Syllabus
Master of Social Work
SSWO 505 Social Policy and Advocacy (Summer B 2021)
Credits - 3
Description
Social Policy and Advocacy examines social welfare policy and practice with a primary focus on the role professional social work plays in the development, implementation, and evaluation of social welfare policy as well as the impact social welfare policy has on the social work profession. This course provides a historical overview of social welfare policy and social work as a profession. Course content includes identification of the values and ideologies that have informed the evolution of social work and public social welfare policy—including, but not limited to, how systemic oppression and social justice emerge in social welfare policy and community settings. This course includes a semester-long project in which students have the opportunity to apply their knowledge of policy analysis and advocacy strategies.
Project focus includes: How social welfare policies affect individuals, populations, organizations, and communities; economic and funding impacts; advocacy methods; and the intersection of human services, environmental health, and public welfare. Students will develop skills to engage in advocacy and social action and gain an appreciation for collaboration and cross-institutional partnerships. At the conclusion of Social Policy and Advocacy, students will understand the critical relationship between social welfare policy and social work practice and have the ability to critically assess and evaluate policy interventions.
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:
- Demonstrates ethical and professional behavior.
- Advance human rights and social, racial, economic, and environmental justice.
- Engage in anti-racism, diversity, equity, and inclusion (ADEI) in practice.
- Engage in practice-informed research and research-informed practice.
- Engage in policy practice.
- Engage with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.
- Assess individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.
- Intervene with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.
- Evaluate practice with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.
Course Outcomes:
Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Outline the historical themes and ideologies that have shaped social policy development, describe how social, political, and economic factors have defined social and economic classes in the United States, and how this impacts diverse populations. EPAS 1 (Assessed in Reflection Papers 1 and 2 and the weekly discussion forums)
- Identify social policy at the local, state, and federal level that affects well-being, service delivery, and access to social services. EPAS 5a (Assessed in Reflection Papers 1 and 2)
- Assess how social welfare and economic policies affect the delivery of and access to social services. EPAS 5b (Assessed in Reflection Paper 3)
- Apply critical thinking to analyze, formulate, and advocate for policies that advance human rights and social justice. EPAS 5c (Assessed in Reflection Paper 4 and Final Policy Advocacy Strategy assignment)
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, other web-based materials, and video lectures 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.
All discussions will be evaluated using the Discussion Rubric.
Grading and Feedback Method: Grading and feedback methods are listed with each specific discussion assignment. Please refer to the Learning Modules and Discussion Area for more information.
Assignments, Projects, and Assessments
Students will engage in a term-long Policy Advocacy Strategy Assignment, which has three major parts: Reflection Papers (4 in total), an Advocacy Map (and presentation), and a Final Policy Advocacy Strategy (and presentation). For their Final Policy Advocacy Strategy assignments, students can choose to create one of the following types of strategies: a letter to the editor, correspondence with legislators, public testimony, or policy brief. In order to prepare for their final assignment, students will brainstorm and refine their plans through advocacy mapping and reflection papers. The fourth, and final, reflection paper will provide an opportunity for students to apply their learning to their future social work practice.
Due Dates: Due dates for all learning activities are provided in the course schedule and the course.
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 Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Discussions @ 40 pts each | 400 points | 40% |
| Reflection Papers @ 75 pts each | 300 points | 30% |
| Policy Advocacy Strategy | 200 points | 20% |
| Final Advocacy Strategy Presentation | 100 points | 10% |
| Total | 1,000 points | 100% |
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 |
Schedule
Course weeks run from 12:00 AM ET on Wednesday through 11:59 PM ET on Tuesday, with the exception of Week 8, which ends on Sunday at 11:59 PM ET. Unless otherwise specified, all discussion comments and assignments are due on the last day of the week. Initial responses to discussion prompts are due by the end of Saturday unless otherwise noted.
ALL TIMES ARE IN THE EASTERN STANDARD TIME ZONE, NO EXCEPTIONS.
