Syllabus

Master of Social Work

SSW 506 – Social Welfare Policy and Programs II

Credits - 3

Description

Social Policy and Programs I & II (Policy I & II; SSW 505/506) are two-semester, sequenced foundation courses that are designed to help students understand the relationship between policy and professional social work practice. Policy II presents the opportunity for students to apply their knowledge and skills for advocacy practice, policy development, and policy evaluation either at the federal, state, municipal, or community level. This examination also includes how social policies are funded and how they affect the lives of people, organizations, and communities. At the conclusion of Policy II, students will have: 1) advanced understanding of the relationship between social welfare policy and social work practice; 2) skills to analyze social welfare and engage in advocacy practice; and 3) clearer understanding of the interplay among various environments and health and human services policies, practices and programs.

Materials

Learning Objectives and Outcomes

School of Social Work Program Outcomes:

Graduates of the UNE SSWO will demonstrate knowledge, skills, and leadership in the following:

1. Practice social inclusion to enable people, populations, and communities to fully participate in society, enhance human bonds in the context of cultural diversity and ensure improved quality of life and equitable resource distribution. EPAS Competencies 2 & 3
2. Engage in culturally-informed relationship building, being respectful of the complexity and diversity of contexts and circumstances. EPAS Competencies 3 & 6
3. Utilize theories of human behavior, social systems and social inclusion when offering interventions with people and their environments. EPAS Competency 8
4. Promote ethical reflection, critical consciousness and shared decision-making based in social work values and with consideration of the broader contexts of the world in which we live. EPAS Competency 1
5. Balance the roles of helpers, activists, and advocates through collaboration with communities to build healthy and sustainable resources. EPAS Competencies 2, 5, & 6
6. Engage as critical consumers and producers of research as it relates to assessment, intervention and evaluation of clinical and community practices. EPAS Competencies 4, 7, 8 & 9
7. Practice person-centered and collaborative community partnerships across diverse settings. EPAS Competency 6

Course Objectives:

Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:

1. Identify major policies that form the foundation of social welfare and analyze the organizational, local, state, national and international issues in social welfare policy and social service delivery. This will also include the ability to determine how social welfare policies and social service delivery may differentially affect diverse groups. (Program Outcome # 4) (As measured by the Policy Brief, Advocacy Website, Advocacy Map, Learning Log and Discussions).
2. Apply research findings and a policy analysis framework to policy practice development, presentation and advocacy with systems of all sizes. (Program Outcome #6) (As evidenced by Discussions, Advocacy Website, Reflective Learning Log, Policy Brief, and Advocacy Map).
3. Assume social work roles and responsibilities in the policy process, including leadership, research, lobbying, campaigning, collaborating and community organizing with the goal of promoting and advocating for social and economic justice and inclusion through both organizational and social change. (Program Outcome #4) (As measured by the Advocacy Website, Editorial Assignment, Correspondence with Legislators, and Discussions).

Assignments

A variety of learning activities are designed to support the course objectives, facilitate different learning styles, and build a community of learners. Learning activities for each module include the following: 

Readings and Multimedia: 

Description: This course will use an array of readings from textbooks, journal articles, podcasts, Web-based materials, and videos to present the important concepts in the various modules. The readings and multimedia provide the foundation and background for discussion opportunities and assignments relevant to each module’s content.

Discussions: 

Description: An important learning method in this course is student participation and interaction in the discussion threads within each module. Students are expected to participate actively and in a respectful manner. Please refer to Course Policies about participation for a full discussion of expectations. 

Grading and Feedback Method: 

Grading and feedback methods are listed with each specific discussion assignment. Please refer to the Learning Modules and Discussion Boards for more information. 

Weekly Grading and Feedback: The course facilitator will return assignments and other grading items (discussion boards, participation, etc.) to students within three days of the assignment due date. The course facilitator will provide weekly feedback about participation and performance no later than four days after the learning module closes. Feedback can be via email, within the assignment itself, or using the Feedback column in the gradebook.

Writing Assignments, Projects, and Assessments: 

Description: The course will engage students in a variety of learning activities to support the learning objectives. This course offers you an opportunity to engage in policy advocacy practice, an effort to change policies in legislative, agency and community settings whether by recommending the establishment of new policies, improving existing ones or challenging the policy initiatives of other people. You will accomplish by working in small task groups composed of other students who share a similar commitment to a specific social problem. Learning activities for each module include the following: lectures by your instructor; reading assignments from the course texts, journal articles, newspapers and web-based material; web-based films; and weekly discussion opportunities relevant to each module’s content.  

Grading Policy

The School of Social Work uses the following grading system for all courses with the exception of field education courses. Students are expected to maintain a “B” (3.0) average over the course of their study. Students with less than a GPA of 3.0 will be placed on academic probation. Students must have an overall GPA of 3.0 in order to receive their Master’s Degree.

Your grade in this course will be determined by the following criteria:

Grade Breakdown

Assignments	Point Value	Percentage of final grade
Reflection Journal and Summary (40 points each week)	40 pts x 4 weeks = 160	16%
Discussions (30 points each week as Participation)	30 pts x 8 weeks = 240	24%
Policy Advocacy Project: Community Presentation (Web Site Development)*	120	12%
Policy Advocacy Project: Editorial*	120	12%
Policy Advocacy Project: Advocacy Map	120	12%
Policy Advocacy Project: Policy Brief*	120	12%
Policy Advocacy Project: Correspondence With Legislators/Public*	120	12%

Grade Scale

Grade	Points Grade	Point Average (GPA)
A	94 – 100%	4.00
A-	90 – 93%	3.75
B+	87 – 89%	3.50
B	84 – 86%	3.00
B-	80 – 83%	2.75
C+	77 – 79%	2.50
C	74 – 76%	2.00
C-	70 – 73%	1.75
D	64 – 69%	1.00
F	00 – 63%	0.00