Sociology homework help.
SWK-543: SOCIAL WELFARE AND POLICY
FINAL PROJECT *Note: Please plan ahead for the interview assignment in Workshop Five.
Policy Analysis
Details Workshop Two Policy Analysis—Section 1: Social Welfare Issue/Policy Selection (two pages)
Identify a social welfare issue of interest.
• Why did you choose this issue? If you feel comfortable responding, what personal stories can you share about it?
• Research facts and statistics about the issue—what do we know about it? • What are current perceptions of the issue?
Research various social welfare policies associated with the issue.
• Browse bills from the U.S. Congress at the GovTrack.us: Social Welfare website: https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/subjects/social_welfare/6328. You can narrow your focus by drilling down into five subcategories (disability assistance, national and community service, poverty and welfare assistance, social security and elderly assistance, and social work/volunteer service/charitable organizations).
• What past and current policies address the issue? (An option is to create a timeline to show that policies are incremental.)
Identify a specific current social welfare policy associated with the issue that you will research throughout the course.
• Explain how knowing more about this specific social welfare policy relates directly to the NASW Code of
Ethics.
Workshop Three Policy Analysis—Section 2: Historical Review (two pages) Using the specific current social welfare policy associated with the issue you selected in Workshop One, conduct a historical review:
• Discuss the historical development/evolution of the social policy (social issues/problems that led to the need for the policy to be developed, what has changed over time, etc.).
• Identify the implementation level of the policy (federal, state, or local). • Identify the agency, department, or commission involved in formulating or implementing this policy.
(Give background information on the agency’s mission, budget, organization, etc.) • Explain why the policy was developed and to what issues or problems it was responding (goals,
strategies, etc.). What are the main causes of the issue? • Discuss what political or social pressures shaped the policy’s framework. • Identify what the policy was intended to accomplish (original intent of the policy). • Describe how the policy attempts to address the social problem in question. • Discuss the ideology and values (the basis of or inherent in the policy) that underpin this social policy,
including any specific political influences. • Describe how the policy aims to address the three social justice values that drive choices in policy
formation: equity, equality, and adequacy.
Workshop Four
Policy Analysis—Section 3: Target Population (one page) Identify the demographics of the target population (statistical descriptors), including who benefits and under what conditions (eligibility criteria) and for how long (time, age limits).
• What benefits are allocated? How are these benefits delivered and financed? • Define who is affected and how they are affected.
Workshop Five Policy Analysis—Section 4: Implementation Realities—Primary and Secondary Sources (two pages)
Gather primary and secondary source information about the policy implementation realities. Compare and contrast the primary and secondary sources and synthesize the information.
Primary Sources Conduct an interview with a social worker who may have been affected by the policy. Ask him/her the questions, listed below, regarding analyzing the policy in light of its stated intent.
• Discuss the implications of the policy in regard to gender, race, and class. Does the policy “do” what it intended to? If not, why? If so, how well?
• What are current perceptions of the policy? • Analyze the policy’s strengths and limitations in addressing the social welfare issue. • Describe current issues with the impacted population as well as the policy. • Describe barriers or potential barriers to the effectiveness of the policy. • Discuss alternative approaches that might better embrace a social justice perspective, or affirmation
that the policy is working to attain its goal: What approaches or solutions might better embrace a social justice perspective? If the policy is working to attain its goal, discuss how and why.
• Discuss how this policy is working (or not) to advance social justice within society. • What is the existing institutional capacity for implementing this policy? What are the potential conflicts?
Secondary Sources Conduct research using the same questions that guided your primary interview. Using LexisNexis, research and analyze the policy in light of its stated intent.
Use the LexisNexis Guide (http://www2.indwes.edu/online/socialwork/searchingfornews.pdf) to help you find peer-reviewed sources. The OCLS LexisNexis will lead you to credible and reliable sources. You will be able to access news regarding your topic from numerous sources.
Answer the questions using your research from secondary sources:
• Discuss the implications of the policy in regard to gender, race, and class. Does the policy “do” what it
intended to? If not, why? If so, how well? • What are current perceptions of the policy? • Analyze the policy’s strengths and limitations in addressing the social welfare issue. • Describe current issues with the impacted population as well as the policy. • Describe barriers or potential barriers to the effectiveness of the policy. • Discuss alternative approaches that might better embrace a social justice perspective, or affirmation
that the policy is working to attain its goal: What approaches or solutions might better embrace a social justice perspective? If the policy is working to attain its goal, discuss how and why.
• Discuss how this policy is working (or not) to advance social justice within society. • What is the existing institutional capacity for implementing this policy? What are the potential conflicts?
Workshop Six Policy Analysis—Section 5: Recommendations (one page)
Propose solutions to increase social justice related to this issue/policy: • What are three possible solutions to this issue? • Which one would lead to the highest level of social justice? • Is it the solution you would choose to work toward, or would you choose one that achieves less social
justice but might be more easily adopted or implemented?
Advocacy Project Related to Policy Analysis
Workshop Seven
Policy Analysis: Final Paper Clearly label each section and correct past assignments.
Final policy analysis paper due:*
• Section 1: Social Welfare Issue/Policy Selection • Section 2: Historical Review • Section 3: Target Population • Section 4: Implementation Realities—Primary and Secondary Sources • Section 5: Recommendations