Course Weeks
Week 1 Wednesday, June 23 – Tuesday, June 29
Week 2 Wednesday, June 30 – Tuesday, July 6
Week 3 Wednesday, July 7 – Tuesday, July 13
Week 4 Wednesday, July 14 – Tuesday, July 20
Week 5 Wednesday, July 21 – Tuesday, July 27
Week 6 Wednesday, July 28– Tuesday, August 3
Week 7 Wednesday, August 4 – Tuesday, August 10
Week 8 Wednesday, August 11 – Sunday, August 15 (short week)
Week 1: Introduction to Policy and Advocacy in Social Work
- Course Materials:
- Week 1 Lecture
- Lane, S., Palley, E., & Shdaimah, C. (2020). Social welfare policy in a changing world. Chapter 1 – Social work: A value-based profession in historical context
- Hoefer, R. (2019). Advocacy practice for social justice. Chapter 1 – The unified model of advocacy practice
- Hoefer, R. (2019). Advocacy practice for social justice. Chapter 2 – Social work ethics, values, and advocacy practice for social justice
- NASW Code of Ethics – Ethical Standard 6. Social Workers’ Ethical Responsibilities to the Broader Society
- United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights
- Code of West, a video
- Discussions: Introductions (Whole Class); Challenging Our Understandings of Social Work and Policy Advocacy (Small Groups)
- Assignments Introduced: Policy Advocacy Strategy Project
- Assignment Due: Reflection Paper #1: Choosing a Social Issue to Advocate For
Week 2: How Policies are Made, Analyzed, and Changed
- Course Materials:
- Week 2 Lecture
- Lane, S., Palley, E., & Shdaimah, C. (2020). Social welfare policy in a changing world. Chapter 2 – How policy is created and influenced
- Lane, S., Palley, E., & Shdaimah, C. (2020). Social welfare policy in a changing world. Chapter 3 – Practical theories for understanding and analyzing policy
- Hoefer, R. (2019). Advocacy practice for social justice. Chapter 3 – Getting involved
- The Welfare State: From Bismarck to Obama, a video
- Discussion: Policy Advocacy Strategies in Social Work (Whole Class)
- Assignment Due: Reflection Paper #2: What’s at Stake?
Week 3: Understanding the Issue and its Contexts; Family & Child Welfare Policies
- Course Materials:
- Lane, S., Palley, E., & Shdaimah, C. (2020). Social welfare policy in a changing world. Chapter 4 – Family policy.
- Lane, S., Palley, E., & Shdaimah, C. (2020). Social welfare policy in a changing world. Chapter 5 – Child welfare policy.
- Hoefer, R. (2019). Advocacy practice for social justice. Chapter 4 – Understanding the issue.
- Evidence-Based Policy Making in Education, a video
- Break the Silence, a video
- Foster, a video
- Discussions: Compare and Contrast Social Impact (Whole Class); Building upon Reflection Paper #2 (Small Group)
Week 4: Creating an Informed and Strategic Advocacy Map; Employment & Disability Policies
- Course Materials:
- Week 4 Lecture
- Lane, S., Palley, E., & Shdaimah, C. (2020). Social welfare policy in a changing world. Chapter 9 – Work and employment policy.
- Lane, S., Palley, E., & Shdaimah, C. (2020). Social welfare policy in a changing world. Chapter 12 – Disability policy.
- Hoefer, R. (2019). Advocacy practice for social justice. Chapter 5 – Planning in advocacy practice.
