The development of social services is inextricably linked with the advocacy concept. Advocacy is a general term describing a campaign by non-governmental organizations aimed at protecting the rights and interests of a particular social group (Reynolds, 2019). The purpose of advocacy companies is to implement social changes to lobby the interests of vulnerable social groups. Advocacy is a public movement within which public awareness of problems is raised and the attention of the state is attracted.
Social services are activities aimed at improving the well-being of specific population groups. Social services as a mass phenomenon and the emergence of the term advocacy date back to the nineteenth century (Whyte, 2019). Since then, it has been impossible to associate a developed state without social services. The movement has undergone significant changes, turning into a powerful social force. The social services provided currently have such an expanded range precisely due to the influence of advocacy. First, advocacy drew the attention of the state to existing problems, forcing them to finance the social services market. In addition, advocacy pushes the state to enact laws that protect oppressed groups, emphasizing the importance and necessity of the existence of social services.
Thus, the existence of social services is impossible without the advocacy policy. By drawing attention to social issues, activists have achieved the creation of a wide range of social services. Support for the market of social services would be impossible without the existence of advocacy activities. Having emerged at the same time, social services and advocacy policies coexist with one goal – to help and protect the rights of oppressed populations.
References
Reynolds, M. L. (2019). Interest group design: The foundation and evolution of common cause. United Kingdom: Taylor & Francis.
Whyte, J. (2019). The morals of the market: Human rights and the rise of neoliberalism. Verso Books.