Use the advocacy plan framework discussed in PowerPoint and write 300-350 words, use the

following headings:

Advocacy Plan Outline

• Advocacy Problem: Briefly describe the advocacy problem.

• Advocacy Goal: In 1 short sentence state the goal of the advocacy.

•

Policy: Research and identify the specific area of policy related to the advocacy

problem and goal

• Analysis of Power: Who is the opposition and what are their sources of power?

Who specifically has decision making power? Who are the service user's allies

and what are their sources of power?

• Evidence: Summarize the evidence that will be used to support the advocacy.

Case Study - Lindy Bell

You are a Community Advocate that specializes in employment cases. You work for the

Hamilton Employment and Advocacy Centre in downtown Hamilton. It is September 15,

2023 and your first appointment for the day is with Lindy Bell. Lindy is 25-years-old and

looking for employment in the social service sector. She has a Diploma in Social Service

Work and three years' experience in the field as an addiction counsellor. The agency she

worked for closed suddenly six months ago because the government cut the funding. Lindy

has been doing some relief work at a residential treatment program for women but is trying to

get a full-time job. Lindy is seeking your assistance because she believes an employer

discriminated against her because she is Indigenous.

At the appointment Lindy explains that she has been applying for positions as an addiction

counsellor in the Hamilton area. On August 12, 2023 a residential treatment program called

Hamilton Addiction Help (HAH) advertised an addiction counsellor position. The

employment advertisement asked for a Social Service Work diploma and at least two years

related experience. Lindy immediately applied for the position, as she had all of the

qualifications. She was very excited about the possibility of working for HAH as the

organization had a good reputation in the community for helping people and she would be

proud to continue their good work.

Lindy applied for the HAH position well before the closing date of August 23, 2023. On

August 30, 2023 she received an invitation for an interview. Lindy prepared for the interview

by learning all she could about programs and services offered by HAH. She did some practice

interviews with a family member responsible for hiring and training on a concurrent disorder

clinic in Hamilton. She got lots of sleep the night before the interview, dressed professionally

and arrived 15 minutes before the start of the interview on September 2, 2023.

Three people were at the interview representing HAH, James Green, Program Supervisor,

Melonie Ryder, Program Manager and Erin Jones, Human Resource Manager. Mr. Green

explained that they would be asking all of the candidates the same standard questions and

would decide based on the correctness and quality of the answers. In the early part of the/ninterview Lindy was asked to discuss her education and practice experience. She was asked

about her experiences working on a multidisciplinary team and the style of supervision she

preferred. She was asked to give examples of cases she felt were successful and also those

she found more challenging. Lindy felt very confident answering the first few questions, she

had a really good feeling about the way the interview was going and felt she was making a

very good impression. At this point she felt the three interviewers were very warm, friendly

and encouraging.

The final set of questions asked about her personal experience with addictions. James Green

asked if she had any personal experience of addiction. Lindy quickly answered that she had

not had any person experiences of addiction. Mr. Green then asked if any of her family

members of friends had experienced addictions. Again, she answered that none of her close

family members or friends had experienced addictions. At this point Lindy noticed that Mr.

Greens demeanor changed he smirked slightly and glanced at Ms. Ryder and Ms. Jones as if

he was looking for their approval or agreement. Then he said that he was surprised by her

answer because he knew that addictions are a real problem in the Indigenous community.

Lindy was shocked by Mr. Green's comment and felt that he was implying that she was being

untruthful. After this the discussion really went flat and Mr. Green seemed to want to wind up

the interview as quickly as possible.

On September 9 she received an email message that HAH had filled the position and that they

wished her all the best in her future endeavours. Later in the day Lindy discovered through

social media that the successful candidate was a former classmate in the SSW program with

only 1-year experience working with people with physical disabilities.

Lindy is asking for your help to try to hold the HAH accountable for their discriminatory

hiring practices. She does not want to see another person experience what she had

experienced.

Your job is to help Lindy write an advocacy plan. You may add additional detail that is

reasonable, realistic and consistent with this basic case study (ie. Specific dates,

appointments, references, documentation, etc).