Monday, January 11, 2010
The Dynamics of Social Welfare Policy – (Chap 1)
Read the following articles , then post your comments about the article of a minimum of 100 words. Postings are due weekly although students may post more than one commentary per week - but not multiple comments the last week of the semester. Five (5) points will be deducted from the students final grade for each late posting.
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ReplyDeleteThis article as well as so many other readings we have had in Social work 445, stress the importance of social policy and the affect it has not only on our clients but everyone as a whole. Social policies are put into place to enhance the lives of those who are less fortunate. Even though this is true, sometimes social policies are put into place to act as solutions to social problems but don't always follow through. When we as social workers run into problems such as an inadequate social policy, it is our job to advocate for our clients. Sometimes programs may lack the funds or financial means needed in order to provide services for our clients. There are five parts to social welfare policy. These parts are 1) income supports 2)employment 3) Housing 4)Health care and 5) Food. We as social workers must analyze all five of these in in order to better service our clients.
ReplyDeleteIt is very important to understand the policies that we work under as well as who are the people that are creating them and modifying them. Policies can hinder how a social worker works with a client. Policy can make it hard on a social worker to work with a client. Some social issues are difficult to handle because of the policies behind them. Some programs may lack in funds, resources, or how to handle the issue. There are several factors of why a policy may change. It may range from the economy, the government, politics, and most importantly…social workers! A social worker’s job is to advocate for all clients and stand against social injustice. Reading chapter one made me think of the country’s laws and debates that social workers may face. The hottest debate is the health care reform bill. The Health Care Reform calls for improving health care services, expanding the population that receives health care, provide better access to a health care provider, and affordable health services. The debate consists of the right of health care and who should have access to it. The United States is considered to be the wealthiest nation without universal health care. More social workers should evaluate their views and thoughts about the health reform. This should be given thought because it may affect some of their work ethic. Social workers should think about how the health reform would affect their clients. Workers should advocate pushing for patient care, patient protection, and affordable health care for clients.
ReplyDeleteThis article’s main focus was social policy and how it affects social workers, practice, and clients. What is social policy you may ask? Social policy primarily refers to guidelines and interventions for the changing, maintenance or creation of living conditions that are conducive to human welfare. Thus, social policy is that part of public policy that has to do with social issues. Some social policy programs include social security, unemployment insurance, healthcare, and host of many others. Social policy deals a lot with, and goes hand and hand with advocacy. It is very important that social workers advocate for clients to ensure that they receive the benefits of social policies.
ReplyDeleteIt has been really difficult for the people of Haiti. The earthquake is really devastating to watch unfold on the news and television. It is tragic to watch people worry about family members that they have not heard from since the earthquake. It is difficult to watch people walking the streets in search of food, water, medical care and other relief. People are being shoot because they are stealing food and water. But at a time where any person’s human instinct would kick in, what’s to do when you have nothing but survival? This article furthers the horror of what people of Haiti have encounter long before this disaster. The article focuses on the harsh treatment some people of Haiti have encountered during their detention at the facilities. Some U.S. representative felt that having this exposure of Haitians would cause greater risk of national security, even though they did not pose any threat. During the detention children and mothers were held in isolation, children had no type of play or activities. The harsh conditions of the facility caused fear, depression, attempts of suicide, and hunger strikes.
ReplyDeleteSocial policy is often associated with political figures, however social workers play a major role in the reform of social policy. The article describes social policy as it relates to social workers. The various policies that are in place have a direct affect on our clients. One of the major goals of a social worker is to act as an advocate for our clients. Social policy is one of the avenues to do so. Often there are various changes to social policy that need to be made. It is our responsibilty as social workers to fight for these amendments. Since we work so closely with clients, who better than a social worker to fight for what they need??
ReplyDeleteThis chapter gives a lot of background information about the dynamics of social welfare policy. It taught me some history about social problems, social policy, and social change. For, instance, the chapter discusses how social problems are constructed and defined. Also, the chapter describes the relationship between social policy and social workers. This information is very vital to me and other social work students/social workers. We should all understand how our profession affects and is affected by policy. The discussion about the five distinct factors that encompass the primary origins of the changes in social policy was very beneficial to me. The five factors are the economy, politics and the structure of government, ideology, social movements, and history. The text made me really think about the past, current, and future changes in social policy. All social workers should be aware of the processes involved in changing social policy and solving social problems.
ReplyDeleteChapter One
ReplyDeleteThe Dynamics of Social Welfare Policy
This chapter is about understanding social policy. It also lets you see what is best for your client and how you can help solve their problems. There are three elements entering into constructing a social problem: 1 choosing it, 2 framing or defining it, 3 offering an explanatory theory. We all can identify social problems and solve social change. When you try and solve a social problem you have to be very strong about being an advocate for it, and have the knowledge background. Social policy obstacles to effective social work practice include lack of resources, poor program design, and conflicting objectives. All of these elements affect social work practice. Knowledge of social welfare policy an essential part of any social workers repertoire. This chapter explains the entire different thing that effects change in policy. The dynamic model is the economy, politics, ideology, social movements, and history.
Blau, J., & Abramovitz, M. (2003). The Dynamics of Social Welfare Policy [Review of the book The Dynamics of Social Welfare Policy].
