cyclical nature plays out at interrelatedlocal, state, and national levels. Policyplayers (stakeholders) include officials in thelegislative, executive, and judicial branchesof government, advocacy and intermediary(e.g., professional and advocacy) organizations, researchers, citizens, health careorganizations and institutions, and themedia (including social media). Sources ofinfluence on policymakers include politics,events, values, evidence, expertise, capacity,ideology, interests, relationships, networks,and existing social problems and availablesolutions. Psychologists can and haveexerted important policy influence in allphases and levels of the policy process,from multiple vantage points and policyplayer roles, while also drawing on multiplesources of influence.19  COMMUNITY ADVOCACY

gettingstarted inadvocacy

GETTING STARTEDIN ADVOCACYThose who are not yet involved in advocacywork, including graduate students and earlycareer psychologists, may wonder how theycan become involved. Here are practicalsuggestions for entering and engaging withthe policy world:Participate in the policy committee of yourprofessional society (e.g., division of APA,State Psychological Association). Manypolicy committees actively seek out anddesire the help of graduate students interested in both general policy work andspecific policy initiatives. Additionally, manyState Psychological Associations haveadvocacy days where they teach individualshow to speak with state legislators. APA alsohas multiple committees for students (e.g.,Science Student Council) where studentsmay gain experience advocating on behalfof social scientists at the federal and organizational level. For examples of APA’sstudent groups follow the links below:Science Student Council8APA Campus Ambassador9State Psychological Association chapter10Volunteer for or join a policy-orientedorganization (e.g., advocacy organization)related to your research or personal experience. Individuals may also find student-run21  COMMUNITY ADVOCACYadvocacy groups on their campuses (e.g.,graduate student councils, LGBTQIA andally groups). Furthermore, many universitiespartner with non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and other advocacy groups intheir respective communities. Students maywant to seek out these groups as communication and infrastructure for advocacy arealready established within theseorganizations.Seek out faculty, university research andpolicy institutes or centers, and practitioners actively involved in policy work, andask about ways to get involved in specificpolicy-relevant projects.Apply for APA, The Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues (SPSSI), orSociety for Research in Child Development(SRCD) Congressional fellowship programs,or policy internships in your specific area ofinterest.Learn to ask policy-relevant questionsthrough exposure to: Policy-relevant coursework inpsychology and other disciplines Ecological and systemic theories The policy focus and related products(i.e. briefs and reports) of advocacyorganizations and policymakers in yourarea(s) of interest.Invite input from policy-informed facultyand/or policy practitioners on how toincrease the policy relevance of yourresearch projects (e.g., master’s thesis,

dissertation, grant proposals) early in theplanning process.Gain experience working in the settingsand with the populations you hope tocollaborate with, to understand first-handthe contextual realities that policy mustconsider and the real-life impacts of policy.This includes volunteering to serve invarious capacities (e.g., as youth mentor,board member) in organizations that servethe populations that you want to workalongside. Reading local newspapers thatreport about issues that are morerelevant to your specific community.Consider engaging in your student body.Most graduate programs have studentcouncils where individuals can volunteer orrun to be a representative in the studentsenate body. Individuals can also try toorganize other grassroots movements suchas on-campus postcard drives or voterregistration.Become knowledgeable on legislativeprocesses and decision-makers. This advocacy toolkit is one starting point. You mayalso want to consider these followingsuggestions: Identify your state11 and federal12legislators. Stay informed about local legislation by: Attending city council or town hallmeetings Attending events where your localofficial will make an appearance Subscribing to local legislators’newslettersGETTING STARTED IN ADVOCACY 22

a primer onadvocacy23Focusing Effort28Strategic Analysis

A PRIMER ONADVOCACYImportant steps for advocacy can begrouped into two processes: (1) focusingeffort and (2) strategic analysis. Focusingefforts entails identifying issues, advocacytarget, level of advocacy, and type ofinvolvement. Strategic analysis includesdeveloping goals, identifying stakeholders,allies, and opponents, identifying decision-makers and relevant committees,and choosing a policy influence method.and with whom to develop partnerships.Although clarifying values is an importantinitial step, this should be an on-goingprocess.Things to consider: Create group agreement or mission Post agreement on mission in publicspaces, including social media Reiterate values at regular advocacymeetingsFocusing EffortIDENTIFY PROBLEMS ANDISSUES OF INTERESTIdentifying a clear and specific problem andan actionable issue (i.e., possible solution toat least one aspect of that problem) is oneof the first and most critical aspects ofengaging in advocacy work. Some psychologists will have an area of existing clinicaland/or research expertise within which theyare interested in engaging in advocacy (i.e.,problem area of general focus such aspoverty); the challenge for them may befinding a specific policy “issue” within thatlarger area of expertise on which to focus(e.g., a researcher who focuses on povertycould advocate about the importance of theSupplemental Nutrition Assistance Program,formerly known as food stamps).CLARIFYING VALUESClarification of values is important whenengaging in advocacy as values drive stakeholder accountability and keep individualsaligned towards the same goals and solutions. Clarification of values also helpsindividuals and groups decide whetherAdvocacy can also involve identifying theroot of a social problem, which may resolvemany of the related negative symptoms oroutcomes. As an example, health careprofessionals, including psychologists, inthe 1990’s saw a problem with mentalillness, mental health stigma, as well asHere, as an example, we outline steps toconsider taking when engaging in legislativeadvocacy (Figure 1), which is best pursuedwhen there is a clear set of strategies andgoals. Although these steps are not meantto be prescriptive in their ordering, use ofthis approach can be helpful in organizinglegislative advocacy efforts at the federal,state, or local level, and for non-legislativeadvocacy as well. First, and throughout theadvocacy process, it is important to clarifyvalues.24  COMMUNITY ADVOCACY

