Week 5 Assignment: Gap AnalysisDue: Sun Nov 9, 2025 11:59pm11/9/2025Ungraded, 200 Possible Points200 Points PossibleAttemptIn ProgressNEXT UP: Submit AssignmentOverview
This assignment is meant to guide you through a process that may prove useful as you continue in the social work profession. This assignment also builds on what you have done in the previous assignment, providing you an opportunity to dive deeper into the complexity and implications of inclusive programs and policies.
The second of four course papers, this assignment will ask you to prepare a gap analysis that starts with describing the current situation that was identified in the previous assignment discussing a local, state, or federal policy that is negatively impacting an oppressed population. You will include a description of the affected population and the ways in which they are being hurt. You will then describe the change opportunity and the desired state after improvement, explaining why the improvement is needed and what the desired outcome will look like. 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 5: Engage in policy practice.
- 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 Criteria:
- Describe an existing change opportunity for the selected public program or policy and the desired state after improvement.
- Describe the specific outcomes or goals for the proposed change to the public program or policy.
- Related Assignment Criteria:
- 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:
- Analyze the forms and mechanisms of oppression and discrimination that exist within the selected public program or policy.
- 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.
Instructions
For this assignment, in a 3–4 page paper:
- Describe an existing change opportunity for the selected public program or policy and the desired state after improvement.
- Explain why improvement is needed and meaningful in this area.
- Analyze the forms and mechanisms of oppression and discrimination that exist within the selected public program or policy.
- Explain specific discriminatory issues in the selected public program or policy.
- Describe the specific outcomes or goals for the proposed change to the public program or policy.
- Discuss potential challenges or obstacles to these goals.
- 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
Your assignment 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.
- Sources: A minimum four sources.
- Length of paper: 3–4 double-spaced pages (not including reference list).
- Font and font size: Times New Roman, 12 point.
- Due date: Assignment must be submitted to your instructor in the courseroom no later than 11:59 p.m. CST Sunday of this week.
View the Gap Analysis 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 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.
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