Let me know if you have thoughts about the the last class session. See the Google doc below.

Unit Introduction and What You Will Learn

Week six is asynchronous, with no in-person class session. In Edin and Shaefer (2016), you will read about the challenges faced by communities and families in extreme poverty, and there is a forum to share additional examples. The reading from Linquiti (2022) shares two lenses that can be used to analyze policy, including equity and economics. There are forums to discuss the content of the textbook and consider how you can apply the content to your policy analysis. Students submit one of the key assignments for SOWK 588, the policy analysis paper, providing an opportunity for you to demonstrate skill at assessing policy.

The learning objectives this week include:

• Describe the lived experiences of individuals and families facing extreme poverty.
• Apply the equity and economic lenses from Linquiti’s policy framework to analyze social policies affecting marginalized populations.
• Critically examine policy issues using ethical and human rights standards, including the NASW Code of Ethics and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
• Demonstrate competency in policy analysis by completing and submitting the Policy Analysis Paper, integrating theory, values, research, and practice to assess real-world policies.

Unit Assignments

Read

• Edin and Shafer (2016) Chapter 5: A World Apart
• Linquiti (2022) Chapter 8: The Equity Lens
• Linquiti (2022) Chapter 9: The Economic Lens

A-01 Weekly Online Discussion Forum

The expectation is that each of your replies will be substantive and provide meaningful perspectives, contributing to the forum’s conversation and scholarship. They can be related to the prompts or building on conversations shared by peers. There are five forums for this week, and you are expected to make at least three replies across any of the forums. There are less required then expected because I want to give you space to also focus on your policy papers and I have posted them later then I hoped. These forums include the following:

• Glimpses of a World Apart invites you to share stories or media that depict people living in deep poverty, helping us consider lives vastly different from our own.
• In Chapter Eight Discussion Questions, you’ll respond to one or more prompts focused on equity, justice, and the real-world implications of public policy.
• The Lens of Equity and Reflecting on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights forum offers a space to connect your policy topic to ethical and human rights frameworks.
• In Chapter Nine Discussion Questions, you’ll weigh in on economic concepts like market power, efficiency, and cost-benefit analysis in the context of public policy.
• Economic Lens and Policy Analysis gives you the chance to examine your policy topic through an economic lens, while also considering the limitations of efficiency-based approaches.

A-02a Policy Analysis Paper

Meta: Points 200 points (30% of final grade); Deadline is due no later than 08:00 AM on Monday 07/07/25; Completion file upload to Anthology through MyHeritage Assignments; Locations Assignment Description and Rubric and Assignment Submission

Purpose: The Policy Analysis Paper is designed to enable students to demonstrate the skills necessary to understand and analyze social issues through the lens of policy and advocacy. They will need to engage in value-driven, advanced social policy practice through integrating theory, diversity, practice, results, and outcomes.

Task: Students will complete a policy analysis paper exploring a current social issue that impacts a marginalized and or oppressed population. The final paper should include at least the following sections:

• Identification and Research of Social Issue and Policy: Select a current social issue and a specific related policy (e.g., immigration law, welfare reform). Analyze how the issue and policy affect marginalized and oppressed populations. Research and describe how the policy operates across different system levels (e.g., local, state, tribal, federal). Use evidence and data to inform the identification of challenges and potential solutions.
• Ethical and Human Rights Analysis: Summarize the key issues and findings of your analysis. Review how the social construction of the target population influences the design and implementation of the policy. Compare the policy to both the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the NASW Code of Ethics, identifying areas of alignment or conflict and specific rights or principles that are upheld or violated.
• Application of Social Policy Theory: Use a social policy theory (e.g., political economy, social construction, cost-benefit, feminist theory, critical race theory, etc.) to examine the policy. Discuss how the policy affects individuals, families, groups, communities, and organizations. Support your analysis and the theory description with scholarly research.
• Policy Alternatives and Advocacy Recommendations: Present two or more policy alternatives. Evaluate how well each aligns with ethical standards and human rights principles. Clearly propose a policy adjustment and outline a realistic strategy for legislative advocacy and justice-based reform.

Success: A successful submission will demonstrate students’ ability to analyze social policy and promote social justice with a clear focus on how marginalized and oppressed populations are impacted across local, state, tribal, and federal levels. The paper will reflect the integration of scholarship to understand the social challenges and potential solutions. Students will provide a basis for social policy theory, describe it, and engage in meaningful discussions relating it to social policy. Students’ papers will be well-organized, demonstrating high-quality work and following the assignment expectations.

Policy Analysis Paper and Competency 2 Practice Behaviors Rubric

The Policy Analysis Paper and Competency 2 Practice Behaviors Rubric assesses students’ ability to critically examine a current social issue and its related policy across multiple system levels, with a focus on how marginalized and oppressed populations are impacted. The rubric assesses students’ advanced policy practice skills (e.g., ability to gather and synthesize relevant data, apply ethical reasoning, and analyze policy through theoretical frameworks). It also measures the depth of students’ engagement with human rights standards and professional social work values. High-quality submissions will demonstrate scholarly rigor using APA formatting and follow the assignment expectations.

