SOCIAL WORK 611: Social Welfare Policy I: Policy is Practice
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Course Description
The course covers the foundations of social welfare policies and programs within the context of significant issues, events and values of the general society. Consideration is given to the differential impact of social welfare policy on diverse populations, particularly populations at risk. The course emphasizes Social Work as a policy based profession with concentration on the policy system from a micro, mezzo and macro perspective.
This course evaluates the impact of racism, sexism, and classism and other “isms”. Students will practice responding in a professional manner, influencing, changing, and practicing policy to increase fairness, equality, and social and economic justice.
Prerequisites
Admission to the Graduate Program in Social Work or permission of instructor.
Educational Objectives
Upon completion of this course, students will be able to:
1. critically assess the historical events, values and concepts influencing contemporary social welfare policies and service;
2. examine the history of social welfare policies and social services as they are developed and are implemented in society;
3. evaluate the impact of public social welfare policies on small-scale agency policies, the dynamical interaction between the internal and external organizational environment and the response of Social Work as a profession;
4. compare and analyze over time common social issues and the varied responses to them, including consideration of the ethical issues underlying such responses; and
5. critically analyze contextual issues and the relationship between social welfare policies and socio-economic, cultural and political dynamics in general society, on a micro, mezzo and macro level;
6. respond critically to the impact that racism, sexism, classism, and other “isms” have in society and how it impacts the development and implementation of social welfare policy
7. evaluate the impact of social welfare policies on diverse segments of society, particularly populations-at-risk.