EASTERN WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF SOCIAL WORK AND HUMAN SERVICES Course Syllabus SOWK 470 Social Policy Analysis Winter 2008 M/W 1:00 p.m. 3:20 p.m. Lu Brown, MSW Senior Hall 101 Telephone: 359-6425 Email: lbrown@mail.ewu.edu Course Description This course focuses on social welfare policy and is practice oriented. It seeks to empower social workers in the policy arena and demonstrate how social workers can impact policy development, implementation, and analysis in partnership with their clients and other human services advocates. Students will learn policy research and analysis skills to supplement entry-level competencies in social work practice. They will also learn the skills and strategies to advocate for fair and just policy change within the human services delivery system. The focus of class discussions includes current issues, challenges, and strategies for empowerment in the field of human services. Course Rationale Social workers are subject to social welfare policies that control the fundamental aspects of their clients lives, their work, and their ability to address the complexity of issues they face every day. In order to work successfully with clients and within agencies, communities, and other systems, social workers must be knowledgeable of existing policies that impact the provision of services. They must also understand how these policies impact their clients from the clients perspectives. They need to appreciate how our economic, political, and social structures impact the development and implementation of social welfare policies, as well as how our diverse cultural values and ideologies impact the definition of problems and societal attempts to solve them. Therefore, this course seeks to help students develop skills in research, analysis, communication, client empowerment, civic engagement, and advocacy related to social welfare policy. Course Objectives Upon completion of the course, the student should be able to: * Define and discuss social welfare policy; * Apply a client-centered framework in the analysis of social welfare policies; * Critically assess the relationship between social problems and social policies; * Understand the value premises underlying social welfare policies; * Recognize policy options and the values which support each choice of options.; * Weigh the benefits and costs when considering different policy options; * Understand the history of social welfare policy in the United States and realize its effect on current social policy; * Understand themes and issues pertaining to social work policy that are of particular 1
importance to the profession of social work, such as social and economic justice, poverty, and the historical and current practices of discrimination based on race, gender, class, age, sexual orientation, and disability; * Use the social science and social welfare/social work literature in the analysis of social welfare policy; and * Understand and develop skills in policy practice and advocacy, and understand how to promote client participation in analysis and advocacy activities. Course Structure Course objectives will be addressed through a combination of class lectures and discussions, guest lectures, small group work, in- and out-of-class exercises, media reviews, videotapes, and student presentations. Students will also increase their understanding of the material through library and internet research and analysis. Class Culture All true learning and integration occur in the present tense; in other words, the more one is present, the more one can learn. Students are encouraged to be actively engaged with the material, the instructor, and each other while in class. They are also asked to refrain from texting, web surfing, and instant messaging while in class. The teacher promises to refrain, as well. Students are expected to adhere to EWU s Student Academic Integrity Policy (www.ewu.edu/x4326.xml). Assignments and Expectations Required Reading Text: Segal, Elizabeth A. (2007). Social welfare policy and social programs. Canada: Thomson Brooks/Cole Additional readings will be assigned or distributed. Participation in Class and in Group Work Active engagement and thoughtful communication are crucial to the development of sound professional perspectives on social problems and policy options, and active class participation will enhance analytical and communication skills. Thus an engaged, communicative, and present student will earn full credit for participation. In cases of multiple absences or apathetic disengagement, points will be deducted. (10 points) Mid-Term Examination (February 25) This examination will provide students with an opportunity to demonstrate their understanding of the foundational concepts, issues, and ideas of social welfare policy analysis. It will contain a combination of objective and short-answer essay questions, covering Chapters 1-6 in the textbook. (30 points) 2
Policy Analysis Project A four-part policy analysis project will engage students in the realities of current social problems and societal attempts to address them. This project will be guided by a critical theory model of policy analysis. Students will analyze a social welfare problem and relevant public policy incrementally throughout the course. This method will allow them to explore more fully the policy literature, apply policy analysis skills as they learn them, receive feedback on their skill development throughout the course, and more effectively integrate the theory of policy analysis with their practice. In each assignment, students will engage in policy research and write an analysis no longer than three double-spaced pages and a reference page. Keeping to this requirement will be a good exercise in concise writing. Students will receive additional project parameters from the instructor in class, and some classroom time will be dedicated to exploring the potential for creating learning opportunities in these assignments. Assignment #1: The Social Problem: An Overview Due January 30 (15 points) Research a current social problem and write an analysis that explains the issue from various perspectives, the power imbalances inherent in the issue, and public reactions