Social Work Department

Goals and Objectives

1. Knowledge—To gain an understanding of:
   1. The history and current context of social welfare policies and services in the U.S.
   2. Poverty in the U.S. and government assistance to the poor
   3. The role of social action and social movements in the development of social welfare policies and services
   4. The influence of racism and sexism on social welfare policies and services
   5. The process of implementing and evaluating social welfare policies
   6. Major social welfare programs and services
   7. The role of values in policy development and analysis
2. Values
   1. To demonstrate positive regard for individual worth and dignity, human diversity, client self-determination, equitable access to needed resources, and humane and responsive institutional practices and service delivery
   2. To analyze personal values in relation to the values of the profession and social welfare policies supported by the profession
3. Skills
   1. To develop skills in analysis of social welfare policies and services
   2. To develop and apply critical thinking skills in policy analysis
   3. To apply skills of change that advance social and economic justice in policy analysis
   4. To analyze the impact of social policies on clients, practitioners and agencies
   5. To use policy analysis to seek organizational change

SW 2050 Introduction to Social Welfare Policy

and

SW 3450 Social Welfare Policy and Services

Statement—Directions:

1. Read the goals and objectives for the policy course in the curriculum.
2. Review the assignments you completed for this course, including in-class assignments.
3. Choose ONE assignment to add to your portfolio. Choose an assignment that you feel was most instrumental in your mastery of the course objectives.
4. Then, answer each of the following questions separately in a one-page typed double-spaced response. Be sure to link your comments to the goals and objectives for this component of the social work curriculum.

Attach the original OR a copy of the assignment to the paper. (Your portfolio statements will not be returned to you until you are enrolled in SW 4550 Social Work Seminar.)

1. How did this assignment help you to understand the role of social welfare policies in the provision of social services?
2. How did this assignment help you to understand the role of values in the development, implementation and/or analysis of social policies ?
3. How did this assignment help you to analyze the impact of social policies on clients, practitioners and/or agencies?
4. Did you do your best with this assignment? If not, tell us why. If you did not do your best, how could you have improved your performance?
5. What areas of social welfare policy do you think you should focus on for future learning and skill development?