MARYWOOD UNIVERSITY
SCHOOL OF SOCIAL WORK
Scranton, Pennsylvania 18509
Lehigh Valley Campus
And
Alvernia Campus
SW 802, Social Welfare Policy & Service II Spring 2001
Dr. Stephen Burke,Dr. Doris Chechotka-McQuade, Dr. George T. Haskett,
Ms. Joan Lewis
COURSE RATIONALE
There is a clear need for social workers to develop expertise in analyzing and influencing social policy within their organizations, communities, states, or nationally in order to address issues of social and economic justice. Skills such as policy analysis, agenda-setting, policy persuasion, used in an ethical and culturally aware fashion, will assist the student to develop a well-rounded professional practice stance.
COURSE DESCRIPTION
The second course in the Social Policy curriculum builds on the introductory content of SW 801 (Introduction to Social Welfare) and the systems content of the HBSE foundation courses. The Ethics course content provides a value base for the analytical and policy practice skills developed in SW 802. Focusing on the employment of an analytical framework, the course content: develops policy practice skills that enable students to apply a social justice framework to issues of racism, sexism, homophobia, and other forms of discrimination; develops companion skills to those which will be emphasized in the advanced practice content area (SW512) that allows the student to intervene in large systems in a culturally competent manner by empowering communities and population groups; and provides tools to analyze the effects of policy on the lives of marginalized and disadvantaged populations in the U.S.
COURSE OBJECTIVES
systems in the United States.
disadvantaged populations in the United States.
ethical responsibility for professional action.
INTEGRATION OF CROSS CULTURAL AND CROSS NATIONAL CONTENT
This course will focus attention on cultural and social diversity and the adaptability of people, institutions and communities for growth and change on two levels: the differences in specific social problems in different disadvantaged and oppressed populations, and adapting policies and services to the culture and norms of specific ethnic and racial groups. Cross national and international research and/or policy options enhance analysis of current U.S. social policy issues.
COURSE FORMAT AND INSTRUCTIONAL METHODS
A. Teaching Methods
Cognitive Methods:
Students will classify, synthesize, and convert knowledge and understanding gained from course readings, lectures, videos, and guest lecturers into informed class participation, the advancement of critical policy analyses, and the production of an integrative policy paper.
Affective Methods:
Students will examine and challenge their value assumptions as they attempt to analyze contemporary policy issues. They will explore the implications of these values and also of prevailing social values on the requirements for and the existence of social justice and equity in social policy formulation.
Experiential Methods:
Students will experiment with and practice various policy analysis skills in small groups with selected "case examples" provided by their instructor. All students will complete a class presentation. It is believed that each student has valuable insights and experiences to contribute to this endeavor.
B. Evaluative Methods
Instructors utilize exams, papers, discussion, and projects to evaluate the integration of course content.
COURSE ASSIGNMENTS AND GRADING
A mid-term assignment, final paper, class presentation and class participation will constitute the basis for the student’s course grade. Preparation for class participation is expected of students. See appendices for assignments and grading criteria.
LEARNING RESOURCES
Jansson, B.S. (1999) Becoming an effective policy advocate: From policy practice to social justice (3rd Ed.). Pacific Grove, CA: Brooks/Cole.
All textbook readings are required; other course readings will be indicated by the instructor. Students are encouraged to consult the instructor for guidance about readings in specific areas.
COURSE OUTLINE
Session #1: Introduction
Session #2: The place of policy in ecological frameworks
Chapter 1: Why Engage in Policy Practice & Policy Advocacy?
Session #3: Ethical reasons to engage in policy practice
Chapter 2: Ethical, Analytic, and Political Rationales for Engaging
In Policy Advocacy
Session #4: Discussion of the policy-practice framework
Chapter 3: A Policy Framework for Policy Advocates: Skills, Tasks,
And Actions
Chapter 4: The Big Picture: Policy Practice in Governmental,
Community, and Agency Settings
Session #5: The agenda-building task
Chapter 5: Building Agendas
Session #6: The problem-analyzing task
Chapter 6: Analyzing Problems
Session #7: The proposal-construction task
Chapter 7: Finding Policy Options
Session #8: The proposal-construction task
Chapter 8: Writing Policy Proposals
Chapter 9: Policy Persuasion
Session #9: The policy-enacting task
Chapter 10: Understanding "Power" and "Politics"
Chapter 11: Developing and Using Power
Course Outline (continued)
Session #10: The policy-enacting task
Chapter 12: Developing Political Strategy
Chapter 13: Putting Political Strategy into Action
Session #11: The policy-implementing task
Chapter 14: Securing the Implementation of Policies
Session #12: The policy-implementing task
Chapter 14: Securing the Implementation of Policies (continued)
Session #13: The policy-assessing task
Chapter 15: Assessing Policy Implementation
Session #14: Course Review
*see relevant course appendices for additional course topics.
COURSE EVALUATIONS
An informal evaluation will be done at mid-semester. A formal course evaluation will be conducted at the end of the semester.
Special Learning Needs:
A student with a disability may request an adjustment in meeting the requirements of this class. Please do so by seeing Sister M. Eamon O'Neill, Coordinator for Special Services,
Room 2018 McGowan Center, 570-961-4731.
