Explain what constitutes a policy leadership role within the field of social work.
Explain what can happen if social workers fail to exert policy leadership, allowing others with less commitment to client well-being and less dedication to improving the human condition to shape the social welfare and human service delivery systems.
Explain how policies at all levels of a social welfare system can impact service accessibility and service delivery. Provide specific examples. Refer to Social Work Disposition #12: Standard: Social Workers Ethical Responsibilities to the Broader Society when responding to this prompt.
Explain why policy advocacy can be a unifying theme for the social work profession.
Describe the intersecting, multi-level roles (micro, mezzo, and macro) of a policy practitioner centered around analyzing social problems, developing policy change solutions and strategies, formulating and implementing policies and related programs, and evaluating the impact of policies and programs.
Use specific examples to illustrate how a social worker might bring about policy change at each level of social work practice.
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.
The Role of Policy Leadership in Social Work
Understanding Policy Leadership in Social Work
In the field of social work, a policy leadership role encompasses the responsibilities of advocating for, developing, and implementing policies that directly impact the well-being of individuals and communities. Social workers in these roles are often seen as liaisons between clients and policymakers, ensuring that the voices of those they serve are heard in legislative and administrative discussions. They engage in research, analyze data, and apply their professional expertise to address social issues, while also advocating for systemic change in social welfare and human service delivery systems.
Effective policy leadership requires a commitment to ethical principles, particularly those outlined in the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) Code of Ethics. Specifically, Social Work Disposition #12: Ethical Responsibilities to the Broader Society emphasizes the importance of promoting social justice and advocating for policies that enhance the well-being of all members of society.
Consequences of Failing to Exert Policy Leadership
When social workers fail to exert policy leadership, it can have detrimental effects on vulnerable populations. If individuals lacking a commitment to client well-being shape social welfare policies, the consequences may include:
1. Misaligned Policies: Policies may prioritize budget cuts or efficiency over the needs of clients, resulting in inadequate services or increased barriers to access.
2. Marginalization of Vulnerable Groups: Without strong advocacy, marginalized populations may remain invisible in policy discussions, perpetuating cycles of poverty and inequality.
3. Deterioration of Service Quality: When less dedicated individuals are involved in policy-making, programs may be designed without an understanding of their impact on service delivery or client outcomes.
For example, a lack of social worker involvement in mental health policy could lead to insufficient funding for community-based mental health services, ultimately restricting access for those who need support.
Impact of Policies on Service Accessibility and Delivery
Policies at various levels (local, state, and federal) significantly influence service accessibility and delivery within social welfare systems. For instance:
– Local Level: A city council may implement policies that increase funding for homeless shelters. This can improve access to emergency resources for individuals experiencing homelessness, thereby enhancing their ability to find stable housing.
– State Level: A state government might enact legislation expanding Medicaid eligibility. This change can dramatically increase access to healthcare services for low-income families who previously did not qualify.
– Federal Level: The Affordable Care Act (ACA) is a prime example of federal legislation that sought to increase healthcare access through expanded coverage options and protections for pre-existing conditions. This policy has had far-reaching implications on how millions of Americans receive healthcare.
By advocating for equitable policies, social workers ensure that services are accessible and responsive to the needs of diverse populations.
Policy Advocacy as a Unifying Theme in Social Work
Policy advocacy serves as a unifying theme for the social work profession because it embodies the core values of social justice, service, and dignity and worth of the person. By engaging in policy advocacy, social workers address systemic issues that affect their clients and communities. This collective focus on policy allows social workers from various practice areas (e.g., clinical social work, community organization, policy analysis) to collaborate toward common goals.
For instance, social workers advocating for affordable housing can unite practitioners from different settings—such as child welfare services and mental health organizations—to address the multifaceted nature of homelessness and housing insecurity.
Intersecting Roles of a Policy Practitioner
Social workers engaged in policy practice operate at three levels: micro, mezzo, and macro. Each level involves distinct but interconnected roles:
Micro Level
At the micro level, social workers analyze individual client situations to identify systemic issues that impact clients’ lives.
Example: A clinical social worker may notice that several clients face housing instability due to local zoning laws. They can document these cases and gather data to advocate for policy changes that promote affordable housing.
Mezzo Level
At the mezzo level, social workers work with groups or communities to develop policy solutions.
Example: A group of social workers may form a coalition to address youth homelessness in their community. They engage stakeholders (schools, local businesses) to develop a supportive program that provides resources and mentorship for at-risk youth.
Macro Level
At the macro level, social workers engage in policy formulation and advocacy at broader societal levels.
Example: A social worker employed by a nonprofit organization may lobby for state legislation that increases funding for mental health services. They would conduct research, present findings to lawmakers, and mobilize community members to demonstrate public support for the initiative.
Conclusion
In conclusion, policy leadership within social work is vital for shaping effective social welfare systems that prioritize client well-being. Social workers must actively engage in policy advocacy at all levels—micro, mezzo, and macro—to ensure that their knowledge and commitment to improving human conditions drive the development of policies. By doing so, they not only enhance service accessibility but also unify the profession around shared values and goals aimed at promoting social justice.
