Bill Identification about Mental Health

by | Sep 19, 2023 | Law

ASSIGNMENT OVERVIEW: The purpose of this assignment is to develop your awareness and knowledge of different methods for engaging in the legislative process in Michigan to help you develop skills in finding, analyzing, and advocating for or against proposed legislation. You will develop strategies for influencing legislation at one or more steps of the legislative process. This assignment requires you to familiarize yourself with your representatives in the Michigan state legislature and those who hold positions on legislative committees that can affect the outcome of legislation. You will also learn about how advocacy groups, coalitions, and social welfare organizations work to influence the legislative process.

After doing this assignment, you will be able to:

Identify your representatives in the state legislature.
Locate and analyze pending legislation.
Develop at least one strategy for influencing social policy through the legislative process.
Draw upon self-awareness to assess your comfort level with participation in legislative advocacy.
Describe the potential impact of your legislative advocacy effort.
This assignment will allow you to practice a variety of research and communication skills needed when carrying out legislative advocacy and teach you about groups and organizations that work to influence social policy.

ASSIGNMENT INSTRUCTIONS/TASKS

Identify your representatives in the Michigan House and Senate and provide their names, party affiliation, committee memberships, link to website, and contact information.

Familiarize yourself with how to find pending legislation

Bill identification: Identify a bill that has been introduced that is related to social work practice. This can be a bill that would affect clients at your field agency or something that interests you. The bill can be introduced in either the Senate or the House. Clearly identify the bill and provide a link to the bill.
Legislative analysis: Once you have settled upon a bill, address the following:
Purpose of the legislation: Summarize the purpose of the legislation using the text of the bill.
Background: What are the circumstances that led to the bill’s introduction? Who introduced it and why? Who supports it and why?
Is this something that you – in your role as a social worker – would support or oppose and why?
Legislative process: Describe – as of the due date of the assignment – where the bill is in the legislative process.
Influencing the legislative process: Based on where your chosen bill is in the legislative process, what steps should you take, based on your position on the bill, to advance or “kill” the bill. What resources and/or skills would you need? Who would be your partners in this effort?
Reflection: Describe how this assignment helped you develop your competence as a social worker.

Sample Answer

Sample Answer

 

Engaging in the Legislative Process in Michigan: A Social Worker’s Perspective
Introduction
As a social worker, it is essential to be aware of the legislative process and actively engage in it to advocate for social justice and the well-being of your clients. In Michigan, understanding how to find pending legislation, identifying your representatives, and analyzing bills related to social work practice are crucial steps in influencing social policy. This essay will guide you through these processes and provide strategies for effectively advocating for or against proposed legislation.

Identifying Your Representatives
To effectively engage in the legislative process, it is essential to know who represents you in the Michigan House and Senate. Here are the names, party affiliations, committee memberships, website links, and contact information for your representatives:

Michigan House Representatives:

Representative [Name], [Party Affiliation]
Committee Memberships: [Committee 1], [Committee 2]
Website: [Link]
Contact Information: [Email], [Phone Number]
Michigan Senate Representatives:

Senator [Name], [Party Affiliation]
Committee Memberships: [Committee 1], [Committee 2]
Website: [Link]
Contact Information: [Email], [Phone Number]
Finding Pending Legislation
To stay informed about pending legislation, you can utilize online resources such as the Michigan Legislature’s website. Here is a step-by-step guide to finding pending legislation:

Visit the Michigan Legislature’s website at [Link].
Navigate to the “Legislation” section.
Use the search function to look up bills related to social work practice by using keywords or bill numbers.
Review the search results to find relevant bills.
Click on a specific bill to access detailed information, including its status, sponsors, and committee assignments.
Legislative Analysis: A Case Study
For this assignment, let’s consider an example bill that could impact social work practice in Michigan. The bill we will analyze is Senate Bill XYZ, which aims to enhance mental health services in public schools. Here is an analysis of this legislation:

Purpose of the legislation: The purpose of Senate Bill XYZ is to allocate additional funding for mental health services in public schools, including hiring more mental health professionals and implementing evidence-based programs.
Background: The bill was introduced by Senator ABC in response to the growing mental health needs among students in Michigan public schools. It has received support from various educational and mental health advocacy organizations due to its potential to improve access to mental health services for students.
Support or opposition: As a social worker, it is crucial to support Senate Bill XYZ. By allocating more resources to mental health services in public schools, this legislation can address the emotional well-being of students and enhance their academic success.
Legislative process: As of the due date of this assignment, Senate Bill XYZ has been referred to the Committee on Education for review and analysis. It has not yet reached the full Senate or House for voting.
Influencing the legislative process: To advance Senate Bill XYZ, you should consider the following steps:
Reach out to your representatives and express your support for the bill, emphasizing its potential benefits for students’ mental health.
Collaborate with relevant advocacy groups and coalitions that are working towards similar goals.
Attend committee hearings and provide testimony regarding the importance of investing in mental health services in public schools.
Reflection: This assignment has helped you develop your competence as a social worker by familiarizing you with the legislative process and providing an opportunity to analyze a bill related to social work practice. By engaging in this assignment, you have gained insights into how legislative advocacy can contribute to positive social change.

In conclusion, engaging in the legislative process in Michigan is crucial for social workers aiming to advocate for social justice and the well-being of their clients. By identifying your representatives, finding pending legislation, analyzing bills, and effectively influencing the legislative process, you can actively shape social policy and make a difference in your community as a social worker.

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