2000-1

Social Welfare Policy: Newsletter of the Social Policy and Policy Practice Group

Volume 6, Issue 1

Winter 2000

Journal of Social Policy to Begin Journal of Social Policy to Begin

At last!" expresses the feelings of new journal editor, Rick Hoefer. "We have long needed a journal that is devoted to publishing the best academic research on social policy and has information relevant to policy practitioners. Now, Haworth Press has stepped forward to make this a reality."

While the editorial board is still being assembled, some of the founding board members will be Bruce Jansson, Diana DiNitto, John McNutt and Robert Schneider. Special features in every of the quarterly issues will be a review of policy relevant web sites and a article or review of research directly related to Social Policy Issues.

In This Issue
1	Journal of Social Policy to Begin
1	Group to Meet in New York at CSWE APM
2	Call for Papers, Journal of Social Policy
3	Papers to be presented at the Policy Symposium at CSWE APM
4	Posting from the President

Policy and Policy Practice Group to Meet in New York at CSWE APM

Policy and Policy Practice Group President Rick Hoefer announced that there will be a meeting of all persons interested in the group during the CSWE APM.

The meeting will be on Sunday, February 27 from 7 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. "Yeah, the time really is early," admitted Hoefer, "but it will be only the second day of the conference and I believe the energy to rise early will be there." Items on the agenda include whether to adopt the Journal of Social Policy as the group’s official journal, creating a process to elect a new president after Hoefer steps down at the 2001 APM, and selecting a chairperson or chairpersons for the Policy and Policy Practice Symposium at the 2001 CSWE APM.¨

Spring 2000 Social Welfare Policy: Newsletter of the Social Policy and Policy Practice Group Page 2

Call for Papers

Journal of Social Policy

Founding editor

Richard Hoefer

University of Texas at Arlington

The purpose of the Journal of Social Policy, a refereed journal, is to publish the best available manuscripts about social policy, its administration and its teaching. It is intended to be a multi-disciplinary journal.

Topics suitable for the Journal of Social Policy include research related to current social policies, policy effects and the administration of policy and programs, historical analyses of social policy, and comparative studies of various policies. Research on the different stages of the policy process—agenda-setting, formulation, adoption, implementation and evaluation—as they relate to social policy are welcome, as are papers on the teaching of social policy. These topics can be approached at local, state, national or international levels. Articles that are conceptual or provide a cogent review of important policy topics are also invited. Preference is given to manuscripts that address theoretical or practice questions rather than those that are purely descriptive.

The editorial board is made up of a distinguished group of social policy educators, writers and innovators, including Bruce Jansson, Diana DiNitto, John McNutt and Robert Schneider.

Submissions should reflect the mission of the Journal and should be in English. Manuscripts should be 18-24 pages in length and include an abstract of 100 words or less. One cover sheet should include name and institutional affiliation. Another cover sheet should have only the manuscript’s title. The references and format of the manuscript should follow the style of the American Psychological Association. Manuscripts will be peer-reviewed. If submitting paper copies, authors should submit four (4) copies to:

Richard Hoefer, Editor

Journal of Social Policy

School of Social Work

Box 19129

University of Texas at Arlington

Arlington, TX 76019

Authors may also email manuscripts to: rhoefer@utarlg.uta.edu

For further information, call the editor at (817) 272-3947 or email him.

(manuscripts will not be accepted by fax)

Spring 2000 Social Welfare Policy: Newsletter of the Social Policy and Policy Practice Group Page 3

Papers to be presented at APM

The papers to be presented at this year’s CSWE APM represent some of the best-known and well-respected authors in the field. More details will be available concerning time and location in the CSWE APM Program book.

"A Multi-Year Study of Homelessness: Program, Policy and Educational Implications" Wendy P. Crook, Florida State University

"Social Investment in an Era of Welfare Reform" James Midgley and William C. Rainford, UC Berkeley

"Voices of the Women: Battered Women and Welfare Reform" Ruth A. Brandwein and Diana M. Filiano, SUNY at Stony Brook

"Teaching New State Policy: A Baseline Survey of MSW Programs" Sharon Keigher, Univ. of Wisconsin, Milwaukee; James R. Reinardy, University of Minnesota; James Kunz, Columbia University; Robert L. Schneider, Virginia Commonwealth University

"Strategies for Liaisons to the National Committee on Influencing State Policy"

Anthony A. Bibus, Augsburg College and Robert L. Schneider, Virginia Commonwealth University

"The Impact of the Personal Responsibility Act on Children: A Regional

Analysis" Donna Hardina, California State University, Fresno

"Effectiveness of Economic Sanctions: Strategies of Welfare Dependent Mothers with Young Children" Judith R. Smith, Fordham University and Jeanne Brooks-Gunn, Columbia University

"Welfare to Work: Client and Employment Counselor Views of Transition"

David Hollister, University of Minnesota; Mary Martin, Metropolitan State University and Connie Wanberg, University of Minnesota

Come to the Policy and Policy Practice Group Meeting at the APM in New York: 7 a.m. to 8:30 a.m., Sunday, February 27.

Spring 2000 Social Welfare Policy: Newsletter of the Social Policy and Policy Practice Group Page 4

Posting from the President

A major change is being made in the way the Policy and Policy Practice Group operates and others should be considered. For example, we used to send out one or two newsletters a year. Now, with access to the Internet increasing, it seems wasteful to use paper and postage to mail a newsletter like this one. So, we have sent out postcards to people on our mailing list to inform them of the newsletter being available on our web site. In the future, we may dispense with even the postcard.

The social work policy "community" is far-flung and often broken into camps according to the type of policy we are most interested in—mental health, women and family, social services, etc. One of the most positive developments of recent years to bring together people interested in policy has been the emphasis on the state policy level. This has brought together many people who would otherwise have no reason to interact.

I believe that, within a few years, the Journal of Social Policy will help to bring together a more easily identifiable group of scholars and practitioners. If adopted as the official journal of the Policy and Policy Practice Group, I believe it will also provide the organization a more stable membership
base and a more explicit reason to exist.

As President of the Group for several years, I see much potential but also know that there is much more that I could have been doing to make that potential happen. We have an unclear identity—are we happy as "just" a symposium for CSWE’s APM (the original goal), or do we want to be a full-time presence in the field? Until we fully answer this question, we can make only small progress, at best.

I have one year left on my term as President and most of my attention will be focused on making a transition out of office and working on the new journal. I encourage you to think about how this organization could meet your needs for a stronger voice for the teaching of policy and policy practice within CSWE and beyond