Focus on NYC-NASW's Lobbyist
Cynthia Dames: An Outcome Focused Social Worker with Unique Ability
By Harriet Putterman, MSW, Social Policy Associate, NASW NYC Chapter
(October 2002)
The team of lobbyists that guided NASW's licensing bill to passage in Albany included Cynthia Dames, who brought to the mix a distinctive combination of Albany know-how, political acumen and social work training and skills.
Cynthia was hired by the NYC Chapter in 1999 to bring expert direction and effectiveness to the chapter's policy work. Cynthia applied her political acumen to the Chapter's legislative agenda. She helped the Chapter leadership to focus on one or two priority issues as opposed to attempting to influence a much wider range of policy issues. In order to be successful, Cynthia argued, it is important to stay focused and be persistent. The Chapter has improved its efficacy because of a more targeted and intense lobbying.
Cynthia's guidance quickly proved to be valuable. One example of this is her work along with Assembly Member Roger Green, which has been instrumental in garnering over $1 million in state funding for MSW scholarships for child welfare workers in the public and private sector.
The Chapter then asked for Cynthia's help in getting the social work licensing bill passed. She was instrumental in gaining support among key legislators and helped the bill overcome many obstacles, leading to its successful passage in the summer of 2002.
Shortly after graduating college, Cynthia spent three years working for the Governor of Illinois, but after a time realized she needed a historic and conceptual context for the policy work she was doing. She took a leave of absence, went to the University of Chicago, and got an MSW in public policy and community organizing. Armed with her MSW she moved to Santa Fe, New Mexico, and using those CO skills started the first battered women's shelter in the Southwest. However, the bite from the political bug would persist.
When she moved to New York City, she worked for the NYC Department of Mental Health, leaving to become the Executive Director of the Coalition of
Voluntary Mental Health Agencies. While there, she was instrumental in the successful passage of the Community Mental Health Reinvestment Act, which shifted state funding from large custodial hospitals to a more community- based mental health system.
That experience eventually persuaded Cynthia to launch her own lobbying firm in 1990, Cynthia Dames Consulting. Working on both city and state levels, her client specialty is not-for-profit health and human service organizations that want to promote policies, or develop innovative programs.
Though working in an Albany culture can involve conflicts, Cynthia credits her social work training for making her effective as a mediator and as a person who can work toward resolution. "My training taught me respect for different points of view and that there's a seed of truth in all positions-critical in a politically partisan environment. It taught me the patience to listen, to listen analytically, and to put my own ego aside."
Cynthia has an interest in strengthening the political clout of the social work community. When social workers or their organizations deal with government officials, she advises the following strategy: "Prepare succinct, accurate information about your position. Be prepared to follow up and to be persistent. Understand that elected officials are always mindful of how their constituents will view the positions they take. If you can cast your argument in a way that demonstrates to legislators the benefit to their constituents, as well as the benefit to your clients, you've created a win-win situation. Throw in a little political incentive, if you can. And pray."
As the Chapter moves forward now that licensing has become law, it will be exploring with Cynthia other opportunities to help advance the profession. Among the areas being explored are: loan forgiveness, annual salary increases, and mental health parity.