The Voter Engagement Model: Preparing the Next Generation of Social Workers for Political Practice

ABSTRACT

Although voting is a fundamental mechanism through which Americans engage with their democracy, social workers often do not see it as a valid component of practice. Voting is an important source of political power and provides a means to ensure equitable representation. Educating social work students on how they can encourage voter engagement within practice is an important step to rectifying this missed opportunity. This article describes the implementation of a voter engagement model in social work education. Pre- and post-tests from 475 participants demonstrate the efficacy of this model in increasing social work students’ perceived importance of voting to their practice, their likelihood of voting in future elections, and their likelihood of engaging others in voting in future elections.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Mary E. Hylton

Mary E. Hylton is Associate Professor at Salisbury University. Shannon R. Lane is Associate Professor at Yeshiva University. Tanya Rhodes Smith is Director, Nancy A. Humphrey’s Institute for Political Social Work, University of Connecticut. Jason Ostrander is Assistant Professor at Sacred Heart University. Jenna Powers is a student at the University of Connecticut.

Shannon R. Lane

Mary E. Hylton is Associate Professor at Salisbury University. Shannon R. Lane is Associate Professor at Yeshiva University. Tanya Rhodes Smith is Director, Nancy A. Humphrey’s Institute for Political Social Work, University of Connecticut. Jason Ostrander is Assistant Professor at Sacred Heart University. Jenna Powers is a student at the University of Connecticut.

Tanya Rhodes Smith

Mary E. Hylton is Associate Professor at Salisbury University. Shannon R. Lane is Associate Professor at Yeshiva University. Tanya Rhodes Smith is Director, Nancy A. Humphrey’s Institute for Political Social Work, University of Connecticut. Jason Ostrander is Assistant Professor at Sacred Heart University. Jenna Powers is a student at the University of Connecticut.

Jason Ostrander

Mary E. Hylton is Associate Professor at Salisbury University. Shannon R. Lane is Associate Professor at Yeshiva University. Tanya Rhodes Smith is Director, Nancy A. Humphrey’s Institute for Political Social Work, University of Connecticut. Jason Ostrander is Assistant Professor at Sacred Heart University. Jenna Powers is a student at the University of Connecticut.

Jenna Powers

Mary E. Hylton is Associate Professor at Salisbury University. Shannon R. Lane is Associate Professor at Yeshiva University. Tanya Rhodes Smith is Director, Nancy A. Humphrey’s Institute for Political Social Work, University of Connecticut. Jason Ostrander is Assistant Professor at Sacred Heart University. Jenna Powers is a student at the University of Connecticut.