PARTIAL LIST OF RELEVANT SOCIAL POLICY INTERNET RESOURCES
The Internet has changed the nature of entertainment, commerce, education, government and many other areas of human life. The network makes access to extensive information and communications easier and less expensive. It can also change the nature of social policy and policy practice (McNutt, 1996a; 1996b; Fitzgerald & McNutt, 1997, March). Internet based technologies can facilitate policy research, analysis and advocacy. There are several ways that the Internet can promote advocacy activities. First, electronic mail can be used to contact decision-makers about public policy issues (Schwartz, 1996; Mann, 1995). Electronic mail can also be used to coordinate policy advocacy activities (Wittig & Schmitz, 1996; Bonchek, 1995) and provide information to stakeholders (Zeff, 1996; Schwartz, 1996). Large groups of stakeholders can be effectively engaged in a short time at minimal costs. The World Wide Web allows organizations to gather policy information quickly and disseminate information to a wide audience (Zeff, 1996; Schwartz, 1996). Many advocacy organizations are developing web pages to provide information and position papers to stakeholders. Some examples are: the Children’s Defense Fund (http://www.childrensdefense.org/), Greenpeace (http://www.greenpeace.org/), and the National Organization for Women (http://www.now.org). These sites provide information, statistics and often advocacy techniques. Government organizations, such as the Census Bureau (http://www.census.gov/), the General Accounting Office (http://www.gao.gov/), and policy organizations, such as the Brookings Institute (http://www.brook.edu/), and the Urban Institute (http://www.urban.org/), provides substantial amounts of data and analysis on-line. There are also large sites that combine materials from many organizations such as the Electronic Policy Network (http://www.epn.org/), and Handsnet (http://www.handsnet.org/). The Library of Congress provides the Thomas site (http://thomas.loc.gov/), which provides on-line copies of all proposed bills. This readily available information makes the task of policy research far easier and even small organizations can develop an impressive data base on policy issues.
Source: (McNutt & Boland, 1999).
USEFUL WEB SITES FOR POLICY ADVOCACY PURPOSES
By Deborah Franks Jacobs, Ph.D. (1999)
SWAN on the World Wide Web out of South Carolina—a great way to get started on locating social welfare policy sites.
http://pages.nyu.edu/~gh5/gh-w3-f.htm
W3RSW - major organizer of access to relevant data for social workers. Very extensive and comprehensive.
http://web.lexis-nexis.com/cis
CIS Congressional Compass – Home Page – annotated links to Web sites about the American political process – congressional sites, political parties, news and other organizations. University sites.
THOMAS – U.S. Congress on the Internet
– includes a number of databases of congressional bills via the Library of Congress, general information about the legislative process and links to her congressional sites as well as executive, judicial, and state/local.
U.S. House of Representatives – summaries of floor and committee action for last 3 legislative days, schedule for the week, directory of e-mail addresses, links to member and congressional member organizational pages.
U.S. Senate – links to committee and member homepages, a directory of e-mail addresses, daily calendar of business, and general information about the Senate and the Legislative process.
Welcome to the White House.
- lets you search documents, listen to speeches, view photos and send a message to the President.
http://www.ehnr.state.nc.us/EHNR/files/usa.htm
-Provides you with a map of US which links to each state’s governmental homepage with a click on the state.
http://www.cas.psu.edu/docs/pde/gov.html
Government and Political Places. Based in PA but access to other states and governments.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Takes you directly to the Administration for Children and Families.
U.S. Department of Education
Links to all offices from special education to vocational.
http://www.leweb.loc.gov/homepage/lehp.html
Library of Congress Home Page.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Home Page.
U.S. Census Bureau Home Page.
http://www.ustreas.gov/treasury/bureaus/irs/irs.html
The Dept. of the Treasury. IRS.
The Electronic Policy Network
Timely information and ideas about national policy and politics includes access to member organizations such as Center for Law and Social Policy.
Institute for Research on Poverty
A national, university-based center for research into the causes and consequences of poverty and social inequality in the U.S.
Rand Corporation site – takes you to their publications, many of which have social welfare policy topics.
Children’s Defense Fund
Links to many child and family advocacy sites.
National Organization of Women
Links to many resources that support gender issues.
Promotes information sharing, cross-sector collaboration and advocacy among individuals and organizations on a broad range of issues.
http://www.bc.edu/bc.org/avp/gssw/state.htm
National Committee for education students to Influence State Policy and Legislation.
http://www.mentalhealth.org/tacenter
Center for Mental Health Services TA Centers.
Project Vote Smart
-Links to candidate, campaign and issue information sites, ratings by advocacy groups, and campaign financial reports.
Social Work National committee for Educating Students to Influence State Policy and Legislation.
http://marauder.millersv.edu/~politics/
Millersville University – Center for Politics and Public Affairs.
http://www.milersv.edu/~opinion/index.html
Millersville University Center for Opinion Research.
http://www.state.pa.us/PA_Exec/Public_Welfare/overview.html
Pennsylvania Dept. of Public Welfare.
http://www.howard.hbg.psu.edu/psdc/psdchome1.1html
Pennsylvania State Data Center: Welcome!
Major search site – from soup to nuts.
http://www.yahoo.com/social services/social work
Major search site – from nuts to soup – but extensions narrow it down.