social work policy

Signature Assignment: Engage in Policy Practice

This signature assignment is designed to measure a BASW Program Learning Outcome (PLO) equivalent to the Council on the Social Work Education (CSWE) EPAS 2015.

PLO 5: Engage in Policy Practice. The Competency includes the following behaviors that demonstrate achievement of this competency:

• Identify social policy at the local, state, and federal level that impacts well-being, service delivery, and access to social services.

• Assess how social welfare and economic policies impact the delivery of and access to social services.

• Apply critical thinking to analyze, formulate, and advocate for policies that advance human rights and social, economic, and environmental justice.

Note: The purpose of this assignment is for you to engage in policy practice. Your response should primarily be in your own words and reflect your thoughts or understanding of the topic. You may utilize the suggested resources provided with this assignment as sources of information for your responses as well as your textbook and other appropriate resources. These sources should be used to support or elaborate on your argument, thoughts, or opinions, and to provide statistics rather than to substitute for your own thoughts.

You will not receive credit for a submission that is 40% or more from another source, even if you have cited your sources.

The rubric for this assignment provides additional information on grading.

Assignment Organization:

• Title page: Include your name, course title and session/year on the first page or cover

page.

• Insert page numbers in your paper. Your paper should be double-spaced with 12 point font.

• For each response, provide a heading that includes the number and/or letter of the question.

• See the guidelines at the end of each question for suggested response lengths.

• Cite a total of at least 2-3 research-based sources throughout your paper.

• Provide a reference list at the end of your paper. • Use APA style and paraphrase appropriately.

ASSIGNMENT:

1. Identify a social policy at each of the three levels of government (local, state and

federal) that impacts well-being and social services.

2. Describe how social policy can impact social service delivery and access to social services. You can provide examples to support your response. (1-2 paragraphs).

3. Develop, advocate for, and analyze social policy to advance human rights and social,

economic, and environmental justice. 1) Identify a social policy issue that you will address in this assignment.

a) Provide evidence of the current (within the past 5-8 years) scope and impact of this issue/problem. For example, identify who is primarily or directly affected by this issue/problem and who may be indirectly affected. Cite available statistics or appropriate sources. (3-4 paragraphs). b) Describe how the problem impacts human rights, social, economic, and environmental justice. (3-4 paragraphs)

2) Describe your suggestions to improve the policy response to this problem. Identify at least two specific improvements that you would make. (1-2 paragraphs)

3) Identify at least two stakeholders (individuals or groups) that you will include in your efforts to address this problem and discuss their role in the policy process. Consider the advantages and challenges of including stakeholders in the policy- making process. (2-3 paragraphs)

4) Describe at least two specific strategies that you will use to advocate for this policy. Discuss a potential benefit and challenge of each of your selected approaches to policy advocacy. (2-3 paragraphs)

5) Provide an analysis of your policy. Evaluate the expected impact of the policy on the advancement of human rights and social and economic and environmental justice for the intended individuals. Consider the influence of the social, economic, and political environment in achieving the goals of your policy. (3-4 paragraphs).

The grading rubric is attached in the Black Board course shell section with this assignment.

Instructions for submitting this assignment are located in the Black Board course shell with this

assignment.