Competency 5: Engage in Policy Practice
Social workers identify social policy at the local, state, federal, and global level that affects well- being, human rights and justice, service delivery, and access to social services. Social workers recognize the historical, social, racial, cultural, economic, organizational, environmental, and global influences that affect social policy. Social workers understand and critique the history and current structures of social policies and services and the role of policy in service delivery through rights- based, anti-oppressive, and anti-racist lenses. Social workers influence policy formulation, analysis, implementation, and evaluation within their practice settings with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities. Social workers actively engage in and advocate for anti-racist and anti-oppressive policy practice to effect change in those settings.
Social workers:
a. use social justice, anti-racist, and anti-oppressive lenses to assess how social welfare policies affect the delivery of and access to social services; and
b. apply critical thinking to analyze, formulate, and advocate for policies that advance human rights and social, racial, economic, and environmental justice.
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Engaging in policy practice holds personal significance to me, especially concerning troubled young adults. Policies play a critical role in shaping the support systems and opportunities available to this demographic, influencing their paths toward stability and success. As someone passionate about advocating for the well-being of troubled young adults, I see policy practice as a means to address the systemic issues that contribute to their challenges and to advocate for comprehensive support systems that meet their diverse needs.
In the future, I envision myself actively engaging with policymakers and community stakeholders to influence policies that directly impact troubled young adults. This involves staying informed about current policy issues affecting this group, conducting research to understand their unique circumstances, and advocating for evidence-based solutions that prioritize their well-being. Additionally, I recognize the importance of amplifying the voices of troubled young adults themselves in policy discussions, ensuring that their lived experiences and perspectives shape the policies that affect them.
By applying a research-informed approach to policy practice, I aim to advocate for policies that provide troubled young adults with access to mental health support, educational opportunities, housing assistance, and other vital services. This commitment reflects my personal belief in the power of policy advocacy to create positive change in the lives of troubled young adults, helping them overcome obstacles and achieve their full potential.
Evidences:
Policy Brief- S. 1409 Kids Online Safety Act
SOCW-434-Social Welfare Issues in Policy
I worked on a proposal for the S. 1409 Kids Online Safety Act, suggesting the inclusion of a trust fund for child influencers. The bill aims to enhance online safety for minors with measures like transparency, independent audits, research funding, and age verification improvements. While it prioritizes the protection of minors, there are concerns about compliance challenges, potential stifling of innovation, and privacy issues. My proposal suggests creating a Child Earnings Protection Fund, specifying the age of consent for online presence, and implementing mandatory privacy settings, aligning with the values of prioritizing children’s well-being on the internet.
This assignment provided an opportunity to look into the S. 1409 Kids Online Safety Act, helping others to understand complexities surrounding online safety for minors. Studying the pros and cons of the bill improved my understanding of the challenges in advancing human rights, social justice, and protecting vulnerable populations. The process of proposing amendments, such as the Child Earnings Protection Fund and mandatory privacy settings, grounded my skills in advocating for policies and values of advancing human rights and social, racial, and economic justice to address systemic issues within the university community.
I selected this assignment as evidence because it presented a scenario where I could advocate for human rights and justice in the context of online safety for minors. Proposing amendments required me to consider the implications by addressing systemic issues and suggesting solutions. This assignment represents my commitment to advancing human rights and social, racial, economic, and environmental justice.
FERPA Certification and Chaplain Correspondence
Practicum
For my FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act) certification, I completed an online training program designed to educate individuals on the federal law governing student educational records’ privacy. Throughout the training, I covered topics such as student privacy rights, protocols for releasing student records, and the responsibilities educational institutions have under FERPA.
I communicated with a dorm chaplain using my FERPA training to ask for help when I visited students in the dorm to check on their well-being and provide general emotional support. I informed her that unless she received FERPA training, I could not discuss anything with her. I gave her access to the link. I gave her a detailed explanation of the best practices for protecting student information once she sent me her evidence of completion.
I chose this experience to as a proof of this competency because it showcases my understanding of privacy laws in a practical setting. By ensuring the dorm chaplain completed FERPA training before discussing student information, I respected students’ privacy rights. By offering guidance on protecting student information, I actively complied with privacy standards. This experience is a physical evidence of this competency in engaging in policies to protect student privacy and participating in best practices within educational settings.
Debate on SSP’s and SIS’s
Social Welfare Issues in Policy SOCW-434-A
This assignment facilitated the development of knowledge, skills, and values related to policy practice in social work. Through extensive research and analysis of relevant literature and data, I gained a deeper understanding of the role of policy in addressing complex public health issues such as substance abuse and addiction. Additionally, engaging in the debate required critical thinking, communication, and advocacy skills essential for effective policy practice.
I chose this assignment as evidence for competency in policy practice because it provided a practical opportunity to engage directly with policy issues relevant to social work practice. By participating in the debate and advocating for evidence-based harm reduction strategies, I demonstrated my ability to analyze policy implications, articulate informed arguments, and advocate for policies that promote the well-being of individuals and communities. This assignment helped me develop mastery of this competence by challenging me to apply theoretical knowledge and research skills to real-world policy debates and advocating for policies aligned with social work values and principles. Engaging in constructive dialogue with peers and responding to counter arguments further my ability to effectively communicate and advocate for policy change.
Competency Five
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