Moraine Valley Community College Policy Advocacy Research & Summaries

I’m working on a research & summaries writing question and need a sample draft to help me understand better.

Policy Advocacy Assignment

Part 1 – Policy Write Up

• Students will select a policy from the NASW IL legislative agenda and will write a 2-page paper providing the following information:
  • Name of the policy
  • Social issue that it addresses
• What is the nature of the problem?
• Who does it impact?
• What are the short and long term effects of this issue if left unaddressed?
• What is NASW-IL’s position on this policy?
• What is your position on this issue?

Part 2 – Policy Advocacy in Action: Policy Brief

• Who are your state representatives? Include their contact information. 
• Create a 1-2 page policy brief on their selected policy from the NASW IL legislative agenda. Students will mail this policy brief and a cover letter to their state representative.
  • Overview of issue (Background, statistics, etc)
    • What is the issue and who does it affect?
    • How does this issue impact people?
      • Use at least 1 scholarly source – either course materials and/or additional scholarly sources to substantiate your claims
  • Name of policy under consideration
    • What is the legislation that is pending
    • Background of legislation
  • Suggest any changes that need to be made to legislation
    • Use at least 1 scholarly source – either course materials and/or additional scholarly sources to substantiate your claims
  • Call to action – Tell your legislator how you want them to vote on this legislation and why
  • Mail your policy brief with a cover letter to your state representative. For this, you will submit evidence that it was mailed (i.e. confirmation email/receipt, mail tracking, etc.)

Part 3 – Policy Advocacy in Action: State Level Advocacy Write-Up

• Write a 2-3 page profile on an advocacy group/organization that does work related to your selected policy. Include the following information:
  • Identify an organization at the local or state level that is involved in activism or advocacy on this issue.
  • Discuss the actions they have taken on the ground to address the issue
  • Discuss your thoughts on what they you like and don’t like about their approach to advocating on this issue
    • Use at least 1 scholarly source – either course materials and/or additional scholarly sources to substantiate your claims
  • Discuss what you would do differently
    • Use at least 1 scholarly source – either course materials and/or additional scholarly sources to substantiate your claims

Part 4 – Policy Advocacy in Action: Elevator Speech

• Students will create an elevator speech that could be used if they were to meet with a state legislator to advocate for their selected policy.