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Advocacy is a practice
A PURPOSEFUL PAUSE
Advocacy isn't something we do once. It's something we practice every day.
Every other year, SSWAA hosts a Legislative Institute in Alexandria, VA. During the Legislative Institute, learning sessions are hosted followed by a day or two, traveling into Washington DC to visit and speak with Legislators about our profession and bills/legislation that are important to our work with students.
This past July, thirty-two (32) individuals joined us at the Legislative Institute. School Social Workers made meaningful visits and connections with Legislators and participated in advocacy efforts. Wouldn't it have been great to have 10x that amount of School Social Workers in Washington DC advocating for our profession?
When people hear the word "advocacy," they often imagine legislative visits or public campaigns like SSWAA's Legislative Institute mentioned above. While events like this and those types of meaningful moments matter, advocacy is much bigger than that.
Advocacy happens every time we speak with confidence about our profession.
Every time we explain the value of school social work to an administrator, a family member, or a policymaker.
Every time we help someone understand why our specialized training matters.
This month's A Purposeful Pause reminds us that advocacy is not an event. It is a habit.
It begins with believing. Believing in the value of our own profession. From there, it grows through conversations, relationships, and consistent messaging.
Collectively, these seemingly small moments create change. They shape understanding, influence decisions, and strengthen the future of school social work.
The good news is that every one of us can be an advocate.
You don't need a title or a microphone. You simply need a willingness to share what you know to be true.
Advocacy isn't reserved for special occasions. It's something we practice every day—one conversation at a time. #PurposefulPause #SSWAA
ABOUT THIS SERIES
A Purposeful Pause is a monthly message from the Executive Director, created to offer a moment of pause, reflection, and intentional forward movement for the school social work field.
Each month, we focus on one idea that reflects both the realities and the possibilities of our profession. These messages are intentionally shared across formats to meet members where they are and reinforce a timely, consistent, values-driven narrative.
A Purposeful Pause is grounded in the belief that progress does not happen through urgency alone, but through shared purpose, collective effort, and steady leadership. Together, we take a pause to reflect—and then we move our profession forward.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Rebecca K. Oliver is the Executive Director of the School Social Work Association of America (SSWAA). Mrs. Oliver became the association's Executive Director in 2015 after a 20+ year career as a School Social Worker in Texas. Mrs. Oliver achieved a post-graduate certificate in Nonprofit Management and Leadership and SSWAA has experienced significant growth under her leadership. When asked, Rebecca shares that she is committed to servant leadership and believes in building a strong staff and working collaboratively with the Board of Directors. When asked about her best accomplishment over the past 11 years, Rebecca said, "This work is my passion! While the road has not always been easy, I have met wonderful colleagues and have seen impactful growth in the association. However, I am most proud of the SSWAA team that has been built and their dedication to this association and the membership."
This content was enhanced with the support of AI.