Current issue of interest to the student; to develop skills in policy analysis, writing, and presenting that are critical to the profession of social work; and to
learn more about different roles that social workers and others play in the policy process.
Select an issue on a social welfare topic of major concern (e.g. Health care, mental health, child welfare, substance abuse, housing, immigration, disability
etc.) Suggested topics will be discussed in class. Students may meet with the instructor and/or teaching assistants to discuss topics and plans for the
project.
Investigate the history of the issue and become familiar with one proposal/bill on your topic and their purpose. Identify particular legislators, organizations,
groups, committees, and individuals that worked to pass, amend, or defeat the bill, their positions on the issue, and the methods they used to influence the
policy process.
Also, identify groups that might have remained neutral on the bill and why. It may help to approach this project, particularly the policy brief, as if you were
working as a staff member of a legislative committee, an aide for a state legislator, or a policy analyst for a governmental or private social welfare agency o…
Sample Solution