Instructions
There are a number of theories underlying how policies are created, and how social values influence these decisions. One thing that should not be forgotten is that policies are created by human beings with their own sets of beliefs and experiences. Understanding this can help us as social workers, to understand the values underlying policy decisions as well as how to advocate for policies that are in the best interest of the individuals and communities we serve. You should have read the article Social Empathy: A Model Built on Empathy, Contextual Understanding, and Social Responsibility that Promotes Social Justice early in this module. If you have not yet done so, please revisit the readings page in this module and complete the reading.
Part 1:
Once you have completed your reading, write a paragraph that identifies what you see as challenges policymakers face in creating policies and what social empathy might mean in terms of creating social welfare policies and programs.
Part 2:
Now, participate in the following activity:
You have $100 to donate in the name of charity to distribute to an individual or cause you believe worthy of receiving this gesture on your part. Think hard as to how to best use your contribution to make a difference in the life or lives of recipients of your donation. Write down how you would distribute the $100.
Reflect on this exercise and write another paragraph explaining how you made the decision where your contribution would go.
Requirements
In order to successfully complete this assignment, you should:
Complete both parts of this assignment as specified above.
Each of your paragraphs should be approximately 6-8 sentences in length.
Please turn in both paragraphs on one document; label each part as appropriate.
