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ADVOCATE ROLE
1. The advocate speaks for someone who cannot speak for
her/himself.
Thus the advocate must accept the definition of the problem that the
client understands, and accept the limitations that the client speficies.
2. This means that sometimes one must argue positions that one would
not choose if the client were not in the picture.
3. The advocate needs to know the client's circumstances fully, so that he
or she can represent the client if unexpected issues arise.
4. It is helpful if the client can be present during conversations in her or
his behalf. This allows for the client to provide additional information or
to correct mistakes, and also permits the client to see how the situation
looks when described in an assertive way.
5. It is important for the advocate to be very familiar with the other agency's
rules. It is also helpful to know about the agency's policies, which its
rules may or may not fit.
6. The advocate is representing an agency when he or she makes a state-
ment. This may inhibit the advocate somewhat, but should also command
more respect than the advocate would as a private individual.
7. The advocate may appeal to the supervisor of the other worker, especially if the other worker has little power to make exceptions, or doesn't know the rules
of his or her own system. One's own supervisor may be enlisted to contact the other agency at a higher level. This means that one's supervisor needs to
be informed of what is happening before the conversation goes very far.
8. Remember that the advocate may need to speak to this same worker in
another case, so it is probably helpful not to burn one's bridges completely
by being sarcastic or nasty. One can be forceful without being nasty.
9. If offered an exception, even if the advocate would prefer to change the rule,
the advocate should take it. The exception may be used to attack the rule
later on.
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