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.
My Narrative
Social workers must observe what policies affect the livelihood and well-being of all populations. It requires that one is politically engaged and a global citizen, knowing that policies affect people in a positive or negative way so that the care plan is effective when working with clients. The reason that this is important is because social workers realize that each person is a part of an environment that affects their well-being and livelihood.
This competency challenges me as a social worker to be an active social worker who takes the role of an advocate; an advocate who does not simply observe the economic effects of policies, but the environmental and racial effects it will have on populations.
I will remain committed to this competency by researching policies relating to the agency I am a part of. This will help me understand how policies affect the specific population I am serving.
As a future social worker, I must value the dignity and worth of a person and the society I am working with. I will need to have a lens of integrity so that I am viewing it not in a selfish way but in a way that serves all people.
School Evidence
SOCW-434-Social Welfare Issues in Policy-Policy Brief
This assignment entailed a search for bills that were in the process of being passed. The bill was advocating for Asian-American history to be implemented in school education. After choosing a topic, a fellow classmate and I developed a pamphlet that described what the bill was and why it was important to pass the bill.
This assignment helped me gain the confidence to use my voice and influence to advocate for a bill that aligns with my values of diversity and inclusion. This evidence enhanced my value of the dignity and worth of everyone, because this bill specifically is in favor of representing the history of a group that is often overlooked in history lessons. It helped me develop the skills to first know how to research bills, how to advocate to staffers, and what our government entails.
I chose this for my evidence because I believed that it directly relates to social justice. It helped me realize the intricacies of how bills are passed, but also how accessible meetings with staffers can be. This assignment helped me master this competency because it not only involved researching but also speaking on the behalf of people to achieve the goal of enhancing social justice.
Field Evidence
In my time working in hospice, I often would be hesitant to assist patients with medicare benefits, and would tense up when I heard my field instructor mention medicare related information. I decided to do this project because I did not want to be uncomfortable with the discussion, and know that part of engaging in policy is knowing the policy. This project was intended to inform patients about medicare and to address uncertainties so there is more comfort surrounding the conversation of medicare.
I chose this assignment to master policy because many times policies are written in ways that are confusing or not understood. I believe that this project strengthened my ability to find policies and relay them to people who will benefit from policies. This project allowed me to practice the skills of research and analysis. Research is the initial step, but alaylysis was used to be able to convey the message to people that would benefit their well-being.
Other Evidence Outside of School and Field
I worked alongside the Student Association president to advocate for a policy change. We advocated for the faculty senate to implement a “prep week” which we believed would enhance student morale and grades during finals weeks. I assisted Jared in creating a presentation. I called other SDA universities to gain insight about their “dead weeks”, I emailed professors to come to the meeting in support, and presented it alongside Jared. I believe that this project showcased this competency because it enhanced my confidence to speak about policy change, and also made me aware of the gaps that the university has in place for students’ well-being.
I had to use the social work skills of integrity to collect data that was relating to my cause. This was used to help formulate an initiative that would assist in our mission to aid students’ mental health. This competency relates to the value of service, because this project was intended to serve the student body in my role as a Senator. The presentation slides linked above was designed by the Student Association Secretary, Bridget. Jared and I formulated the presentation points.