Read Chapter 12 (Politics and Social Welfare Policy) and Chapter 13 (Taking Action: Policy Practice for Social Workers) in the textbook, The Policy-Based Profession: An Introduction to Social Welfare Policy Analysis for Social Workers.
Navigate to the threaded discussion and respond to the following discussion prompts: Provide meaningful and detailed responses using proper sentence structure, grammar, and APA style.
Identify the policy you chose for your PowerPoint analysis and briefly explain the model of policy making from chapter 12 that best describes how this policy has been developed to date. Discuss also whether you think this is a helpful approach to policy development in your chosen area and why.
Identify and briefly describe one skill or strategy from each of the main areas described in chapter 13 (Analytical Skills, Interactional Skills, Political Skills) that you think would be helpful to you as a social worker in addressing any policy recommendations or changes to your chosen PowerPoint Policy in the future and explain how.
Finally, describe 1-2 two important ideas or areas of learning about policy or policy analysis that you have gained from this course and how you think it will help you as a social worker.
Sample solution
Dante Alighieri played a critical role in the literature world through his poem Divine Comedy that was written in the 14th century. The poem contains Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. The Inferno is a description of the nine circles of torment that are found on the earth. It depicts the realms of the people that have gone against the spiritual values and who, instead, have chosen bestial appetite, violence, or fraud and malice. The nine circles of hell are limbo, lust, gluttony, greed and wrath. Others are heresy, violence, fraud, and treachery. The purpose of this paper is to examine the Dante’s Inferno in the perspective of its portrayal of God’s image and the justification of hell.
In this epic poem, God is portrayed as a super being guilty of multiple weaknesses including being egotistic, unjust, and hypocritical. Dante, in this poem, depicts God as being more human than divine by challenging God’s omnipotence. Additionally, the manner in which Dante describes Hell is in full contradiction to the morals of God as written in the Bible. When god arranges Hell to flatter Himself, He commits egotism, a sin that is common among human beings (Cheney, 2016). The weakness is depicted in Limbo and on the Gate of Hell where, for instance, God sends those who do not worship Him to Hell. This implies that failure to worship Him is a sin.
God is also depicted as lacking justice in His actions thus removing the godly image. The injustice is portrayed by the manner in which the sodomites and opportunists are treated. The opportunists are subjected to banner chasing in their lives after death followed by being stung by insects and maggots. They are known to having done neither good nor bad during their lifetimes and, therefore, justice could have demanded that they be granted a neutral punishment having lived a neutral life. The sodomites are also punished unfairly by God when Brunetto Lattini is condemned to hell despite being a good leader (Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). While he commited sodomy, God chooses to ignore all the other good deeds that Brunetto did.
Finally, God is also portrayed as being hypocritical in His actions, a sin that further diminishes His godliness and makes Him more human. A case in point is when God condemns the sin of egotism and goes ahead to commit it repeatedly. Proverbs 29:23 states that “arrogance will bring your downfall, but if you are humble, you will be respected.” When Slattery condemns Dante’s human state as being weak, doubtful, and limited, he is proving God’s hypocrisy because He is also human (Verdicchio, 2015). The actions of God in Hell as portrayed by Dante are inconsistent with the Biblical literature. Both Dante and God are prone to making mistakes, something common among human beings thus making God more human.
To wrap it up, Dante portrays God is more human since He commits the same sins that humans commit: egotism, hypocrisy, and injustice. Hell is justified as being a destination for victims of the mistakes committed by God. The Hell is presented as being a totally different place as compared to what is written about it in the Bible. As a result, reading through the text gives an image of God who is prone to the very mistakes common to humans thus ripping Him off His lofty status of divine and, instead, making Him a mere human. Whether or not Dante did it intentionally is subject to debate but one thing is clear in the poem: the misconstrued notion of God is revealed to future generations.
References
Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). Dante’s inferno: Seven deadly sins in scientific publishing and how to avoid them. Addiction Science: A Guide for the Perplexed, 267.
Cheney, L. D. G. (2016). Illustrations for Dante’s Inferno: A Comparative Study of Sandro Botticelli, Giovanni Stradano, and Federico Zuccaro. Cultural and Religious Studies, 4(8), 487.
Verdicchio, M. (2015). Irony and Desire in Dante’s” Inferno” 27. Italica, 285-297.
Sample Answer
Sample Answer
Discussion on Social Welfare Policy and Practice
Policy Chosen for PowerPoint Analysis
For my PowerPoint analysis, I chose the Affordable Care Act (ACA) as the policy focus. The model of policy-making that best describes the development of the ACA is the Incremental Model. According to this model, policy changes are typically achieved through small adjustments rather than sweeping reforms. The ACA exemplifies this approach as it built upon existing healthcare frameworks, like Medicaid and Medicare, rather than completely overhauling the U.S. healthcare system.
This incremental approach can be helpful in the context of healthcare policy development. It allows policymakers to introduce reforms gradually, which can lead to more manageable implementation processes and a better understanding of the impacts of changes made. Moreover, because health policies affect a vast number of stakeholders, incrementalism provides room for feedback and adaptation as policies are rolled out. Therefore, I believe this model is beneficial, particularly in a complex and multifaceted area such as healthcare.
Skills and Strategies from Chapter 13
Analytical Skills: Policy Evaluation
One important analytical skill from Chapter 13 is policy evaluation. As a social worker, being able to assess the effectiveness of the ACA in achieving its intended goals—such as increasing access to healthcare and reducing costs—will be crucial. A robust evaluation process would involve collecting data, analyzing outcomes, and making recommendations for improvements based on evidence. This skill will enable me to advocate for necessary modifications to the ACA to better serve vulnerable populations.
Interactional Skills: Building Relationships
In terms of interactional skills, relationship-building is paramount. Establishing strong connections with stakeholders—whether they are clients affected by the ACA, other social workers, or policymakers—can facilitate more effective advocacy efforts. By fostering trust and open communication, I can better represent the needs and concerns of those impacted by healthcare policies, helping to ensure their voices are heard in policy discussions.
Political Skills: Advocacy
From the political skills area, advocacy stands out as an essential skill for social workers. Advocating for policy changes requires knowledge about the political landscape, an understanding of how to navigate it, and the ability to mobilize support from various stakeholders. By honing my advocacy skills, I can effectively push for necessary changes in the ACA or similar policies that can benefit underserved populations.
Key Learnings about Policy and Policy Analysis
Throughout this course, two significant areas of learning that stood out to me involve understanding the importance of data-driven policy analysis and the role of social workers in advocacy. Learning how to utilize data to inform policy decisions has highlighted the need for evidence-based practices in social work. This understanding will allow me to contribute effectively to discussions and decisions regarding policy amendments.
Additionally, recognizing that social workers play a pivotal role in advocating for social welfare policies has empowered me to see my future role not just as a practitioner but also as an agent of change. This perspective will be invaluable as I work towards effecting positive change in policies affecting my clients and communities.
In conclusion, the insights gained from this course will enhance my capabilities as a social worker by equipping me with essential analytical, interactional, and political skills needed for effective policy practice. Understanding both the complexities of policy development and the importance of advocacy will enable me to advocate for meaningful changes that positively impact vulnerable populations.
References
Author Last Name, First Initial. (Year). The Policy-Based Profession: An Introduction to Social Welfare Policy Analysis for Social Workers. Publisher Name. (If applicable)
