Advocacy and Change: WACOSS Campaign Plan - Case Study Example

Advocacy and Change: WACOSS’ Campaign plan Student’s Name: Name of Institution: Instructor’s Name: Course Code: Date of Submission: Introduction Indeed, community and National policies, whether written or not, significantly affect the lives and health of young people (Advocacy for Youth, 2008). Some of these policies have been the basis for the fact that most governments have neglected young people and their needs. One of the reasons for this is that governments see the issue of creating platforms for the youth activities as worthless or less important. Yet, as this paper will show, lack of activities for the young people in Local Government Authorities (LGAs) leads to negative impacts on their locations, and ultimately on the government. Part of the factors that favor this situation is that many young people seem to have little interest, awareness and understanding about the role of the local governments and their relationship to the central government (Molloy et al 2002; LGYSFSA, 2004; Sinclair, 2006). The result is that they (the young people) do not know the responsibility of their local governments in providing social services and infrastructure. This knowledge would indeed give them the impetus to voice their needs and call on the LGAs to respond. The Western Australia Council of Social Service Inc (WACOSS) recognizes these factors surrounding the involvement and participation of young people in Local Government Associations (LGA). Against this backdrop, this paper aims to outline WACOSS’ advocacy campaign plan to address the absence of activities for young people. Advocacy Advocacy refers to taking action that is geared towards changing positions, policies and programmes. It involves identifying the problem, identifying all the possible solutions to the problem, seeking strong support to favor the set solutions goals and finally, providing a working or effective plan for implementation (Advocacy for Youth, 2008; Brooks, 2010). The Need for Advocacy Services, infrastructure and programs aimed at providing services for young people have been found to be lacking in many LGAs (Advocacy for Youth, 2008; LGA, n.d.; Streilein, 2005; Brooks, 2010). Researches have found a correlation between these gaps/inadequacies and certain youth behaviors and actions, e.g. the youth getting involved in crime and other antisocial behavior. For example, lack of youth-friendly infrastructure in their local neighborhoods and suburbs, which in-turn leads to lack of constructive activities in which young people can participate and keep themselves busy raise the levels of crime and more youth are likely to get involved in other anti-social behaviors (Advocacy for Youth, 2008; Streilein, 2005). One of the advantages of providing these elements (i.e. youth-friendly infrastructures, e.g. sports center, where young people meet and share and take part in constructive activities forms a significant step towards fighting crime. For example, a survey conducted by Shire of Kalamunda (2007) showed how such elements had caused positive results in Forrestfield where problems had previously been. Equally, the survey had shown the correlation between increasingly failing youth services, programs, infrastructure and activities and negative impacts in Ballajura. Other studies had also shown that marginalized and at-risk youth had become involved in crimes and other anti-social/offending behavior (Shire of Kalamunda, 2007). Anti-social behavior refers to a range of behaviors, including graffiti damage, vandalism, speeding and hoon driving, violence, alcohol and substance abuse, harassment and bullying, etc. But lack of activities does not only mean that young people become culprits of crime. They may also become victims of it. Some stakeholders involved in Shire of Kalamunda (2007) survey pointed out the lack of programs to help young people who are victims of family/domestic and community violence as a factor that compounds this problem. Also, many stakeholders pointed out the lack of re-entry programs and services, including accepted accommodation options for young offenders who are returning to their communities after incarceration and detention. As the youth become increasingly linked to crime, the relationship between some of them and authority figures (e.g. security and train guards, police, the criminal justice system and courts) becomes more tensed. These trends can also be found in most local governments in Western Australia. As such, there is need to not only identify, but also address early these issues regarding young people, which are increasingly likely to cause more social problems. This makes a crucial step in preventing the escalation of crimes into worse problems. Campaign Goals and Objectives This campaign aims to raise awareness on the lack of activities for young people in Local Government Authorities. Equally, the campaign aims to call for response from the LGAs, i.e. provide opportunities, spaces (e.g. premises for youth activities free of charge) and policy makers to establish legal frameworks that would favor youth activities. Ultimately, the objectives of this campaign aim to address the following youth issues: a) The need for a variety of constructive and accessible (e.g. low cost or free of charge) activities for the young people at strategic hours, e.g. weekends or evenings, after school, and in public premises/locations. b) Many young people reside in geographically and socially isolated locations, e.g. valley and hill communities or even outskirts of towns. c) There is an increasing call for LGAs to provide youth programs and services. d) High quality spaces, facilities and venues where young people can assemble, interact and participate in a variety of socio-cultural, recreational and entertainment activities are lacking. e) The negative effects related to problems that have resulted from the involvement of young people in crime and other anti-social behaviors. f) Alcohol and substance abuse among the youth. g) Social infrastructure for young people, including transport and housing are lacking. h) Funding for programs and services for young people is lacking. The available fundings are mostly either short-term or once-off. For such reasons, funds may run out as programs and services for the youth start to show signs of success. The argument here is that the governments funding systems undermine the potential effectiveness of such funds. i) The user-pays policy in many LGAs undermines the desire of the youth to take participate in youth activities. Supporters and Opponents As an organization, WACOSS realizes that it cannot do this alone, but in collaboration with partners and other stakeholders. These stakeholders include youth-serving