Week 3 Assignment: Policy Selection 150 Possible Points150 Points Possible
Overview
The first of four course papers, this assignment asks you to identify an oppressed population that has been negatively impacted by a local, state, or federal policy, including demographic distinctions and the number of people affected. You will describe the specific discriminatory issues in the given policy or program and explain the mechanisms that led to the discriminatory issues. You will describe the original intent of the policy and how it has changed over time, indicating the reasons for those changes. Remember to support all main points, assertions, arguments, conclusions, or recommendations with relevant, credible, and convincing evidence.
By successfully completing this assignment, you will demonstrate your proficiency in the following competencies and behaviors:
- EPAS Competency 1: Demonstrate ethical and professional behavior.
- C1.GP.A: Make ethical decisions by applying the standards of the National Association of Social Workers Code of Ethics, relevant laws and regulations, models for ethical decision making, ethical conduct of research, and additional codes of ethics within the profession as appropriate to the context.
- Related Assignment Criterion:
- Describe specific discriminatory issues in a given policy or program.
- Related Assignment Criterion:
- C1.GP.A: Make ethical decisions by applying the standards of the National Association of Social Workers Code of Ethics, relevant laws and regulations, models for ethical decision making, ethical conduct of research, and additional codes of ethics within the profession as appropriate to the context.
- EPAS Competency 5: Engage in policy practice.
- C5.GP.B: Apply critical thinking to analyze, formulate, and advocate for policies that advance human rights and social, racial, economic, and environmental justice.
- Related Assignment Criterion:
- Describe how a public program or policy has changed over time in response to issues of oppression, alienation, or discrimination.
- Related Assignment Criterion:
- C5.GP.A: Use social justice, anti-racist, and anti-oppressive lenses to assess how social welfare policies affect the delivery of and access to social services.
- Related Assignment Criterion:
- Describe a specific population or subgroup (demographic distinctions, how many) impacted by the selected public policy.
- Related Assignment Criterion:
- C5.GP.B: Apply critical thinking to analyze, formulate, and advocate for policies that advance human rights and social, racial, economic, and environmental justice.
Prepare
To learn more about specific social policies you might analyze for this assignment, visit the United States Congress website in Week 2: Policy Selection Assignment PreparationLinks to an external site..
Instructions
For this assignment, in a 3–4 page paper:
- Describe specific discriminatory issues in a given policy or program and connect a core value or standard from the NASW Code of Ethics.
- Explain the mechanisms that lead to the discriminatory issues.
- Describe how a public program or policy has changed over time in response to issues of oppression, alienation, or discrimination.
- Describe the rationale for these changes.
- Describe a specific population or subgroup (demographic distinctions, how many) impacted by the selected public policy.
- Provide relevant, real-world examples that demonstrate the impacts of the policy.
- Support main points, assertions, arguments, conclusions, or recommendations with relevant, credible, and convincing evidence.
- Synthesize evidence to demonstrate its importance to your discussion or argument.
- Apply APA style and formatting to scholarly writing.
- Demonstrate correct stylistic conventions, document structure, and source attributions.
Additional Requirements
The assignment you submit is expected to meet the following requirements:
- Written communication: Written communication is free of errors that detract from the overall message.
- APA formatting: Resources and citations are formatted according to current APA style and formatting standards.
- Resources: A minimum three academic resources.
- Length of paper: 3–4 double-spaced pages (not including reference list).
- Font and font size: Times New Roman, 12 point.
- Due date: The assignment must be submitted to your instructor in the courseroom no later than 11:59 p.m. CST Sunday of this week.
View the Policy Selection rubric to ensure you fulfill all grading criteria.
Competencies Measured
By successfully completing this assignment, you will demonstrate your proficiency in the following course competencies and scoring guide criteria:
- Competency 1: Make ethical decisions by applying the standards of the National Association of Social Workers Code of Ethics, relevant laws and regulations, models for ethical decision making, ethical conduct of research, and additional codes of ethics within the profession as appropriate to the context. (C1.GP.A)
- Competency 2: Apply critical thinking to analyze, formulate, and advocate for policies that advance human rights and social, racial, economic, and environmental justice. (C5.GP.B)
- Competency 3: Use social justice, anti-racist, and anti-oppressive lenses to assess how social welfare policies affect the delivery of and access to social services. (C5.GP.A)
- Competency 5: Communicate in a manner that is scholarly, professional, and consistent with expectations for members of the social work profession.
