05 Jul Agendas and Steps for Activating Change
Assign 5-Agendas and Steps for Activating Change
Social change occurs because a person or group gains the attention and support of decisions makers. Decision makers, often in the form of legislators or political representatives, have access to putting issues and policies on the agenda for the business by the assembly. Being placed on an agenda gives you the opportunity to present your advocacy work directly to decision makers and may well determine the success of the development of a policy proposal.
Therefore, policy advocates need to be ready to advocate for their proposal for social change. For this Assignment, you will review 10 issues for activating change and consider how the issues apply to the social problem you selected earlier in the course. (Homelessness affecting school going children)
To Prepare:
• Review Chapter 6 in the Jansson text as needed. Focus on the 10 issues from “The Agenda Funnel” (p. 181).
1. Timing
2. Coupling
3. Framing and finding a title
4. Negotiating and bargaining
5. Assembling early sponsors and supporters
6. Routing
7. Media coverage
8. Setting key endorsements
9. Coalition building
10. Building momentum
By Day 7
Submit a 2- to 3-page paper that addresses the following:
• Briefly explain the concept of the agenda funnel.
• Why is context important when advocating for change to decision makers?
• Using the social problem you identified earlier in the course, explain how the 10 issues Jansson outlined are important when trying to activate change regarding the selected social problem. Provide 2–3 sentences for each of the 10 issues:
1. Timing
2. Coupling
3. Framing and finding a title
4. Negotiating and bargaining
5. Assembling early sponsors and supporters
6. Routing
7. Media coverage
8. Setting key endorsements
9. Coalition building
10. Building momentum
Be sure to incorporate any sources you found related to your selected social problem using standard APA format. (Homelessness affecting school going children)
References
Jansson, B. S. (2018). Becoming an effective policy advocate: From policy practice to social justice (8th ed.). Cengage Learning.
Chapter 6, “Committing to an Issue: Building Agendas” (pp. 176–203)
Walker, I., & Netherland, J. (2018). Developing a transformative drug policy research agenda in the United States. Contemporary Drug Problems, 46(1), 3–21. https://doi.org/10.1177/0091450918811178
Kabiri, N., Khodayari-zarnaq, R., Khoshbaten, M., Arab-Zozani, M., & Janati, A. (2021). Gastrointestinal cancer prevention policies in Iran: A policy analysis of agenda-setting using Kingdon’s multiple streams. Journal of Cancer Policy, 27, 100265. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcpo.2020.100265
Optional Resources
Cochran-Smith, M., Stringer Keefe, E., & Carney, M. C. (2018). Teacher educators as reformers: Competing agendas. European Journal of Teacher Education, 41(5), 572–590. https://doi.org/10.1080/02619768.2018.1523391
This article provides insights into the process for and importance of being an agent of reform. This is especially helpful when considering the intersection of, or relationships between, practice and policy. Although the article focuses on teachers/educators, consider how the author’s three approaches to reform apply to the field of social work.
