Social Welfare Legislation

Social Welfare Policy Analysis Paper
This assignment is designed to first help you become familiar with major federal legislation,
policies, history, and how legislations influence service delivery, which is a cornerstone of
social work services.
Secondly, this assignment will help you think critically about the influence
of social policy on the lives of many social work clients and the social problems they experience.
You must sign up to identify a social problem and a piece of federal legislation
You must select a social service agency, target population around which you will build your
policy analysis. You must include the race/ethnicity, gender, age range of your target population.
This selection must be made, and your professor notified no later than (March 5th).

• You must include at least 3 external sources in your social welfare policy analysis.
• One of these sources will be the social security’s website.
• At least one source must be an article from a peer reviewed journal article. This must
• include the article used for your literature review paper.
• The third article may be an additional peer reviewed article or an article from a federal,

state or municipal government agency such as the United States Census Bureau or the
State of Texas Department of State Health Services.

• All sources must be cited within the text of your paper as well as the reference sheet at

the end of your paper (Must adhere to APA formatting).

• You must follow the outline provided in Appendix A of this syllabus for writing the

paper. The paper must have sections that are labeled with same headings found in the
outline.

• The paper must answer questions in each section, in order, using a narrative, paragraph

format.

• The paper must adhere to the estimated length given for each section. (not yet stated)

 
Appendix 1 THIS IS WHAT TO USE TO ANSWER OR WRITE THE PAPER (THE OUTLINE)
Final paper outline: Social welfare policy analysis
Part I:
Provide a clear definition of legislation and policy, explain the different characteristics of each
What is the difference between legislation and policy (give a brief overview)?
Why do we need legislation and policy (give a brief overview)?
Part II:
Chose a social service agency (give a brief overview, population served and why you picked this
agency).
Identify a social problem that this agency is focused on.
Identify one current piece of federal legislation that impacts this social problem.
What is the history of the chosen legislation? Why was this piece of legislation passed?
What are the policies and procedures aligned with the legislation that you picked? Discuss and
cite source of information
Part III: Policy analysis
Explain how the federal legislation you identified in part II focus on the social problem in
addressing:
Vulnerable population (explain your understanding of a vulnerable population and how you
came to this conclusion)
Disparities/gap in service delivery, social, economic and environmental conditions.
Who benefit most from this piece of legislation?
Does the legislation allow opportunity for states, local governments or other entities to apply for
funding to provide services?
What are the criteria required to apply for funding?
Part IV: Conclusion
Explain your views on this federal legislation both pros and cons
Describe how your political ideology and social construct influenced your outlook on the social
problem and the social welfare legislation. Address biases and explain how this research have
changed your views towards the development of social welfare legislation.
How can social workers actively and ethically engage in the political process to address social
justice issues?
 
Appendix 2
2015 EPAS CORE COMPETENCIES AND SKILL SETS
Competency 2.1.1–Demonstrate Ethical and Professional Behavior
Social workers:

1. a) make ethical decisions by applying the standards of the NASW Code of Ethics, relevant

laws and regulations, models for ethical decision-making, ethical conduct of research,
and additional codes of ethics as appropriate to context;

1. b) use reflection and self-regulation to manage personal values and maintain

professionalism in practice situations;

1. c) demonstrate professional demeanor in behavior; appearance; and oral, written, and

electronic communication;

1. d) use technology ethically and appropriately to facilitate practice outcomes; and
2. e) use supervision and consultation to guide professional judgment and behavior.

Competency 2.1.2 –Engage Diversity and Difference in Practice
Social workers:

1. a) apply and communicate understanding of the importance of diversity and difference in

shaping life experiences in practice at the micro, mezzo, and macro levels;

1. b) present themselves as learners and engage clients and constituencies as experts of their

own experiences; and

1. c) apply self-awareness and self-regulation to manage the influence of personal biases and

values in working with diverse clients and constituencies.
Competency 2.1.3 –Advance Human Rights and Social, Economic, and Environmental
Justice
Social workers:

1. a) apply their understanding of social, economic, and environmental justice to advocate for

human rights at the individual and system levels; and

1. b) engage in practices that advance social, economic, and environmental justice.

Competency 2.1.4-Engage in Practice-informed Research and Research-informed Practice
Social workers:

1. a) use practice experience and theory to inform scientific inquiry and research;
2. b) apply critical thinking to engage in analysis of quantitative and qualitative research

methods and research findings; and

1. c) use and translate research evidence to inform and improve practice, policy, and service

delivery.
Competency 2.1.5 –Engage in Policy Practice
Social workers:

1. a) Identify social policy at the local, state, and federal level that impacts well-being, service

delivery, and access to social services;

1. b) assess how social welfare and economic policies impact the delivery of and access to

social services;
15

1. c) apply critical thinking to analyze, formulate, and advocate for policies that advance

human rights and social, economic, and environmental justice.
Competency 2.1.6 –Engage with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and
Communities
Social workers:

1. a) apply knowledge of human behavior and the social environment, person-in-environment,

and other multidisciplinary theoretical frameworks to engage with clients and
constituencies; and

1. b) use empathy, reflection, and interpersonal skills to effectively engage diverse clients and

constituencies.
Competency 2.1.7 –Assess Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities
Social workers:

1. a) collect and organize data, and apply critical thinking to interpret information from clients

and constituencies;

1. b) apply knowledge of human behavior and the social environment, person-in-environment,

and other multidisciplinary theoretical frameworks in the analysis of assessment data
from clients and constituencies;

1. c) develop mutually agreed-on intervention goals and objectives based on the critical

assessment of strengths, needs, and challenges within clients and constituencies; and

1. d) select appropriate intervention strategies based on the assessment, research knowledge,

and

1. e) values and preferences of clients and constituencies.

Competency 2.1.8 –Intervene with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and
Communities
Social workers:

1. a) critically choose and implement interventions to achieve practice goals and enhance

capacities of clients and constituencies;

1. b) apply knowledge of human behavior and the social environment, person-in-environment,

and other multidisciplinary theoretical frameworks in interventions with clients and
constituencies;

1. c) use inter-professional collaboration as appropriate to achieve beneficial practice

outcomes;

1. d) negotiate, mediate, and advocate with and on behalf of diverse clients and constituencies;

and

1. e) facilitate effective transitions and endings that advance mutually agreed-on goals.

Competency 2.1.9 –Evaluate Practice with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations,
and Communities
Social workers:

1. a) select and use appropriate methods for evaluation of outcomes;
2. b) apply knowledge of human behavior and the social environment, person-in-environment,

and other multidisciplinary theoretical frameworks in the evaluation of outcomes;
16

1. c) c) c) critically analyze, monitor, and evaluate intervention and program processes

and outcomes; and

1. d) d) d) apply evaluation findings to improve practice effectiveness at the micro,

mezzo, and macro levels