- A Day’s Work, A Day’s Pay, a video
- I’m not your inspiration, thank you very much, a video
- Discussions: Advocacy Mapping Activity (Small Group); Employment and Disability Policy Critique (Whole Class)
Week 5: Strengthening Our Advocacy Maps; Older Adults & Health Policies
- Course Materials:
- Week 5 Lecture
- Lane, S., Palley, E., & Shdaimah, C. (2020). Social welfare policy in a changing world. Chapter 10 – Policy for older adults
- Lane, S., Palley, E., & Shdaimah, C. (2020). Social welfare policy in a changing world. Chapter 11 – Health policy
- Hoefer, R. (2019). Advocacy practice for social justice. Chapter 6 – Advocating through education, persuasion, and negotiation
- Community Toolbox: Chapter 30. Principles of Advocacy | Section 4. Recognizing Allies
- Community Toolbox: Chapter 30. Principles of Advocacy | Section 5. Identifying Opponents
- Gen Silent, a video
- Surviving Year One, a video
- Discussions: Creating a Message Box Discussion/Activity (Small Group); Newspaper Article Critique (Whole Class)
- Assignment Due: Reflection Paper #3: Grounding Your Advocacy
Week 6: Preparing Policy Advocacy Strategies; Criminal Justice & Housing Policies
- Course Materials:
- Lane, S., Palley, E., & Shdaimah, C. (2020). Social welfare policy in a changing world. Chapter 13 – Criminal Justice
- Lane, S., Palley, E., & Shdaimah, C. (2020). Social welfare policy in a changing world. Chapter 14 – Housing and Homelessness Policy
- Hoefer, R. (2019). Advocacy practice for social justice. Chapter 7 – Presenting Your Information Effectively (pp. 115-132)
- The New Jim Crow by Michelle Alexander
- Exposing Homelessness, a video
- Discussion: Impacts of Criminal Justice and Housing Policies (Whole Class)
Week 7: Immigration & Environmental Policies
- Course Materials:
- Lane, S., Palley, E., & Shdaimah, C. (2020). Social welfare policy in a changing world. Chapter 15 – Immigration Policy
- Lane, S., Palley, E., & Shdaimah, C. (2020). Social welfare policy in a changing world. Chapter 16 – Environmental Policy
- “Other”: A Brief History of American Xenophobia, a video
- Chinatown Files, a video
- Robert Bullard: How environmental racism shapes the US, a video
- Discussion: Immigration & Environmental Policy Teach-Backs (Whole Class)
- Assignment Due: Final Policy Advocacy Strategy Assignment
Week 8: Presentations and Feedback; Policy Analysis and Advocacy in Our Future Practice
- Course Materials:
- Week 8 Lecture
- Hoefer, R. (2019). Advocacy practice for social justice. Chapter 9 – Evaluating advocacy
- Hoefer, R. (2019). Advocacy practice for social justice. Chapter 11 – Integrating advocacy practice into your social work practice
- Social work ethics and advocacy: Standing at the forefront of change – Webinar – a video
- Discussion: Advocacy Strategy Presentations (Whole Class)
- Assignment Due: Reflection Paper #4: On Being an Advocate
Student Resources
Online Student Support
Your Student Support Specialist is a resource for you. Please don't hesitate to contact them for assistance, including, but not limited to course planning, current problems or issues in a course, technology concerns, or personal emergencies.
Questions? Visit the Student Support Social Work page
UNE Libraries:
- Library Access for all students: Your library login ID and password are the same as the ones you use to log into Brightspace.
- Social Work Databases: https://library.une.edu/library-materials/find/research-by-subject/social-work/
- Library Questions: Ask a librarian or phone library staff at (207) 602-2361 or (207) 221-4330.
Information Technology Services (ITS)
ITS Contact: Toll Free Help Desk 24 hours/7 days per week at 1-877-518-4673
Accommodations
Any student who would like to request, or ask any questions regarding, academic adjustments or accommodations must contact the Student Access Center at (207) 221-4438 or pcstudentaccess@une.edu. Student Access Center staff will evaluate the student's documentation and determine eligibility of accommodation(s) through the Student Access Center registration procedure.
Online Peer Support
Togetherall is a 24/7 communication and emotional support platform monitored by trained clinicians. It’s a safe place online to get things off your chest, have conversations, express yourself creatively, and learn how to manage your mental health. If sharing isn’t your thing, Togetherall has other tools and courses to help you look after yourself with plenty of resources to explore. Whether you’re struggling to cope, feeling low, or just need a place to talk, Togetherall can help you explore your feelings in a safe supportive environment. You can join Togetherall using your UNE email address.
Information Technology Services (ITS)
Students should notify their Student Support Specialist and instructor in the event of a problem relating to a course. This notification should occur promptly and proactively to support timely resolution.
ITS Contact: Toll-Free Help Desk 24 hours/7 days per week at 1-877-518-4673.
