Social Work Policy Practice

The second edition of Social Work Policy Practice: Changing Our Community, Nation, and the World demystifies policymaking for social work students and demonstrates why policy practice is a critical dimension of social work. The text provides a comprehensive introduction to political advocacy, the political process, and how laws are enacted to inspire social work students to enter the field with a mind for political advocacy and social justice. The book is divided into three parts. In Part I, students learn a brief history of social welfare legislation in the United States and the role of social workers in policy development. Part II provides concrete information on how policies become law. It includes an overview of the levels and branches of government, in-depth descriptions of the policy change process, and various strategies advocates employ to enact change. Part III consists of real-world stories of advocates and advocacy organizations that have attempted to change policies on behalf of vulnerable populations. This edition includes up-to-date information regarding policy issues in child welfare, aging, healthcare, mental health, poverty and income equality, rights for racial minorities, and immigration. New material addresses policy issues pertaining to gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, and the #MeToo and #BlackLivesMatter social movements. Engaging and accessible, Social Work Policy Practice is an ideal resource for courses that introduce policymaking to students of social work.

A concise overview of the policy practice information social workers need to advocate for policy changes within an organization and at local, state, and national levels Given the nature of their work, social workers must understand social problems and the ways social welfare policies are established. Written by a leading expert in social work policy, Essentials of Social Work Policy Practice presents specific tactics for policy practice as well as instructions on how to implement it at several different organizational and government levels. Focusing on developing skills, Essentials of Social Work Policy Practice is a practical resource that includes step-by-step guidelines for putting a plan into action and working efficiently within a system. Techniques are presented for handling a number of related topics including effective interpersonal communication and participation, utilizing technology and the media in policy practice, creating change within organizations, and many more. As part of the Essentials of Social Work Practice series, this book is an indispensable resource that offers a concise yet thorough overview of policy practice, numerous tips for best practices, and valuable advice that must be at one's fingertips to practice knowledgeably, effectively, and ethically. Each chapter features numerous callout boxes highlighting key concepts, bulleted points, case examples, and extensive illustrative material, as well as vignettes that promote critical thinking around policy practice planning.

Furthering social justice and human rights is a fundamental principle underlying the social work profession. Engaging in social policy formulation processes is a major route through which social workers can realise this goal. This type of social work activity has been termed ‘policy practice’. The aim of this book is to shed light on policy practice in social work discourse, education and practice in eight liberal democracies. This is the first effort to undertake a cross-national study of social worker engagement in social policy formulation processes. The book offers insights into questions such as ‘what is the importance attributed to social worker involvement in policy change in the social work discourse and education in different countries?’ and ‘how do social workers influence social policy in various national settings?’ These issues are relevant to social worker practitioners, students, educators and researchers, as well as to social policy scholars, who are interested in the role of professionals in social policy formulation.

Introduction to Policy Practice shows future social work practitioners how to actively influence policy-making through lobbying, coalition building and running campaigns. It helps them to master social problem analysis and policy analysis and uses theoretical and empirical knowledge for the application of policy practice techniques. Each chapter reflects and integrates the core competencies in the 2008 Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards (EPAS) set by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). End-of-chapter assessment reinforces this integration, and MySocialWorkLab.com activities support the mastery of CSWE's core competencies.

Social Work Policy Practice in Action: Views from the Field bridges the gap between the classroom and real-world practice by providing social work students with video modules that expose them to clients and social workers in a safe and simple, but no less real, environment. The video modules are supplemented by written material and discussion questions that further apply social work concepts to practice and inspire in-depth analysis and critical thinking. The first video module serves as an introduction, inspiring social work students to explore advocacy opportunities and discover their individual passions. Later video modules focus on specific populations or issues, such as poverty, mental illness, the criminal justice system, and more. The videos provide students with concrete depictions of marginalized populations and the complex systems of society and government that can either serve or oppress those individuals. Supplementary written material and discussion questions build upon what students have viewed in the videos, challenging them to think critically about marginalization and oppression, and encouraging them to thoughtfully analyze and advocate for policies that best serve both marginalized individuals and society as a whole. Designed to offer instructors and students an interactive and engaging way to approach social work policy, Social Work Policy Practice in Action is ideal for courses in social work policy, social work, human diversity, sociology, and criminal justice.

Written with a strengths based perspective, this health care text integrates policy, practice, and professionalism for social workers. With its focus on diversity and by using a biopsychosical perspective, Social Work and Health Care teaches students to respect a variety of ways of coping and ways to culturally assess and approach intervention. Students learn about how the individual, and their families and friends are impacted by the loss of health or independence. Numerous examples encourage students to identify with the practicing professional.

The third edition of Social Work Policy Practice: Changing Our Community, Nation, and the World demystifies policymaking for social work students and demonstrates why policy practice is a critical dimension of social work. The text provides a comprehensive introduction to political advocacy and the political process to inspire social work students to enter the field with a mind for advocacy and social justice. The book is divided into three parts. In Part I, students learn a brief history of social welfare legislation in the United States and the role of social workers in policy development. Part II includes an overview of the levels and branches of government, in-depth descriptions of the policy change process, and various strategies advocates employ to enact change. Part III consists of real-world stories of advocates and advocacy organizations that have attempted to change policies on behalf of vulnerable populations in a wide range of social work fields such as healthcare, mental health, children and families, aging, immigration, and civil rights. This edition features updated policy changes throughout all chapters including fresh material on social movements, such as #MeToo and #BlackLivesMatter, and the impacts of the Trump presidency and the coronavirus pandemic on social welfare policy. Engaging and accessible, Social Work Policy Practice is an ideal resource for courses that introduce policymaking to undergraduate and graduate students of social work.