Like the many threads of a woven piece of fabric or rug, Advocacy is intricate and diverse. There are many issues and struggles that affect children today, for example (a short list)
- affordable quality childcare
- poverty
- hunger
- child abuse
- affordable housing and housing segregation
- immigration
- ageism
- learning disabilities
- developmental disabilities
- gender stereotypes
- bullying
- place of technology
- healthy food
- appropriate entertainment
- illiteracy
Many feel called to child advocacy in many ways and often have a particular passion to one thing or another. Yet others feel a general call to child advocacy not knowing where exactly that may be. A few major concerns that are involved in many of the issues/struggles on the above list include
1 - safety
2 - adult/community presence in their lives
There are many many tools to encourage and train child advocates on these subject above, but some that speak particularly for help with a new system.
Safe Sanctuaries (touched on in the book)
SWOT Analysis
Disaster Relief - UUMCOR
Church Funded/Partnership Organizations
Church Funded/Partnership Agencies
many more
SWOT Analysis
A SWOT analysis is a planning technique which shapes the issues listen above there and give the congregation room to brainstorm ideas they have to. Then as these idea s become programing/etc.
Strengths
Weaknesses
Opportunities
Threats
This assessment can be extremely helpful using it weekly, for a particular program or the ministry in general. Tools such as this can assist up to evaluate so many things, or look for particular needs or patterns in the community. Organization is necessary, and this is just one tool to aid child advocates in their work.
What tools do you have??
Peace and joy,
Erin
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