Questions : Explain how social workers can be engaged in policymaking to enhance the wellbeing of individuals and families. How could various social work theories, perspectives, or frameworks be used to inform policymaking3 Answer Discussion each 200 word.1.Social workers have helped the government with things such as food stamps and other things to assist the people living below the poverty line. These people need social workers to be a voice for them to receive help. Some families do not have enough food to feed everyone in the family, so they have to find ways to feed the kids but sometimes that means the adults do not eat. Many people cannot afford health insurance, so the government has assistance programs to help with that as well, social workers help work with the clients to help them apply and receive the benefits they need. So social workers are able to assist the public in the macro level by looking at the problem with people needing public assistance, but in order for them to know there needs to be a change to fight for they need to use the micro and mezzo levels to speak to clients (Jansson, 2020). 2. As a social worker we can engage in social welfare policy at micro, mezzo, and macro levels (Jansson, 2020). Working to develop or change policies can be on a smaller scale that will personally affect a social worker’s clients at a local level, to something on a larger scale like state or federal government. Policies impacting social justice can affect multitudes of people who should be entitled to have their needs met and receive assistance, if certain criteria is met. Social workers can advocate for policies that improve the wellness of people by assisting in political campaigns for officials who stand for social justice, speaking to decision-makers about change, identifying needs that aren’t being met, and educating others about the importance of social policies. Social work theories, perspectives, and frameworks can provide important information to policymakers. These tools are used in social work to understand the impact of a client’s environment (ecological perspective) or identify a client’s strengths (strength perspective), or determine critical trajectories in a client’s life (life course perspective) (Hutchison, 2019). This allows a social worker to assess their client and decide the best approach to help them toward physical, mental, and emotional wellness. In the same way, these tools can help policy practitioners and advocates understand the elements in someone’s life that contribute to their circumstances and insure policies are written to address those needs. Social workers learn to identify the needs of groups or organizations and should become involved with policy making by determining initiatives, laws, and actions have previously been effective as well as those that haven’t. As social workers, we can advocate for development and change of policies by assessing, advocating, analyzing, building, and identifying areas of improvement for our clients and the community. Social workers look for issues that impact groups of people and raise awareness, so resources can be found to help those in need. 3. Social workers have a key mission of advocating for social change, especially for vulnerable and oppressed people (National Association of Social Workers, 2019.). They focus on issues such as poverty, unemployment, discrimination, and social injustice. Their goal is to raise awareness and understanding of oppression, and cultural and ethnic diversity, and to ensure that everyone has equal access to information, services, and resources. Social work theories and perspectives, like the ecological systems theory, strengths-based approach, and trauma-informed care, can guide policy development (National Association of Social Workers, 2019). According to the ecological systems theory, people and their environment are closely linked. To help families and individuals, policymakers must create policies that account for the various factors affecting society as a whole (Skene, 2022). This is the second questions :Used the book chapter 3 What ideas do you have for using a social justice approach within the context of social policymaking, social policy implementation, and social policy research/evaluation? Note how you plan to use a social justice approach in your work as a social work professional. Participating in this assessment can earn you participation post credit. Chapter 3 of your text book address the social inequities we in the US experience. Unfortunately, the US leads the world in some some inequities. A focus for me is income disparity and related healthcare accessibility and can be traced back to slavery. When thinking about the US ranking top on this list of social disparities, reflect on: Is this something you were already aware of? What inequities do you think are the most important to address? Why? 1. The ideas that I have for using a social justice approach within the context of social policy implementation, and social policy research/evaluation would be utilized in a variety of ways. However, social justice is the main social work value that is referred to the equitable distribution of resources that society has to offer, which are material goods and social benefits, rights and protection (Hudson, 2017). Although, social justice also encloses procedures equity that is fair in the social, economic, and political spheres. Moreover, according to IFSW, 2012, “Social justice work involves challenging negative discrimination, recognizing diversity, addressing unjust policies and practices, and working in solidarity with others to promote inclusivity” (Hudson, 2017). Social justice also, helps to put less stress on for people who experience poverty and inequality from someone or charity-based that is essential to a centralized authority and makes the social important of the welfare state within a market-driven industrialized society (Hudson, 2017). Therefore, as a social worker I must advocate for my clients in my professional work. My goal is to promote this plan on utilizing the social justice approach by helping to eliminate any poverty, discrimination, addressing issues on homelessness, domestic violence, and substance abuse. I would want to advocate for changes that affect people in the United States and/or world for policies to become better for our future as well as for the well-being of individuals dealing with any barriers/challenges in their lives. I feel ethically that we need to be be able to build a good rapport with everyone in our communities to be able to make any changes to policies if necessary. 2. The social justice approach refers to the provision of equal social, political, economic opportunities and rights (VCU, 2023). When it comes to social class, religion, language, gender etc., there shouldn’t be any kind of discrimination. Therefore, social justice advocates fairness, and equity throughout society. The ideas that I have for using a social justice approach within the context of social policymaking, social policy implementation, and social policy research/evaluation are fairness in healthcare, equal opportunity employment, housing and education (SSC, 2021). I plan to use a social justice approach in my work as a social worker professional by promoting social justice throughout my community, by helping to fight social challenges, and helping to eliminate discrimination such as increasing public awareness of racial injustice and racially motivated violence by officers and authority figures.
American social policy evolved in stages over roughly 270 years if we begin counting in 1750.