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You have explored a community problem from the perspective of prevention. Now, you will consider this problem through the lens of advocacy. Are there public policies that could change? Are there resources that could be enlisted? As you address PRESCRIPTION DRUG OVERDOSE, consider how advocacy might, for example, raise awareness or resolve issues.

For this Discussion, you will explore advocacy actions as they relate to PRESCRIPTION DRUG OVERDOSE.

To Prepare:

Review the Learning Resources for this week and consider advocacy as it relates to your targeted community problem.

Create a section in your Social Change Portfolio called “Part 5: “Advocacy” and include the following:

According to the last domain of the MSJCC guidelines (i.e., IV. Counseling and Advocacy Interventions), identify barriers to addressing the target problem at institutional, community, and public policy levels.

According to the last domain of the MSJCC guidelines (i.e., IV. Counseling and Advocacy Interventions), identify one advocacy action to take to address the target problem at each of the following levels: institutional, community, and public policy levels and further explain why each of these actions might be effective.

Learning Resources

Required Readings

Pirog, M. A., & Good, E. M. (2013). Public policy and mental health: Avenues for prevention. In R. K. Conyne & A. M. Horne (Eds.). Prevention practice kit: Action guides for mental health professionals (pp. 1-79). Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE.

Multicultural and Social Justice Counseling Competencies. (2015). Retrieved October 27, 2015, from http://www.counseling.org/docs/default-source/competencies/multicultural-and-social-justice-counseling-competencies.pdf?sfvrsn=20

Optional Resources

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA): Prevention of Substance Abuse and Mental Illness. Retrieved from https://www.samhsa.gov/prevention

PLEASE CITE PROPERLY