Advocacy Is a Marathon
By Erica Harris | December 2019
The definition of advocacy is the act or process of supporting a cause or proposal: the act or process of advocating something. While Merriam-Webster defines advocacy as a process, I would add that it’s a marathon.Although I am fairly certain I will never run a marathon (I know, never say never), I am aware of the rigorous training involved. I love to hear people talk about it because one, I’m just searching in their eyes and face for how in the world they find that enjoyable, and two, I like to glean from their discipline. They share how it gives them clarity and energy to do even more. They inspire me with their dedication, I see the benefits and some encourage me to try it, but I never have. (To date . . . I mean, never say never, right?)
In our role as school counselors, most of us are advocating for students, families and programs on a daily or hourly basis. Yet we often find it challenging or uncomfortable to advocate for ourselves and the profession.
In the role of helpers, we are naturally comfortable and focused on doing or providing help. We get down in the dirt, trenches and dark places some of our students and families find themselves, and we don’t have time to stop and look at the bigger picture. Advocacy, however, requires that we step back and look at the broad landscape to leverage other initiatives for a greater strategic purpose and fiscal common sense.
I know that to become a runner, I cannot go out today, lace up my old walking shoes and run a mile. (Trust me, I know I can’t run a mile.) Now think back to advocating for the school counseling profession. We all want some common things; better ratios, more direct services for students, specific professional development, clarity of the role and overall value for the profession. We will not obtain our advocacy goals – our marathon’s finish line – without the proper tools, discipline, knowledge, action, a running partner and engaging in the race. Therefore, we cannot lace up our shoes one day and talk to someone, then expect a change in systemic structures. Just as running will never come naturally to me, taking off work, speaking to legislators, and promoting school counseling’s impact on students does not come naturally to many of us.
Proper tools for advocacy are taking your student needs and leveraging relationships with others’ needs, knowledge, political power and common goals. Legislative and policy advocacy is a new race for OSCA to run. Our organization has shifted to policy governance and we are continuously improving, providing members with more service and value. Our membership is our main advocacy running partner – we need your support, voice and action. The Oklahoma State Department of Education has identified the need for additional school counselors for which they requested funding last year and were denied. This year, they are asking for $19 million to add school counselors. Us showing up one day at the capitol and pleading our case will not be enough to finish the race for our kids.
Our Training Plan
Instead, let’s start training and preparing now for legislative session ahead. Please join the advocacy marathon as an individual school counselor. Here is a training plan to get you ready to be an advocate for this spring. Remember, running a marathon takes discipline and action. What we do today will help us run better next spring!
- Email your legislators and tell them about the first half of your school year. What challenges do your students face? If you serve in one community and live in another, you have double influence power. Find your state house representative and senator here.
- January: Prepare for National School Counseling Week. How will you tell about your school counseling programs impact? Conduct a one-month time analysis. This will allow you to tell stakeholders how a school counselor’s time is spent.
- February: Join us at the capitol for our first on-site advocacy day. Remember the legislator you emailed at holiday break? It’s now time to meet face to face. Be prepared with your elevator speech. Bring your time analysis and share how your time is spent and the need for additional school counselors to serve kids.