9780205223077

Demonstrates why policy-making is a critical and exciting dimension of social work practice. Social Work Policy Practiceengages students by showing how the mission of social justice and the person-in-environment perspective sets social work apart from other helping professions in the United States. Part of the Connecting Core Competencies Series, this text introduces students to social work policy practice in the United States and describes how policies are enacted into law as well as how to engage in policy practice. It includes compelling stories of advocates, activists, and organizations who try to make change in the political and/or legal arenas on behalf of vulnerable populations. The final chapters of the text focus on the economics that surround the policy change process and take a look toward the future. Upon completing this book readers will be able to: Understand the importance of social work policy practice Describe how social work policies are made into law Engage in policy practice Note:MySearchLab does not come automatically packaged with this text. To purchase MySearchLab, please visit:www.mysearchlab.comor you can purchase a ValuePack of the text + MySearchLab (at no additional cost): ValuePack ISBN-10: 0205223079 / ValuePack ISBN-13: 9780205223077.

Jessica A. Ritter, Ph.D., MSSW, BSW is an Associate Professor of Social Work at Pacific University Oregon where she directs the undergraduate social work program. Dr. Ritter completed her BSW, MSSW, and doctorate in Social Work at the University of Texas at Austin. Her social work career has been dedicated to the field of child welfare and work on behalf of vulnerable children and families. She co-authored a chapter on child welfare policy in Dr. Diana DiNitto’s book, Social Welfare: Politics and Public Policy, 7th edition. Her current research is focused on evaluating the political participation and political advocacy efforts of social workers, and she has published in this area. Dr. Ritter is a Fulbright Scholar, which enabled her to conducted research on social work policy practice in Gothenburg, Sweden during the fall of 2011. She teaches a range of social work courses in the social work program at Pacific University including Principles of Social Work, Social Work Research Methods, Macro Social Work, and Social Policy & Social Justice. Professor Ritter is the author of the book 101 Careers in Social Work, which provides a current examination and description of the multitude of careers paths that are available to those with a degree in social work. She serves as the Chair of the Legislative Committee for the Oregon Chapter of NASW where she works with others to impact legislation at the state level. Jessica’s passion within social work is social welfare policy, cultivating strong political advocacy skills among social work students and encouraging them to explore this side of macro social work practice.

Found in this Section:

1. Brief Table of Contents

2. Full Table of Contents

1. BRIEF TABLE OF CONTENTS

PART I

Chapter 1: Policy Practice: The Hidden Side of Social Work

Chapter 2: Evolution of Social Welfare Legislation in the U.S.

Chapter 3: The Role of ‘Values’ in the Political Arena

Part II

Chapter 4: Social Workers in Action: The Six Stages of the Policy Change Process

Chapter 5: When Wearing Buttons Isn’t Enough

Part III

Chapter 6: Health Care Policies and Programs

Chapter 7: Mental Health Advocacy Mental illness

Chapter 8: From Civil Rights to Immigrant Rights

Chapter 9: Child Welfare and Children’s Rights

Chapter 10: The Controversy over End-of-Life Policies

Chapter 11: Using the Judicial System to affect change

Part IV

Chapter 12: The Politics of Economics

Chapter 13: A look to the future

2. FULL TABLE OF CONTENTS

PART I

Chapter 1: Policy Practice: The Hidden Side of Social Work

Social work’s commitment to social justice

The debate between the micro changers and the macro changers

Has social work abandoned its mission of social justice?

Are social workers adequately prepared for policy work?

Is all social work political?

What exactly is policy practice?

Social welfare policy

Are social workers active enough politically?

Being the voice of the voiceless

Can all problems be solved with legislation?

Work settings for social workers engaged in policy practice

Practice Test

MySearchLab Connections

Chapter 2: Evolution of Social Welfare Legislation in the U.S.

The Settlement House Movement (late 1800s)

Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s (FDR) New Deal

Lyndon B. Johnson’s Great Society and War on Poverty

The Rise of Conservatism and the Decline of Social Responsibility

Practice Test

MySearchLab Connections

Chapter 3: The Role of ‘Values’ in the Political Arena

It’s all about values

American values

Political ideology

Why can’t liberals and conservatives get along?

Religion & politics

Neo-liberalism

Think Tanks

Political Parties in the U.S.

The tea party movement

Occupy Wall Street

Are all social workers liberal?

Practice Test

MySearchLab Connections

Part II

Chapter 4: Social Workers in Action: The Six Stages of the Policy Change Process

Who makes policy in the U.S.?

Policy making settings in the U.S.

Civics 101: Levels and branches of government

The Federal government

State government

Local government

Six stages of the policy change process

Problem definition stage

Agenda setting

Policy formulation

Passage of the policy

Policy implementation

Evaluating the policy change

Final Thoughts

Practice Test

MySearchLab Connections

Chapter 5: When Wearing Buttons Isn’t Enough

Opportunities for Social Work Students

Volunteering your time

Join an Organization

Influencing Legislation

Fundraising

How Do I Find the Time to Volunteer?

