Discussion Post: Troubleshooting Policies
There are many factors that are starting points to policy implementation. This week you explore those factors. There are also many factors that lead to failure of policy implementation. You will examine those factors as well. According to Jansson (2010), policy implementation is a "critically important part of policy advocacy because many meritorious policies are inadequately implemented" (6th ed., p. 485). Why might this be so?
You are guided through the process of assessing policy advocacy strategies during the implementation phase, which is called troubleshooting. Troubleshooting is vital to ensuring a successful outcome for an implemented policy.
Learning Objectives
o Analyze policy implementation challenges
o Analyze social workers' ethical issues of policy implementation
o Apply policy implementation practices
o Prepare a final report and presentation on a social change project
Learning Resources
Required Readings
These websites will be required throughout the semester. Become familiar with these websites, especially when doing research for your Homework.
Jansson, B. S. (2018). Becoming an effective policy advocate: From policy practice to social justice (8th ed.). Pacific Grove, CA: Brooks/Cole Cengage Learning Series.
Chapter 13, "Troubleshooting the Implementation of Policies in Task 7" (pp. 460-487)
Lane, S. R., & Humphreys, N. A. (2011). Social workers in politics: A national survey of social work candidates and elected officials. Journal of Policy Practice, 10(3), 225-244.
Optional Resources
MSW home page
Discussion: Policy Implementation Challenges
Implementation never occurs in a vacuum.
o Bruce S. Jansson, Becoming an Effective Policy Advocate: From Policy Practice to Social Justice (8th ed.)
When a policy is launched, its success is dependent on a variety of stakeholders. As the politics of decision makers, executives, staff, clients, and social workers begin to influence the implementation process, their beliefs-and subsequent actions-determine the fate of the policy.
Often a social worker must step out of the comfort of his or her social service world and may find himself or herself making difficult decisions about ethical issues and/or may find himself or herself involved in implementing policies that he or she feels is against his or her social work values. How does a social worker handle the intricacies and challenges of policy implementation on both a personal and professional level?
In this Discussion, you explore policy implementation and the challenges faced by social workers during policy implementation.
Post your thoughts on whether social workers might try to undermine the implementation of specific policies. What ethical issues might they confront? Discuss how social workers can implement policies that they feel may be against their social work values. Discuss a specific policy's impact that you would try to mitigate in the implementation phase. Provide an experience you have had with a policy you had difficulty implementing or a policy you are aware of that you would have serious qualms about implementing.
Be sure to support your post with specific references to this week's resources. If you are using additional articles, be sure to provide full APA-formatted citations for your references.
Respond to a colleague by offering your thoughts on how multiple factors contribute to the failure of people to implement specific policies. In your opinion, do you think frontline social workers are perceived as people who cause specific policies to not be implemented?
Project Homework: Social Change Project: Final Report and Presentation
Is social change ever easy? What barriers did you experience during your advocacy? What successes did you experience?
Over the past several weeks, you have analyzed a policy related to a social problem and have advocated for change. This week you submit your final report and present on your experience and the outcomes of your Social Change Project.
To Prepare
1. Write up a final report of your Social Change Project.
a. The final report should include your compiled response to Homework from Weeks 3, 6, 8, and 9. You are expected to update and revise the papers based on your instructor's feedback. Please include a title page, headings, and a reference page.
2. Create a 5-7 minute PowerPoint presentation to present your Social Change project. Within this presentation:
a. Provide a brief synopsis of social problem and policy you identified.
b. Discuss what was accomplished over the past term and the change you made through your social change project.
c. Reflect on your experience. What did you learn? What would you do differently?
d. Explain how policy relates to clinical practice?
e. How will you apply skills advocacy skills as a clinical social worker?
3. Record presentation using Personal Capture (record audio, video, and screen)
a. See resources in Kaltura Media Uploader in left-hand navigation menu of classroom.
4. Create a Transcript of the presentation and/or edit closed-captioning of the recording to ensure your presentation is accessible to colleagues of differing abilities.
Format your homework according to the give formatting requirements:
1. The answer must be double spaced, typed, using Times New Roman font (size 12), with one-inch margins on all sides.
2. The response also includes a cover page containing the title of the homework, the course title, the student's name, and the date. The cover page is not included in the required page length.
3. Also include a reference page. The references and Citations should follow APA format. The reference page is not included in the required page length.