From the Classroom to the Capitol-From MSW Students to Advocates

MSW students traditionally learn policy by reading didactic teaching and classroom exercises. Do such methods prepare students as effective client advocates? The authors resoonded to student requests to make an advanced policy course relevant and interesting by designing a "Legislative Advocacy Day" project. Students learned advocacy skills, prepared advocacy positions on bills that were before the Legislature, and as a class traveled to the NC Legislature to meet with individual legislators, legislative committees and other interested citizens. Student surveys revealed positive learning, enhanced advocacy skills and confidence as advocates. A leading state-wide advocate who observed the process wrote:"this activity, which combines service and learning and theory and practice, deserves special commendation."