- Try not to be intimidated by authority; learn to question responses with which you do not agree.
- Try to resolve the dispute informally first. Why spend more time than you need to? Most of the time, if you address your concerns directly with a person who can do something about it, your complaint will be resolved.
- Do your research! Be informed. Find out what the authority is for the agency's decision. Ask the worker what regulation her/his decision is based on. Public agencies must follow written regulations and procedures. Members of the public have a right to see these regulations. Insist on checking the rule book yourself. Perhaps you can find it online.
- Use your imagination to come up with solutions to problems.
- Take full advantage of all appeal rights. Request decisions in writing and inquire specifically about methods of appealing unfavorable decisions. Be aware that deadlines exist for filing appeals. Be sure to read the small print carefully in any official notices received.
- Always get the name of any person within an agency with who you deal. Keep accurate notes of dates, content of conversations, and the identity of the worker who gave you the information. If questions arise later, this is your proof that the conversation you remembered did, in fact, take place.
- When possible, establish and nurture contacts within the agency with people you find helpful. Try to deal with or get helpful information from workers with who you have established a cooperative, friendly relationship. They can be of great assistance.
- Utilize other existing advocacy resources in your community. Locate other organizations advocating for low income, elderly, and people with disabilities. Establish contacts with other advocates in your community, and explore the possibility of setting up training together. when you are 'stone-walled' or confused as to what to do next, call a more experienced advocate for advice.
- Use all available methods of increasing your legitimacy as an advocate.
- Remember that it takes to develop highly skilled advocacy approaches. Even the best advocates don't always win; losing may be as much of a reflection on the target system as on the advocate. Evaluate your activities. Give yourself credit for good, effective approaches, and outline area of your advocacy skills in which you would like to heighten your skills. Remember that change is a long, slow process, but that all contributions to progressive change in our systems and human services are important.
If you are interested in becoming an advocate but unsure of where to start, check out our sample Informal Advocacy Plan.