Career Ready Program
The College of Professional Studies supports its online students and alumni in their career journey!
The Career Ready Program provides tools and resources to help students explore and hone in on their career goals, search for jobs, create and improve professional documents, build professional network, learn interview skills, grow as a professional, and more. Come back often, at any time, as you move through your journey from career readiness as a student to career growth, satisfaction, and success as alumni.
Policies
Essential Academic and Technical Standards
Please review the essential academic and technical standards of the University of New England School Social Work (SSW): https://online.une.edu/social-work/academic-and-technical-standards-une-online-ssw/
Turnitin Originality Check and Plagiarism Detection Tool
The College of Professional Studies uses Turnitin to help deter plagiarism and to foster the proper attribution of sources. Turnitin provides comparative reports for submitted assignments that reflect similarities in other written works. This can include, but is not limited to, previously submitted assignments, internet articles, research journals, and academic databases.
Make sure to cite your sources appropriately as well as use your own words in synthesizing information from published literature. Webinars and workshops, included early in your coursework, will help guide best practices in APA citation and academic writing.
You can learn more about Turnitin in the guide on how to navigate your Similarity Report.
Technology Requirements
Please review the technical requirements for UNE Online Graduate Programs: Technical Requirements
Confidentiality Statement
Student and faculty participation in this course will be governed by standards in the NASW Code of Ethics relating to confidentiality in sharing information from their placement sites and practice experiences. Students should be aware that personal information they choose to share in class, class assignments or conversations with faculty does not have the status of privileged information.
Late Policy
Assignments: Late assignments will be accepted up to 3 days late; however, there is a 10% grade reduction (from the total points) for the late submission. After three days the assignment will not be accepted.
Discussion posts: If the initial post is submitted late, but still within the discussion board week, there will be a 10% grade reduction from the total discussion grade (e.g., a 3 point discussion will be reduced by 0.3 points). Any posts submitted after the end of the Discussion Board week will not be graded.
Please make every effort ahead of time to contact your instructor and your student support specialist if you are not able to meet an assignment deadline. Arrangements for extenuating circumstances may be considered by faculty.
Attendance Policy
8 week: Students taking online graduate courses through the College of Professional Studies will be administratively dropped for non-participation if a graded assignment/discussion post is not submitted before Sunday at 11:59 pm ET of the first week of the term. Reinstatement is at the purview of the Dean's Office.
16 week: Students taking online graduate courses through the College of Professional Studies will be administratively dropped for non-participation if a graded assignment/discussion post is not submitted before Friday at 11:59 pm ET of the second week of the term. Reinstatement is at the purview of the Dean's Office.
Student Handbook Online - Policies and Procedures
The policies contained within this document apply to all students in the College of Professional Studies. It is each student's responsibility to know the contents of this handbook.
UNE Course Withdrawal
Please contact your student support specialist if you are considering dropping or withdrawing from a course. The last day to drop for 100% tuition refund is the 2nd day of the course. Financial Aid charges may still apply. Students using Financial Aid should contact the Financial Aid Office prior to withdrawing from a course.
Academic Integrity
The University of New England values academic integrity in all aspects of the educational experience. Academic dishonesty in any form undermines this standard and devalues the original contributions of others. It is the responsibility of all members of the University community to actively uphold the integrity of the academy; failure to act, for any reason, is not acceptable. For information about plagiarism and academic misconduct, please visit UNE Plagiarism Policies.
Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to the following:
- Cheating, copying, or the offering or receiving of unauthorized assistance or information.
- Fabrication or falsification of data, results, or sources for papers or reports.
- Action which destroys or alters the work of another student.
- Multiple submissions of the same paper or report for assignments in more than one course without permission of each instructor.
- Plagiarism, the appropriation of records, research, materials, ideas, or the language of other persons or writers and the submission of them as one's own.
Charges of academic dishonesty will be reviewed by the Program Director. Penalties for students found responsible for violations may depend upon the seriousness and circumstances of the violation, the degree of premeditation involved, and/or the student’s previous record of violations. Appeal of a decision may be made to the Dean whose decision will be final. Student appeals will take place through the grievance process outlined in the student handbook.