Career options in the political arena

Executive Director of an Advocacy Organization

Policy Staff (related titles: Policy Director/Policy Associate/Policy Analyst)

Public Affairs Director or Public Affairs Staff

Lobbyist (contract vs. on-staff)

Legislative Staff

Consider Running for Office

Practice Test

MySearchLab Connections

Part III

Chapter 6: Health Care Policies and Programs

What is the problem?

Overview of major government funded healthcare programs in the U.S.

What is single-payer health care?

The mad as hell doctors tour

Heath insurance reform under President Obama

The conservative response to health care reform (“obamaCare”)

The patient protection and affordable care act

Practice Test

MySearchLab Connections

Chapter 7: Mental Health Advocacy Mental illness

Timeline of mental health advocacy in the U.S.

Mental health parity

How the Paul Wellstone and Pete Domenici mental health parity and addiction equality act was passed into law

Phase i: first parity law in passed (small step forward)

Phase ii: stagnation due to political opposition from the Republican Party

Phase iii: true parity is finally achieved

Practice Test

MySearchLab Connections

Chapter 8: From Civil Rights to Immigrant Rights

Laws and court cases outlawing discrimination

Immigration

Illegal immigration

Advocates of comprehensive immigration reform

Opponents of comprehensive immigration reform

What now?

Arizona’s support our law enforcement and safe neighborhoods act (SB 1070)

What is the dream act?

Who supports the dream act?

Who opposes the dream act?

What strategies have been used to get it passed into law?

Papers, stories of undocumented youth (the movie)

What is the current status of the dream act?

Practice Test

MySearchLab Connections

Chapter 9: Child Welfare and Children’s Rights

Child maltreatment in the U.S.

Child welfare legislation

What is the un convention on the rights of the child?

International human rights treaties

The controversy over the CRC in the United States

What is the problem that the CRC is addressing?

Poverty & Hunger

Child Abuse & Neglect

Infant mortality

Health

Why has the U.S. failed to ratify the CRC?

The emergence of the campaign for the ratification of the CRC

What is the current status of the U.N. CRC in the U.S.?

Case example: social work students at pacific university Oregon. Think globally, act locally

State level child welfare advocacy efforts

Educational stability of foster youth

Supporting relative caregivers of children in foster care

Final Thoughts

Practice Test

MySearch Lab Connections

Chapter 10: The Controversy over End-of-Life Policies

Policies affecting older adults

The social security program

End-of-life policies

The death with dignity act

What was the impetus behind the death with dignity act?

What is the death with dignity act?

The controversy over the death with dignity act

How the death with dignity act became law

Oregon’s death with dignity act

Washington state’s death with dignity act

How the act was passed

I. A coalition is formed

II. Official campaign is launched

III. The Death with Dignity Act is certified for the ballot

IV. Money is raised

V. Allies lend their support and endorse the Campaign

VI. Media campaign & the importance of framing the issue

The opposition

Next steps for the death with dignity movement

Practice Test

MySearchLab Connections

Chapter 11: Using the Judicial System to affect change

Social work & legal practice

Disability advocates versus the state of New York

The fight over marriage equality in California (proposition 8)

Children’s rights: working to reform the nation’s failing child welfare systems

NASW legal defense fund

Jaffee v Redmond (1996)

In re Matter of Adoption of X.X.G. and N.R.G.

Graham v. Florida (2010)

Kennedy v Louisiana (2008)

Overview of the U.S. judicial system

Federal judiciary

The Federal Circuit Court of Appeals

The Federal District Courts

State Supreme Courts, state appeals courts, state courts

The United States Supreme Court

State Supreme Courts

State Court of Appeals

State Trial Courts and Specialty Courts

Final thoughts

Practice Test

MySearchLab Connections

Part IV

Chapter 12: The Politics of Economics

Political economy

Revenues (“taxes 101”)

Progressive versus regressive taxation

Taxes---who carries the burden?

Spending

Funding for federal programs

Why is the U.S. government in debt?

State budgets

American excpetionalism or welfare exceptionalism?

Policies that promote poverty reduction

Practice Test

MySearchLab Connections

Chapter 13: A look to the future

Hot button political issues on the horizon of interest to social work

Immigration

Older adults and aging

Equal rights for LGBT individuals

Returning veterans

Poverty & income inequality

The welfare of children

Reforming government so that it operates in the interest of the people

Getting government to invest in the social work profession

What are the biggest problems facing the social work profession?

Overview of the social work reinvestment act (SWRA)

What strategies have been used by the answer coalition to pass the SWRA?

What have been the biggest barriers to passage of the SWRA?

All social work is political

Practice Test

MySearchLab Connections

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Social Work Policy Practice Changing Our Community, Nation, and the World Plus MySearchLab -- Access Card Package

Social Work Policy Practice Changing Our Community, Nation, and the World Plus MySearchLab -- Access Card Package

0205223079

Summary

Author Biography

Table of Contents

Supplemental Materials

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