Laura Pedrick is the Special Assistant to the Provost at the University of Wisconsin- Milwaukee, where she oversees the University’s online and blended programs. She serves as co-chair of the University’s Online Program Council, directs the seed funding program for new online programs, and is project manager of UWM’s Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Next Generation Learning Challenge grant. She is also a co-principal investigator on a large-scale Institute of Education Sciences-funded study of self-paced online learning. Laura is a co-author of Policy Practice for Social Workers: New Strategies for a New Era published by Pearson/Allyn & Bacon. Her background is in mass communication, and she holds a master's degree in journalism from the University of Minnesota.

Introduction

About the book

About the chapter

Policy practice at the core of social work

Experiences of three social workers

Vignette #1

Vignette #2

Vignette #3

Person-in-environment perspective in generalist practice

The relationship of policy practice to micro practice

Defining policy practice

Multiple definitions of policy practice and advocacy

Conceptualizing policy practice in action

Settings and environmental levels within the policy practice arena

Interactivity of environmental levels and settings

Foundations of policy practice in generalist practice

Five policy practice principles
Strategic use of power

The social work perspective on policy practice

Application of generalist practice skills to policy practice

Engagement skills

Assessment skills

Communication skills

Problem solving skills

Networking and collaborating skills

Relevance of generalist practice perspectives

Commitment to and belief in the possibility of change

Commitment for the long haul

Passion for social justice and empowerment

Systems perspective in understanding issues

Ability to find common ground in disputes and disagreements

A recommitment to policy practice

Preparing for policy practice roles

Conclusion

End of chapter resources

Main points

Discussion questions and exercises

Internet resources

Additional Readings

CHAPTER 2 History of Policy Practice in Social Work

Introduction

Historical roots in social works dual focus

Jane Addams at Hull House

Charity organization societies

Progressive era reforms

Social work’s first retreat from policy practice

Depression and the New Deal

Second retreat from activism by the profession

Social reforms in the 1960s

Social workers doing policy practice–some efforts of the last forty years

Today’s social workers in policy practice

Looking at future policy practice

Conclusion

End of chapter resources

Main points

Discussion questions and exercises

Internet resources

Additional readings

CHAPTER 3 The Politics of Policy Practice

Introduction

Civic and social responsibility

The evolution of U.S. political parties

Political ideologies and U.S. political parties

Conservatives

Traditional conservatives

Economic conservatives

Social conservatives

Neoconservatives

Liberals

Pragmatic liberals

Humanistic liberals

Blue Dog democrats

New democrats

Progressive democrats

Conclusion—Republican or Democrat

End of chapter resources

Main points

Discussion questions and exercises

Internet resources

Additional readings

CHAPTER 4 The Forces that Move and Shape Policy

Defining policy

Types of public policy

Policy formation

Social institutions

Political economy

Political forces

Political agendas

The media

Economic forces

Economic theories

How fair in the economy?

The social welfare system in a democratic-capitalist political economy
End of chapter resources

Main points

Discussion questions and exercises

Internet resources

Additional readings

CHAPTER 5 Ethics in Policy Practice

Introduction
Ethical frameworks for policy practice
Boundaries of ethical policy practice

