Policy Impact

Goal

You have been hired to be a contract consultant in a start-up think-tank to research a bill currently pending in Congress addressing a social policy topic agreed upon by the group and the instructor. This assignment requires the use of skills in analyzing the legislative and regulatory processes and demonstration of the role of social work in shaping policy and defining and developing advocacy tools.

Policy Impact Brief -- S.119 - Abby Honold Act

Research

Research and review federal legislation on the topic that you’ve been assigned by the instructor. Please take advantage of the Mason library resources and librarians to assist you in this phase.

1. Background Define the underlying issues – Legislation is typically introduced to address a perceived problem. What problem is your bill attempting to address? Provide background and statistical information that elucidates the causes, scope, dynamics and trends relevant to the underlying problem, as well as who is impacted by the problem and what is the impact.

2. Analysis This is the main body of your paper.

A. Analysis and status of the bill: Read the bill and summarize its major provisions, in your own words (what would the bill do? How would it change current policy?) Identify which committee has jurisdiction? What is the status? Have there been any hearings? A mark-up? Any important votes? If there are bills in both houses, how do they differ? Has this, or a similar bill, been introduced before? If so, how far did it get in the process?

B. Provide a framing analysis: Outline how the issue is framed and understood from the perspective of general public, think tanks from varying lenses, advocacy organizations, elected official, and other identified key stakeholders. Include a critique of how the issue is framed: is there evidence to back up the perspective? How does the framing support their position or lens? What is the evidence to support their perspective?

C. Costs (economic and social). Evaluate and measure the costs and benefits of failure or success of the bill. Identify if the bill has any cost benefits analysis? If so, define. If not, using a framework presented in class, identify the risks and benefits from both an economic and social perspective.

3. Bibliography/References (APA Format)

A complete list of cited references organized by author, including all reference info.