The art of advocacy in human services: Speaking up for your clients
While helping clients access services is at the core of human services, those working in the field also speak up, step in and push for the changes that make their clients’ lives better.
“Advocacy touches every component of client care,” said Yael Monselise, LCSW, SIFI, whether it’s connecting a family with housing support or challenging systemic barriers that keep entire communities in crisis.
We’ll explore what advocacy means in the context of human services, as well as the essential skills and ethical considerations that underpin it. We’ll also highlight how human services professionals can empower clients to advocate for themselves.
What is advocacy in human services?
At its core, advocacy is about power: recognizing where it’s lacking, understanding how it’s distributed and using your role as a human services professional to rebalance the scales. Advocacy empowers professionals to drive systemic change and support vulnerable populations beyond individual interventions.
“Often, we conceptualize care through the advocacy lens because if a client is feeling depressed and there are factors like housing and financial stressors that were impacted by federal funding, of course an individual will experience mental health impacts. It’s impossible to ignore that,” Monselise said.
Human services practitioners must view the person they’re working with within the context of the systems they interact with. Their role is to coordinate resources, communicate across agencies and bridge the gap between community needs and institutional response.
Understanding individual vs. systemic advocacy
Advocacy in human services takes many forms, but it often falls into two main categories: individual (micro) and systemic (macro). Both are essential and, in many cases, deeply interconnected.
That’s why human services programs often emphasize policy awareness, cultural humility and systems-level thinking alongside case management training. Students learn to see the connection between social issues and client outcomes and how to intervene on both fronts.
Advocacy for individuals
Individual advocacy focuses on the needs of a specific person or family. It might involve helping a client fill out housing forms, navigate a healthcare plan or communicate with a school administrator. This type of advocacy often occurs in real time and is tailored to the specific situation at hand.
Macro-level advocacy
Systemic advocacy, or macro-level advocacy, on the other hand, takes a broader view. It aims to change the conditions that create barriers in the first place. This type of advocacy measures success through policy reform, legislation and organizational change.
Think of systemic advocacy as “playing the long game.” While it might not deliver instant results for one client, it can reshape entire systems for the benefit of many.
A real world example of individual and systemic-level advocacy
But the line between these two advocacy types isn’t always sharp. Often, they overlap.
“When I was working in the Bronx with adolescents during the early impacts of COVID-19, many of my clients expressed interest in the New York City Department of Education’s (DOE) newly launched online school program,” Monselise said. “One of my clients wanted to enroll, but their caregiver lacked access to a computer, which was the only way to submit the application. Recognizing this barrier, I scheduled time for the caregiver to come into the office so we could complete the application together.”
When several weeks went by without a response, Monselise decided to dig deeper.
“When we didn’t receive a response, I followed up—with the caregiver’s consent—and discovered that the application had never been received,” Monselise shared. “I escalated the issue by contacting the DOE Commissioner directly via email. After several follow-ups, I was able to advocate successfully for my client, who was ultimately accepted into the program. This experience reinforced the importance of proactive, systems-level advocacy when structural barriers stand in the way of access and equity.”
These efforts reflect a blend of individual and systemic-level advocacy because Monselise met a client’s immediate need while challenging the inefficiencies of a larger institution.
Skills needed for effective advocacy in human services
“Advocating for clients requires key skills such as active listening, empathy, critical thinking, clear communication, cultural humility and the ability to maintain appropriate boundaries,” Monselise said. Each of these skills helps human services professionals navigate the delicate balance of supporting clients while challenging systems that may be failing them.
- Active listening contributes to clients feeling heard and understood.
- Empathy builds trust and connection.
- Critical thinking enables advocates to assess complex situations and choose the most effective path forward.
- Strong communication (both written and verbal) is critical for everything from making a case to a service provider to drafting letters to policymakers.
- Cultural humility allows advocates to honor clients’ identities and experiences.
- Boundary-setting protects both the professional and the client relationship.
“To sharpen these skills, one can engage and join coalitions or policy committees, train in public speaking and policy writing, volunteer in advocacy campaigns and stay informed about relevant issues within their community or globally,” Monselise said.
Ethical considerations when advocating for clients as a human services professional
Human services professionals often navigate complex ethical terrain where every decision they make carries significant weight in the lives of those they serve.
The National Organization for Human Services (NOHS) outlines 44 ethical standards for human services professionals, and several of these standards guide practitioners on how to participate in advocacy.
- Standards 3 & 4: Honor confidentiality
- Standard three states that human service professionals are ethically bound to protect a client’s right to privacy and can only share information with proper consent or under legally justified circumstances. In situations where a client’s safety or the safety of others is at risk, Standard Four permits the breach of confidentiality, provided it is done professionally and in compliance with applicable legal requirements.
There are moments when sharing a story could influence policy or spark change, but doing so without full client consent could violate trust and professional standards. Ethical advocacy means knowing where that line is and respecting it. - Standard 12: Be informed and take action
- Human service professionals must stay up-to-date with local, state and federal laws. They must advocate for changes when these laws conflict with the rights or needs of clients. This standard affirms that advocacy is a professional duty.
- Standards 13 & 14: Stay connected to social issues
- Effective advocacy means understanding the world your clients live in. Professionals must stay informed about social and political issues and how these affect different communities in different ways. “Reflect regularly on power dynamics and ethical responsibilities in advocacy work,” Monselise said.
- Standard 15: Center the client and community voice
- Ethical advocates don’t assume what people need. Instead, they build processes to identify and elevate client and community assets and challenges. Knowing when and how to advocate requires you to ask who benefits from your actions. Are you prioritizing the client’s needs or your own agenda? Always approach advocacy with empathy and a deep respect for lived experience.
- Standard 16: Champion systemic change
- Advocating for social justice is an ethical obligation. Human service professionals should actively work to eliminate oppression and raise awareness about inequity in their workplace, community and society.
- Standard 30: Invest in lifelong growth
- Ethical advocacy also means continually developing your skills. NOHS encourages professionals to participate in education, policy reform and professional associations to grow their impact and uphold the field’s integrity.
Closing thoughts
Advocacy isn’t always about speaking on someone’s behalf. Sometimes, the most impactful work happens when you help someone find their own voice. When clients learn to speak up for their own needs, they come to see themselves as active participants in shaping their lives and communities.
Associate-level human services practitioners are often the first point of contact for people navigating complex systems. In these entry-level roles, such as case management aides or outreach workers, professionals help clients build confidence, promote independence and develop the skills needed to advocate for themselves.
If you’re drawn to advocacy and want to make a difference in people’s lives, human services is a powerful place to start.