Full Description
All social work practice, from intervention to how payments or reimbursements are made, is regulated by social policies. Professionals, however, cannot arbitrarily select which policy to follow in any circumstance; knowing what comprises a given policy is essential, but equally important is understanding how to amend a policy by applying unique skills that reflect the social work profession's shared values and beliefs. Recognizing that a series of interdependentsocial policies govern every aspect of social work in both nonprofit and public organizations, this practice-specific textbook focuses on influencing social policies in an agency setting or through formal governmental processes. The Handbook for Policy Practice explores a wide range of topics that are critical tools in every social worker's policy practice repertoire: * Recognizing the various social justice theories and their role in social policy.* Understanding critical thinking as a practice skill.* Social media as a practice tool.* Preparing and presenting testimony to a legislative committee or group of people. * Formulating a clear, well-focused written policy brief for a Board of Directors or legislative committee.* Organizing policy specific advocacy activities including a public forum, social work day at the legislature, and voter registration projects.* The "30-second elevator speech."* Writing newspaper "op-eds" and "letters to the editor." Purposefully, the Handbook also relies on information comes from the digital world. Using the web as a primary source builds on the social work profession's long-held belief to begin where the client is. Using the links to the various data and citation sources, readers will learn to identify and discern the features of a valid web site. As a whole, this book is an essential resource for all BSW and MSW students.
Contents
PART 1Introduction to PART 1Chapter One - Social Policy and Social Work: An OverviewChapter Two - Recognizing the Underpinnings of Social Policy and Social Welfare PolicyChapter Three - Justice Theory and the Social Work Profession: Is This Fair and JustChapter Four - Critical Thinking: The Key to Policy PracticeChapter Five - Contours of AnalysisPART 2: The Making of Social PoliciesIntroduction to PART 2Chapter Six - Federal Government-Based Policy DevelopmentChapter Seven - State and Local Government-Based Policy DevelopmentChapter Eight - Agency Based Policy DevelopmentPART 3: Impacting the Policy Making ProcessIntroduction to PART 3Chapter Nine - Policy Practice Strategies, Tactics, and TechniquesChapter Ten - Social Media, Info Sheets, and Other Tools for Effective CommunicationPART 4: Not the End but the BeginningIntroduction to PART 4Chapter Eleven - Glossary of Policy Practice Related TermsChapter Twelve - Final ThoughtsAppendicesAppendix 1 - Congressional Caucuses, 115th CongressAppendix 2 - Example of Federal Register Call for Proposed Rules ChangeAppendix 3 - Social Workers in Congress, 114th Congress and Social Workers in State and Local OfficesAppendix 4 - Examples of Op-Eds Written by Social WorkersAppendix 5: Op-ed and Letters to the Editor Guidelines, 100 On-line and Print PublicationsAppendix 6: Example of Policy Issue BriefIndex