organizations, researchers, the clergy and other members of religious groups, health care providers, parents, the youth themselves and even local councils. Other partners of WACOSS include Youth Affairs Council of Western Australia, Albany Youth Support Association / Young House, Joondalup Youth Support Services, Kids Camps Inc., YMCA of Perth, and Youth Involvement Council, amongst others (WACOSS, 2012). Just as it is important to recognize possible supporting individuals, organizations, factors, etc, it is equally important to realize there will be barriers. These may well be faced in relation to the attitudes of local councils on issues of the youth, certain policy stances, e.g. emphasis on revenue, governmental bureaucracy, etc. Campaign Strategies and Tools Lobbying A crucial part of advocacy is lobbying, i.e. the attempt to influence high-level public officials and stakeholders (Advocacy for Youth, 2008), who can put enough pressure on politicians and other government officials to consider the interests of the youth and support the call for LGAs to provide services and infrastructure for the youth activities. This may involve writing to the area MP or local councilor, persuading the councilor of an opposition party to ask certain questions during council meetings, attracting international NGOs (e.g. UNICEF), etc. This could also involve forming alliances with other community organizations that have stronger voices, and lobbying the members of local council committees. Producing Campaign Newsletters Campaign newsletters provides crucial information on the objective (Idasa, ….), i.e. explains the situation of youth activities in LGAs, what the campaign aims to address and inform all people on the role(s) that they can play in the whole campaign. Newsletter, in other words, provide one of the platforms for persuading people to join the campaign. Equally, the newsletters can set out various response options and alternatives for the government. Advertisement Advertisements can be done through various mass media outlets, e.g. newspapers, television, radio, websites, etc. Leaflets, pamphlets and posters can also be used. Public Rallies and Demonstrations/Strike These could be occasional one-day events that focus mainly on the issue of lack of activities for the youth. This is a vocal way of bringing the issue at hand to the attention of the government and all other responsible parties. Equally, it shows the government and local authorities how seriously the issue is supposed to be considered. Submitting Requests to the Government and Local Councils This involves sending written petitions to the responsible offices so as to attract their attention to the matter and call for change. Local events and groups These could involve local forums where young people could be given and share information on local issues and participates in various activities. These events could be done through social and leisure events, such as beauty pageants, sports etc. For these strategies above to be effective, they should be accompanied by certain tools of advocacy. There are several campaign tools. Below are some of them that would be relevant here: Information The gathering, management and dissemination of information provide the key foundation for determining the strategy to adopt in an advocacy campaign (Idasa, n.d.). Part of the strength of an advocacy campaign is the availability of sufficient justification for the campaign. Newsletters, advertisements, winning the attention of international NGOs and other organizations and stakeholders, etc, all depend on the information available. Research Research becomes the key tool for collecting information. Research and policy analysis utilizes information from different sources and develops, which the advocacy campaign finally develops into possible policy options (Idasa, n.d.).. For example, for this campaign, research shows the correlation between lack of activities for the youth and the prevalence of crime and other anti-social behavior. The Shire of Kalamunda (2007) survey is such an example of research. Social Mobilization The success of this advocacy campaign will also depend on its ability to mobilize support from a range of stakeholders, e.g. the public, NGOs (Idasa, n.d.).. To win the support of the public, for instance, would involve making the people aware of the negative impacts that lack of activities for the youth on their social welfare, e.g. crime. Successfully convincing the public on this helps them to join the bandwagon in calling for change. Litigation This involves going to court to challenge the laws and policies that reinforce the status quo. This could add strength to the advocacy campaign. Conclusion Ultimately, these should be accompanied by the transformation of local governments to favor young people’s participation, provide more opportunities through which young people can participate; electoral reforms, i.e. reducing electoral eligibility age, etc (Molloy et al 2002). References Advocates for Youth (2008). Advocating for Adolescent Reproductive Health in Sub- Saharan Africa. Retrieved 15th May, 2012. http://www.advocatesforyouth.org/publications/publications-a-z/369?task=view Brooks, L. (2010). Politicians must address young people's concerns, without YouTube clips. The Guardian, 26 April. Retrieved 12th May, 2012. http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2010/apr/26/election-youth-vote- clegg-registration Idasa (n.d.), Advocacy and Communication. Retrieved 15th May, 2012. http://www.idasa.org/media/uploads/outputs/files/Advocacy%20&%20Communic ations%20Training%20Manual.pdf Local Governments Youth Services Forum of South Africa (LGYSFSA). (2004). Youth Survey of Councils Report. Local Government Associations (LGA) (n.d.), Youth. Retrieved 12th May, 2012, http://www.lga.sa.gov.au/site/page.cfm?u=281 Molloy, D., White, C. & Hosfield, N. (2002). Understanding youth participation in local Government: A Qualitative Study. Retrieved 12th May, 2012, http://www.participation.ro/resources/library/final.pdf Shire of Kalamunda (2007). Community Safety and Crime Prevention Plan: Incorporating Regional Community Safety and Crime Prevention Plan. Retrieved 15th May, 2012. http://www.kalamunda.wa.gov.au/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=Tqtnv0v6RB0%3D &tabid=507 Sinclair, R. (2006). Participation in practice: making it meaningful, effective and sustainable. Children & Society, 18(1), p. 106–118. Streilein, A, (2005). Engagement to Develop programs versus Programs to develop engagement: Community Development with Young people, Conference Paper, City of Swan. Western Australia Council of Social Services (WACOSS). (2012). Retrieved 15th May, 2012. http://www.wacoss.org.au/about_wacoss/useful_links.aspx Read More