Boundary: The NASW code of ethics

Boundary: NASW standards for advocacy and political action

Boundary: Laws

Boundary: Societal norms and personal beliefs

Ethical decision making: Application

Application of the model

Conclusion

End of chapter resources

Main points

Discussion questions and exercises

Internet resources

Additional readings

CHAPTER 6 Entering the Policy Practice Arena

Introduction

Case study

Ecology of policy practice across policy settings

Overview of social worker roles in policy practice

Social work careers in policy practice

Executive settings

Elected executive

Appointed executive policy maker

Role of agency board in making policy

Advisor/staff to policy maker

Agency policy making at the direct service worker level

the case for street level bureaucrat

Legislative setting

Legislative policy maker

Legislative assistant/constituent services

Judicial settings

Expert witness

Amicus curae briefs

Consultants in judge education programs

Elected judge

Advocate in judge appointment processes

Community settings

Campaign director or worker on a campaign

Part-time or volunteer policy advocate

Lobbyist

Research/policy analysis positions

Policy practitioner/educator

Grassroots organizer of community groups

Policy practice roles for direct service practitioners

Informal opportunities to be a policy advocate

Policy practice by professional associations

Conclusion

End of chapter resources

Main points

Discussion questions and exercises

Internet resources

Additional readings

CHAPTER 7 The Media and Public Opinion in Policy Practice

Introduction

The basics

Understanding the news media

Working with the news media

Communication strategies for policy campaigns

Summary model

New media advocacy

Email

Advocacy web sites

Blogs

Podcasts

Evaluating advocacy communication

Conclusion

End of chapter resources

Main points

Discussion questions and exercises

Internet resources

Additional readings

CHAPTER 8 The Stages of Policy Making: Integrating Knowledge and Action

Introduction

Social workers as policy makers

Approaches to policy making

Rational model

Political model

Incremental model

The policy making process

Stage one: Problem identification and case finding

Stage two: Data collection and analysis

Stage three: Informing the public and identifying stakeholders

Stage four: Selecting policy options and developing policy goals

Stage five: Building public support and developing coalitions

Stage six: Program design

Stage seven: Policy implementation

Stage eight: Policy evaluation

Conclusion

End of chapter resources

Main points

Discussion questions and exercises

Internet resources

Additional readings

CHAPTER 9 Social Problem and Policy Analysis: An Ethic of Care Approach

Introduction

Theoretical analysis

Budget analysis

Value perspectives: Adequacy, equity, and equality

Ethic of care values: Collaboration, inclusion, interdependence

Policy interventions: Preventive, alleviative, and curative interventions

Social problem analysis

The usefulness of social problem analysis

Policy analysis

An ethic of care policy analysis framework

Elements of care

Attentiveness

Responsibility

Competence

Responsiveness

Integration of care

The framework

Application of the model

Conclusion

End of chapter resources

Main points

Discussion questions and exercises

Internet resources

Additional readings

CHAPTER 10 The Legislative Process, Interest Groups, and Lobbying

Introduction

The legislative process

Advocacy roles in the legislative process

Identify and frame an issue

Assess and analyze data

Generate a proposal

Develop, support, and present the proposal

The conference committee

Monitoring, rule making and implementation

Ongoing monitoring to detect changes in need

Defining interest groups

Theoretical approaches to understanding interest groups

The recent growth on interest groups

Roles of interest groups in U.S political and economic contexts

Sources of power

Money

Endorsements

Information/expertise in areas of specialization

Lobbying

Ethical lobbying

Social work as lobbyists

How to lobby

Talking points

Letter writing and emails

Testimony

Involvement of clients in the advocacy effort

Conclusion

End of chapter resources

Main points

Discussion questions and exercises

Internet resources

 Additional readings

CHAPTER 11Building a Coalition to Create Change

Introduction

Forming coalitions

Defining coalitions

Advantages and drawbacks to coalition membership

Identifying likely allies to form coalitions

Have some problem or broad goals in mind

Recruitment strategies

Generating the agenda for inclusion

Finding common ground

Continuing to expand the circle by inviting others to attend

Meetings

Integrating new members

Coalition developmental stages

Build the group’s expertise

Develop an identity

Engage participants in action

Involving members in the organizational structure

Meeting the challenges in coalitions

Handling disagreement

Sharing power

Staying organized

Raising funds

Creating ongoing networks of influence—Moving from ad hoc to ongoing

Characteristics of successful coalitions

Importance of coalition leadership

Celebrate the small victories and have fun as part of the process

Conclusion

End of chapter resources

Main points

Discussion questions and exercises

Internet resources

Additional readings

CHAPTER 12 Campaigns

Introduction

Overview of campaign process

Resources

Staffing

Media

Campaign roles for social workers

Campaign roles for the social work profession

Laws and ethics of campaigning

Campaign finance reform

Conclusion

End of chapter resources

Main points

Discussion questions and exercises

Internet resources

Additional readings

CHAPTER 13 Evaluating Policy Implementation and Outcomes

Introduction

The rulemaking process

Rulemaking case example

A note about the budget process

Privatizing eligibility in Indiana: Case study in implementation challengesand need for evaluation

Types of evaluation

The context of policy and program evaluation

Welfare reform policy evaluation case example

Evaluation resources

Common questions for program/policy evaluation

Conclusion

End of chapter resources

Main points

Discussion questions and exercises

Internet resources

Additional readings

CHAPTER 14 A Vision for Political Empowerment

Introduction

Opportunities

A new era

New strategies

Challenges

Overcoming cynicism

Countering the upsurge in hate groups

Thinking globally

Making a difference in your corner of the world

End of chapter resources

Main points

Discussion questions and exercises

Internet resources

Additional readings

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