Competency 5: Engage in Policy Practice
Social workers understand the environmental, economic, organizational, racial, cultural, social, and historic influences on social policy. Social workers identify social policy at all government levels that affects well-being, human rights and justice, service delivery, and access to social services. Social workers use their knowledge of influential factors on social policy and the impacts of social policy on human rights to critique, engage in, and advocate for anti-racist and anti-oppressive policies to create effective change. Social workers understand that micro and mezzo social work informs policy formulation, analysis, implementation, and evaluation.
Demonstrated Skills & Project Examples
Advocacy
This paper demonstrates an analysis of a new bill to be implemented that had the potential to affect childrens outcomes in the child-welfare system. This advocacy letter was sent out to my representatives to help them understand the possible impacts should this bill have been implemented.
Research Analysis and Policy Implications
This presentation demonstrates a group project analyzing current system functioning and how existing beareacratic systems contribute to oppression in relation to incarceration. This presentation explores how oppressive systems contribute to poverty and how poverty leads to incarceration. explores how a lack of access to education is correlated with recidivism rates, and explores re-entry challenges, and provides policy recommendations based on current research and existing programs that have been successful in reducing recidivism.
Policy Analysis
This paper demonstrates an analysis of a current policy used to create standards for foster care caseworkers to follow for youth aging out of foster care. This paper explores policy guidelines and purpose, explores this policy's alignment with NASW values, and evaluates strengths and weaknesses of the policy.
Impact Analysis & Key Insights
Reflection on Practice: The integration of Competency 5 into my professional practice has been transformative. I am passionate about systems change and my education over the past two years has supported me to develop skills to analyze and evaluate current policy to understand it's impacts on communities and client populations.
Future Implications: Long-term, I would like to learn more about how social workers can advocate for policy change appropriately within internal systems.