The NASW Code of Ethics requires social workers to try to improve the system for clients as well as to help people empower themselves. One method to achieve these goals is to develop and use interest groups in the political process. Little empirical research exists in the social work literature about interest groups active in social welfare policy-making. This paper describes the demographic characteristics of groups active in social welfare policy-making in four states; discusses what they do to influence policy in the legislative and executive branches; and reviews the groups' self-reported effectiveness. Several practice principles are then derived from the results.

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