START HERE!Clarify ValuesResearch theProblem andIssues(e.g., whatindividuals/groups andinvolved)Decide onAdvocacyLevel(i.e.federal orConsiderResearchand/orClinicalInterestsIdentify Problemsand Issues of InterestDecide onType llies, andOpponentsor group )state or local )Develop Long/Short TermSMART GoalsFocus onSustainabilityDecide onAdvocacyTarget(i.e.judiciallegislativeexecutive )Choose Policy Influence MethodDirect InfluenceIndirect InfluenceID DecisionMakers andRelevantCommitteesDoResearchon DecisionMakersFIGURE 1.FOCUSINGEFFORTENGAGE IN SELF-CARE AND BE MINDFUL OFETHICAL AND MULTICULTURAL CONSIDERATIONSSTRATEGICANALYSISA PRIMER ON ADVOCACY 25

people’s lack of access to mental healthservices within their communities. With thelack of clear Federal legislation (until the2000s), advocates addressed this problemby tackling the actionable issue of mentalhealth parity to ensure coverage for mentalhealth problems.Things to consider: Without a clear understanding andidentification of the problem, advocacyefforts may merely address thesymptoms. When asking communities to discusssome of the problems they experience,the responses may sometimes benumerous negative symptoms of asingle root problem. Deciding on the specific actionable“issue” will depend in part on what iscurrently on the minds of policymakersand community members (i.e., is there a“policy window” open to take advantageof at the moment) Deciding on the specific “issue” willdepend on the feasibility of relevantsolutions related to that issueRESEARCH THE PROBLEM AND ISSUESResearch regarding previous and currentadvocacy efforts is important as it candetermine previous successes/failures andhelp to clarify whether this is the right timeto pursue the action. In this process it isimportant to be mindful of unintendedconsequences of engaging in advocacy.26  COMMUNITY ADVOCACYThings to consider: Whether this is a priority of thecommunity Budget and resources Priorities of any funders and donors Length of time required for advocacyplan (e.g., years vs. days) Feasibility of influencingdecision-makers Timing of advocacy efforts Whether others are (have been) workingto address the issue Whether the identified problem is asymptom of a larger oneDECIDE ON ADVOCACY LEVELIndividuals should consider advocacy at thefederal, state, or local level. Although muchattention is placed at the federal level, wefocus attention here on targeting advocacyefforts at the State and Local level as oneway of influencing law and policy.Things to consider: State governments typically follow asimilar structure as the Federal government. That is, State governments arecomprised of executive (e.g., governor),legislative (e.g., assembly, senate), andjudicial branches (e.g., courts). State legislative processes follow a clearprocess with many avenues for advocacy. Each step in the process can be a sitefor action. Although processes for billsto become law may vary state by state,the typical path follows similar steps. An

example of state-level legislative processes can be found by clicking here13. Local governments (e.g., city, town,townships, boroughs, etc.) are comprised of an executive (e.g., mayor,president, directors of health andhuman services) and council members.Click here14 for more information onlocal government processes. School superintendents and schoolboard members also are critical decision-makers that exert influence onlocal matters. Knowledge of “informal” power structures (e.g., networks in the business/corporate, non-profit, or philanthropicsectors) and relationship-building withthese individuals may also help advocacy for marginalized individuals at thecommunity-level (e.g., including unincorporated communities with littleformal government, other institutions).Organizational policy also may be atarget for advocacy efforts.DECIDE ON ADVOCACY TARGETOnce an individual decides to engage inadvocacy to address the identified issue,they may choose to focus their efforts ona target (i.e., judicial, legisl

contribute much to important social change work being done by other disciplines and advocacy groups whether through coalitions or in a consultative role. It is imperative that psychologists' knowl-edge and voices inform social and institu-tional policies, despite challenges and risks involved in advocacy work as discussed later in this toolkit.