HHS 497 Health & Human Services WK1-A

Background of Social Issues

Throughout the course of your degree program, you have had the  opportunity to examine various topical issues that are addressed by  professionals in the health and human services field. To demonstrate  your mastery of the program learning outcomes, you will synthesize your  knowledge of various content areas related to a social issue of your  choosing, and use this to develop an original intervention (i.e.,  strategy, technique, or application) to address this particular topic in  your Final Paper. To facilitate in the development of this final  assignment, you will prepare and submit the first of four written  assignments, which will involve a thorough overview of your proposed  social issue. 

More specifically, your task will involve addressing the following content areas:

• Identify a social issue that health and/or human service  organizations address in some capacity and discuss its current impact on  group(s) affected by it. When selecting an area of focus, take into  account broad topics that have been exhaustively scrutinized at the  scholarly level, such as homelessness, mental health, aging, substance  abuse, child welfare, etc. A good place to begin your search on an area  of interest is the HHS A to Z Index. (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site. 
• Describe the historical underpinnings of this issue. Factors to  consider include: where and how it originated, pertinent events and  their dates, and its current status.
• Discuss specific factors contributing to the social issue. Consider  environmental, social, political, and economic reasons that have  attempted to explain why this issue persists.
• Evaluate the impact of this social issue on the delivery of health  and human service efforts by reviewing the scholarly literature and  relevant professional/governmental resources for evidence of formal  responses in the form of policy implementation, legislation, or Acts  related to this social issue. What impact has this had on how health  and/or human service organizations provide support in terms of direct  practice with clients and within communities?

At minimum, your submission must include three scholarly sources  (excluding the required course readings), two of which must come from  the Ashford University Library (e.g., articles, professional critiques,  research reports, etc.). The third source can come from either the  library or from a professional website ending in .gov.

The Background of Social Issues Paper

• Must be three to four double-spaced pages in length (not including  title and references pages) and formatted according to APA style as  outlined in the Ashford Writing Center (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site..
• Must include a separate title page with the following:
  • Title of paper
  • Student’s name
  • Course name and number
  • Instructor’s name
  • Date submitted
• Must use at least three scholary sources (excluding the required  course readings), two of which must come from within the Ashford  University Library (e.g., articles, professional critiques, research  reports, etc.). The third source can come from either the library or  from a professional website ending in .gov).
  • The Scholarly, Peer Reviewed, and Other Credible Sources  table offers additional guidance on appropriate source types. If you  have questions about whether a specific source is appropriate for this  assignment, please contact your instructor. Your instructor has the  final say about the appropriateness of a specific source for a  particular assignment.
• Must document all sources in APA style as outlined in the Ashford Writing Center.
• Must include a separate references page that is formatted according to APA style as outlined in the Ashford Writing Center.