I like the way chapter one of "The Dynamics of Social Welfare Practice." It introduces Social Problems, Social Policy and Social Change to students. The chapter opens with telling how social workers face obstacles in practice, such as: lack of funding, lack of resources, and policies in place that hinder the social worker from helping their client. Although the social worker has good intentions, and knows what is best for their client, good intentions is not good enough. When social workers get frustrated with this constantly happening, they began to ask these questions: Why won't the system let me do what is best for my client? Why won't it let me just do my job? Is there something lacking in my social work skills, or even with me as a social worker? The chapter gives a short answer to this which is, although the frustration overtaking most social work students affects each of you as an individual, it has a structural cause. And this structural cause has its roots in a simple fact: every form of social work practice embodies a social policy. To understand this dynamic, we need to answer four key questions about the nature of the social issues with which we are engaged: (1) How do social problems get constructed? (2) Who gets to construct them? (3) How does the construction of a social problem help to create a social policy that shapes what social workers do? and (4) How do social policies change over time?
ReplyDeleteCitation: Blau, Joel, & Abramovitz, Mimi. (2004). The Dynamics of social welfare policy. Oxford University Press, USA.
Darayle Atkins Dynamics of Social Welfare Policy
ReplyDeleteSocial welfare policy explains the way society responds or don’t respond to the need of people. Taxes support social welfare programs so that they will be available to people when they need them. Social welfare policy has an enormous influence on work for professionals. The choices the government make about social welfare policy shape the lives of clients and how they can be help them. The choices by the government determine who pays and who will benefit from government spending. Social welfare policy refers to the principles, activities, or framework for action adopted by a government to ensure a socially defined level of individual, family, and community well-being.
Social welfare policy forms social welfare programs benefits, services, and needs for people. The tax system serves as an important instrument of social welfare policy beyond its role as a source of revenue for government programs. The tax code deductions for child care, mortgage interest payments, certain education costs, medical expenses, retirement, and dependents mirror government spending for child care programs, rent supplements, public housing, public education, health insurance and cash assistance programs. Social Welfare Policy played a dynamic role in segregation. Social Policy regulated between the races. Legal segregation and racial discrimination of every kind prevailed in the nation’s schools, workplaces, voting booth’s, restaurants, hospitals, beaches, drinking fountains, trains, buses, people and to separate the races wherever they might mingle.
In 1954, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that separate but equal schools were unconstitutional but until the 1960’s and the civil rights movement did the Congress begin to enact voting rights, antidiscrimination, and affirmative action laws to correct the history of unjust treatment of people of color. The dynamics of Social Work played a major role in the whole constitution of America. As I read more information I have realized how important social welfare policy is in today’s society.
This article is a great article for gaining a better understanding of the importance of policy in social work. It speaks about different aspects of policy such as how they social problems are constructed, who defines a social problem, and what social policy has to do with social work. Social policies make the job easier for social workers because they do not have to face unexpected barriers and can better help their clients. Without these policies in place, assisting a client can be difficult and frustrating. Some obstacles that social workers face are lack of resources, poor program design, and conflicting objectives. These obstacles can cause one to wonder if the a certain program or policy was designed to fail. It is important for social workers to be familiar with social welfare policies because social work practice so closely reflects social welfare policy and the knowledge of this can help a social worker on the job. After reading this article I feel that I better understand social policy and the important role it plays in helping clients. This is a career direction I will consider or something that I will have to encounter when helping my clients and understanding social policy now will only better my skills better for the future.
ReplyDeleteBlau, Joel. The Dynamics of Social Welfare Policy.2004.pgs 3-18.
*The Dynamics of Social Welfare Policy- For a Social Worker the importance of being familar with policies are critical. Policies effwect everything: from clients, to family, to ourselves. Although Social Policies are plentiful, at times they may not adequate. Social Policies do many things for our Society and m ust be kept that way. In the event that their is a descrepincy in a Social Policy, it is the Social Workers job to do whatever they can to report the policy. Social Policies are great resources that enabke the betterment of the "less fortunate". Social Policies govern the terms in which programs can be distributed. Social Policies help govern: employment, income support, housing, food, and health care. Like many other things, Social Policies are ever changing. It is important for a clinician to stay familar with the latest form of the policy. Social Workers must analyze Social Policies to help better service their client population. Social Policies change due to several different reasons. Social Workers themselves may change them or, the economy or, the government.
ReplyDeleteThis chapter was informative. It begins by stating how social workers are always faced with some kind of obstacle. It may be funding,lack of support, or policies that may try to prevent a social worker from accomplishing a goal. When this occurs, social workers must be persistent but also proactive and be their own advocate. Policy is often misinterpreted and is defined as any given principle, procedures, and guidelines that govern the social agencies that employ social workers and other professions. Due to the fact that policies are basically guidelines of how to govern an agency, it is an absolute necessity social workers take an active interest in policy making. Policies affect everyone and has been a huge factor in education and human resources just to name a few. It is impossible for a social worker to be effective if she/he are not familiar with the surrounding policies and guidelines.
ReplyDeleteBlau Joe, The Dynamics of Social Welfare Policy,2004.
ReplyDeleteChapter 1 Introduction : Social Problems , Social Policy , Social Change
This chapter first talks about the obstacles that Social Workers run into on a daily basis. For example most of the time a competent Social Worker's main goal is to provide the client with the best possible resources and services that one can offer. However no matter how good the intentions of the Social Worker may be resources and funds are just so scarce at times that they only can provide their client with the bare essentials of life. This in turn has nothing to do with the Social Worker's determination to do their best for the client, it has to do with everyday life issues that Social Worker's alone can not solve on their own.The book speaks of a structural cause that sometimes limits Social Workers in funds and resources depending on what type of agency they work for. The book states that "However much we as individuals try to help a client, our capacity to do so ultimately depends on the design of the program, benefit, or service.(Blau, 2004)".In trying to expand resources, and opportuinities for clients it is imperative to explore social policies.Social Workers should always be knowledgable about all new policies developments in order to service their clients effectively.