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SAGE Journal User Guide

Article 1:

Cook, J.A., & Jonikas, J.A. (2002). Self-Determination Among Mental Health Consumers/Survivors: Using Lessons From the Past to Guide the Future. Journal of Disability Policy Studies, 13(2), pp. 88-96.

This article traces the history of self-determination for individuals with mental health issues, describes major barriers to self-determination, presents several theories of self-determination with potential relevance for mental health consumers, and offers ways in which self-determination and consumer control might be achieved both within and outside of service systems.

Questions to Consider:

1. How has the concept of self-determination for mental health consumers changed since early advocacy efforts?  What has been the impact of deinstitutionalization?

2. What are some of the key barriers to self-determination for mental health consumers?

3. What is the connection between self-determination and an individual’s capacity to thrive?

Article 2:

Donaldson, L.P. & Shields, J. (2009). Development of the Policy Advocacy Behavior Scale: Initial Reliability and Validity. Research on Social Work Practice, 19(1), pp. 83-92. 

The authors developed a tool to measure the policy advocacy behavior of nonprofit human service agencies. Organizational demographic and policy advocacy behavior data were collected from 43 nonprofit human service agencies.  The researchers determined that the Policy Advocacy Behavior Scale will be a useful tool to identify social work practice models that integrate policy advocacy methods.

Questions to Consider:

1. What are some of the characteristics of non-profit agencies that tend to engage in advocacy?

2. What are some of the core dimensions of advocacy behavior?

3. How did the authors measure the validity and reliability of this tool?