Competency 2: Advance Human Rights and Social, Racial, Economic, and Environmental Justice

a. Utilize policy analysis skills to inform policy formulation practices and policy implementation effects on oppressed and marginalized populations, including rural and tribal communities.
b. Organize legislative policy advocacy with individuals, families, groups, communities, and organizations to advance human rights and social, economic, and environmental justice.

Description	Initial	Emerging	Developed	Highly Developed
Identify and research of a social issue and policy.	The social issue and applicable policy are not clearly identified, with minimal or no examination of how they affect marginalized and oppressed communities. Demonstrates minimal understanding of policy at system levels. Lacks sufficient research and evidence to inform potential solutions and challenges.	The social issue and applicable policy are identified, but there is limited examination of their impact on marginalized and oppressed communities. Demonstrates a limited understanding of policy at 2–3 levels. Provides limited research and evidence to inform potential challenges and solutions.	The social issue and applicable policy are identified and examined, with some focus on how they affect marginalized and oppressed populations. Demonstrates a fair understanding of policy at 3–4 levels. Requires more research and evidence to better inform potential challenges and solutions.	The social issue and applicable policy are clearly and skillfully identified and examined, with a strong focus on their impact on marginalized and oppressed populations. Demonstrates a deep understanding of policy at all levels. Provides thorough research and evidence to inform potential challenges and solutions.
Analyze policy related to ethical and human rights.	Minimal to no analysis of the social construction of the population and its impact on policy. Needs a comparison of how the policy aligns or conflicts with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and NASW Code of Ethics. Does not identify specific rights or principles that are upheld or violated.	Basic analysis of the social construction of the population, but with gaps in how it shapes policy or missing important dynamics. Basic comparison of how the policy aligns or conflicts with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and NASW Code of Ethics. Minimal identification of specific rights or principles that are upheld or violated.	Provides an analysis of the social construction of the population but lacks full depth or connection to broader policy impacts. Offers a comparison of how the policy aligns or conflicts with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and NASW Code of Ethics but lacks detail in identifying specific rights or principles that are upheld or violated.	Deeply analyzes how the social construction of the target population shapes policy, addressing power dynamics and societal perceptions. Provides a thorough comparison of how the policy aligns or conflicts with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and NASW Code of Ethics. Clearly identifies specific rights or principles that are upheld or violated.
Analysis of social policy theories and effects on all levels.	Minimal application of social policy theories as they relate to practice with diverse client populations. No evidence of research to support policy change recommendations.	Limited integration and application of social policy theories as they relate to practice with diverse client populations. Limited evidence of research in preparation for policy change recommendations.	Some incorporation of social policy theories as they relate to practice with diverse client populations. Some evidence of research in preparation for policy change recommendations.	Strong incorporation of social policy theories as they relate to practice with diverse client populations. Strong evidence of research in preparation for policy change recommendations.
Policy options or alternatives.	Paper needs clear recommendations for policy adjustments or is incomplete. There is minimal to no connection to legislative policy advocacy.	Paper has basic recommendations for policy adjustment or incomplete. Weak connections to legislative policy advocacy.	Paper provides some recommendations for policy adjustment, needs depth or clarity in linking adjustments to human rights and ethics. Some connection to legislative policy advocacy.	Paper is thoughtful and well-reasoned recommendations for policy adjustment that align with human rights and ethical standards, with clear connections to legislative policy advocacy and justice.

General Assignment Requirements

Description	Initial	Emerging	Developed	Highly Developed
Organization, Clarity, and APA Formatting	The brief lacks clear organization; tone is informal or inappropriate for a policy audience; citations and references are missing.	Some organization is evident but ideas may be disjointed; tone is uneven or somewhat unprofessional; several APA citation errors are present.	The brief is generally well-organized with a mostly professional tone; minor APA formatting errors are present but do not detract significantly from clarity.	The brief is clearly and logically organized with a consistently professional, action-oriented tone; APA citations and references are accurate and properly formatted throughout.
Following assignment requirements	Does not follow the assignment description.	Somewhat follows the assignment description, but significant errors exist.	Follows the assignment description and requirements but has minor errors.	Closely follows the assignment description and requirements.

Unit Resources

There is no lecture video this week. We are still finalizing the logistics of our last class, but I’m excited about what we will be able to offer. We have two organizations that are actively hiring and have confirmed their attendance, and we are waiting on a few more. It is still a work in progress. There is a planning Google Doc, Summer 2025 MSW Evaluation and Career Day, where you can add your name, indicate what you are bringing to the potluck, and view the planned agenda.

To-Do List

• Have a great Fourth of July
• Read chapter five of the $2 per day book
• Read chapters eight and nine of the textbook
• Complete three replies across any of the five forums
• Complete and submit your A-02a Policy Analysis Paper