SOCW 6351: Social Policy, Welfare, and Change
Week 3 Discussion 1 Response
Discussion: The Impact of Social Policy
Social policies can have a significant impact on individuals and families, as well as the organizations and agencies that implement the policies. In some cases, the policy, as written, appears comprehensive and effective. Yet, despite appearances, the policy might fail to be effective as a result of improper implementation, interpretation, and/or application of the policy. As a social worker, how might you reduce the potential negative impact faulty social policies might have on organizations and agencies, as well as the populations you serve?
By Day 09/17/2021
Read a selection of your colleagues’ posts.
Respond to at least two colleagues who chose a different case from the one you selected by explaining a proactive approach you might develop for a social policy that addresses the problem facing the client in the case your colleagues selected. Explain the steps you think the social work profession can take in ensuring that problems are defined so that oppressed and marginalized groups are represented.
Support your post with specific references to the resources. Be sure to provide full APA citations for your references.
Responsiveness to Directions
8.1 (27%) – 9 (30%)
Discussion posting fully addresses all instruction prompts, including responding to the required number of peer posts.
Discussion Posting Content
8.1 (27%) 9 (30%)
Discussion posting demonstrates an excellent understanding of all of the concepts and key points presented in the text(s) and Learning Resources. Posting provides significant detail including multiple relevant examples, evidence from the readings and other scholarly sources, and discerning ideas.
Peer Feedback and Interaction
6.75 (22.5%) – 7.5 (25%)
The feedback postings and responses to questions are excellent and fully contribute to the quality of interaction by offering constructive critique, suggestions, in-depth questions, additional resources, and stimulating thoughts and/or probes.
Writing.
4.05 (13.5%) – 4.5 (15%)
Postings are well organized, use scholarly tone, contain original writing and proper paraphrasing, follow APA style, contain very few or no writing and/or spelling errors, and are fully consistent with graduate level writing style.
Required Readings
Plummer, S.-B., Makris, S., & Brocksen, S. (Eds.). (2014). Social work case studies: Foundation year. Baltimore: MD: Laureate International Universities Publishing. [Vital Source e-reader].
· “Social Work Policy: Benefit Administration and Provision” (pp. 75–76)
· “Working with Immigrants and Refugees: The Case of Luisa” (pp. 79–80)
Popple, P. R., & Leighninger, L. (2019). The policy-based profession: An introduction to social welfare policy analysis for social workers (7th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education.
· Chapter 3, “Social Welfare Policy Analysis” (pp. 33-53)
· Chapter 5, “Social/Economic Analysis” (pp. 76-94)
Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. (2011). Policy basics: Introduction to the federal budget process. Retrieved from www.cbpp.org/files/3-7-03bud.pdf
Student Response: Chelsea Soifua
RE: Discussion – Week 3
The case that I chose for this post is the case of Tessa. Tessa is a 45 year old woman who is a domestic violence survivor and a mother of one (Plummer, Makris, & Brocksen, 2014). Tessa is in a new state with no funds and no permanent housing (Plummer, Makris, & Brocksen, 2014). Tessa’s primary concerns are her child who she believed was being sexually abused by her ex-husband (Plummer, Makris, & Brocksen, 2014). Tessa is not with her child now because she fears that if her ex-husband was able to locate her that he would kill her (Plummer, Makris, & Brocksen, 2014). The policies and laws that effect Tessa are that her home state did not allow Tessa to leave the state with her child, when Tessa did flee the state to get a way from her ex-husband, her child was taken from her. Another policy that is affecting Tessa is that the current housing she is in is not a long-term housing agency, Tessa was told that she would need to move out as soon as possible and start working on her independence. The final law or policy that is affecting Tessa is that she can not get a job with out providing her name and social security number. Tessa is afraid that if this information is put into a system that her ex-husband will find her and kill her. In addition to this Tessa needs to provide her information so that services can be provided to her. These policies and regulations make it difficult for social workers to provide services to clients who fear for their lives like Tessa. Tessa’s ex-husband is a high-level military officer. Her fear of providing her information to a government agency is a real concern and there is currently no way to prevent her ex-husband from accessing that information. I understand the need to have identifying information in order to provide services to clients but there has to be a better way to protect clients who are in this type of situation.
References
Plummer, S.-B., Makris, S., & Brocksen, S. (Eds.). (2014). Social work case studies: Foundation
year. Baltimore: MD: Laureate International Universities Publishing. [Vital Source e-
reader].
Student Response: Samuel Rullo Ribeiro
RE: Discussion – Week 3
As defined in the (Popple & Leighninger, 2019) text, welfare policy is “principles, guidelines, or procedures that serve the purpose of maximizing uniformity in decision making regarding the problem of dependency in our society” (p. 22) Social welfare policies are in place to help individuals facing difficulties. The policy part creates a uniform way in addressing the needs of the individual.
The (Plummer et al, 2014) text, “The Case of Luisa” makes clear that while social welfare policy is meant to help. Each individual circumstance presents its own unique problems that a general policy is not necessarily equipped to address. In the case study, Luisa is working to sponsor her child Juan who she left in Colombia when she moved in the United States. In order to do this, she must prove that she is financially able to care for both herself and Juan. This means she cannot apply for welfare services. In addition to this issue, Luisa is a victim of domestic violence, when she decides to leave her husband, she goes to a domestic violence shelter. The shelter has a policy that mandates residents to apply for all available welfare services to maintain residence.
This is a unique situation that creates a conflict in policy for Luisa. If she wants to sponsor Juan to come to the United States she can’t apply for welfare. However, she needs the housing at the domestic violence shelter, which requires her to apply for all welfare services. The social worker in this case can help Luisa by advocating for her. The case worker helps Luisa talk to an immigration lawyer in order to obtain more information about sponsorship for Juan. In addition to this the social worker advocated for Luisa at the domestic violence shelter, in order to further explain her situation. In this case the social worker helped Luisa obtain more information about immigration policy, advocated for Luisa, and served as a support system for Luisa. This case study is a great example of how a social worker can help a client navigate social welfare policy.
Resources:
Plummer, S. -B., Makris, S., Brocksen, S. M. (Eds.). (2014). Baltimore, MD: Laureate International University Publishing. [Vital Source e-reader].
Popple, P. R., Leighninger, L. (2019). The policy-based profession: An introduction to social welfare policy analysis for social workers. (7th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education.