to this problem. Assignment #2: Relevant Public Policies and Programs Due February 20 (15 points) Research social welfare policies that attempt to impact this problem. Write an analysis that addresses the policies, conflicting values and ideologies, and the implementation of resulting social welfare programs. Assignment #3: Impact of Policies and Programs Due March 5 (15 points) Research the intended and actual impact of these policies and programs. Write an analysis that addresses the costs and benefits, the public expectations of the policy response, and the impact on affected populations. Assignment #4: Policy Advocacy Due March 12 (15 points) Investigate advocacy activities by local, state, or national groups that address this problem. Write an analysis that explores the levels of activity and influence of advocacy efforts, as well as opportunities for involvement for social welfare policy advocates. Grading: 100 points possible Class Participation 10 Mid-term Examination 30 Policy Analysis Project Assignment #1 15 Assignment #2 15 Assignment #3 15 Assignment #4 15 3
Course Outline Week 1 January 7 January 9 Introduction to the course and each other Introduction to American social welfare policy Underlying values and beliefs in social welfare Our major social institutions Read: Chapter 1 Week 2 January 14 January 16 Policy resources: policy literature, source documents Mass media primer Class discussion of policy analysis project Historical foundations of social welfare in America Historical foundations, continued The modern welfare state Video tribute: Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Read: Chapter 2 Week 3 January 21 January 23 Holiday: Celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Conceptual foundations of social welfare policy Current forces impacting social policy Read: Chapter 3 Week 4 January 28 January 30 Institutional context of social welfare Civics review: federalism, branches of our government The delivery of social welfare services Forms of social welfare assistance Read: Chapter 4 Assignment #1 Due 4
Week 5 February 4 Social welfare policy analysis: models and dynamics Read: Chapter 6 February 6 Exercises in social welfare policy analysis Week 6 February 11 February 13 Social justice and civil rights The many faces of oppression Read: Chapter 5 The role of social workers in securing social justice Preparation for Lobby Day in Olympia and in our home districts Week 7 February 18 February 20 ****************Lobby Day in Olympia******************** Presidents Day Holiday: Celebrate by exercising your civic power Lobby Day report by advocates who participated Social workers and clients mobilizing for change Speakers: VOICES Assignment #2 Due Week 8 February 25 Foundational Mid-Term Examination, Chapters 1-6 In-class exercise in social welfare policy analysis February 27 Social insurance Review: Chapter 7 Week 9 March 3 March 5 Poverty and economic inequality Review: Chapter 8 The US economy: employment, budgets, and taxes Review: Chapter 9 Assignment #3 Due 5
Week 10 March 10 March 12 Children and family policy Review: Chapter 10 Health care policy Review: Chapter 11 Aging and social policy Review: Chapter 12 Assignment #4 Due Week 11 March 17 U.S. and international perspectives on social welfare policy Review: Chapter 13 The above requirements and course schedule may be changed to advance course objectives at the discretion of the instructor. 6
SOWK 470: Social Policy Analysis Winter 2008 Bibliography Abramovitz, M. (2001). Everyone is still on welfare: The role of redistribution in social policy. Social Work 46(4): 297-308. Addams, J. (1937). Twenty years at Hull House. New York Macmillan. Addams, J. (1922). Peace and bread in time of war. New York: Macmillan. Berkowitz, E., & McQuaid, K. (1988). Creating the welfare state. 2 nd ed. New York: Praeger. Chapin, R. (1995). Social policy development: The strengths perspective. Social Work. 40(4), 506-514. Chapin, R. & Cox, E. (2001). Changing the paradigm: Strengths-based & empowermentoriented social work with frail elders. Journal of Gerontological Social Work, 6(3/4), 165-180. Children s Defense Fund. (2004). The state of America s children 2004. Washington, DC: Author. The Constitution of the United States. (1986). Washington DC: BiCentenial Productions. Day, P. (2006). A new history of social welfare. 5 th ed. Boston: Allyn and Bacon. Ellwood, D. (2000). Winners and losers in America: Taking measure of the new economic realities. A working nation: Workers, work, and government in the new economy, pp. 1-41. New York: Russell Sage Foundation. Gelb, J., & Palley, M. (1987). Women and public policies. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press. Germain, C. & Hartman, A. (1980). People and ideas in the history of social work practice. Social Casework 61(6):323-331. Gil, D. (1992). Unraveling social policy. 5 th ed. Rochester, VT: Schenkman Books. Haas, P. & Springer, F. (1998). Applied policy research. New York: Garland. Jansson, B. (2005). The reluctant welfare state. 5 th ed. Belmont, CA: Brooks/Cole. Mannes, M. (1995). Factors and events leading to the passage of the Indian Child Welfare Act. Child Welfare LXXIV (1):264-282. 7
Phillips, K. (2002). Wealth and democracy: A political history of the American rich. New York: Broadway Books. Piven, F. & Cloward, R. (1971). Regulating the poor The functions of public welfare. New York: Random House. Polenberg, R. (1980). One nation divisible: Class, race, and ethnicity in the United States since 1938. New York: Penguin Press. Segal, E. & Kilty, K. (2003). Political promises for welfare reform. Journal of Poverty: Innovations on Social, Political, and Economic Inequalities. 7(1,2):51-68. Shipler, D. (2004). The working poor: Invisible in America.New York: Alfred A. Knopf. Trattner, W. (1994). From poor law to welfare state: A history of social welfare in America. 5 th ed. New York: Free Press. Waldfogel, J. (2000). Economic dimensions of social welfare policy. In J. Midgeley, M. Tracy, and M. Livermore (eds.), The Handbook of Social Policy. pp. 27-40. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications. Wilkins, R. (1995). Racism has its privileges. Poverty and Race. 4(3):3-5. 8