RESPONSE 1

Respond to a colleague with a discussion of why the evaluation of policies is often controversial and political and how the values of evaluation conflict adhere to social work values. What policy advocacy skills can social workers use to ensure that appropriate evaluations are being conducted on policies?

Colleague: Jennifer

Values of evaluation conflict adhere to social work values due to assessment being the beginning of policy change. Research has indicated that evidence-based policies encompass positive outcomes that are reviewed with research (Jansson, 2017). This correlates with social work values since social workers are derived from evidence-based practices.

Practices that can be utilized to defend the feasibility is doing a follow up evaluation to ensure that the evidence-based practice is still effective. Policy assessments involves asking questions, assessing changes, assessing differences if the policy was removed or changed (Jansson, 2017). Therefore, it is vital to ensure the policy that has been implemented is still effective after a period of time. These core values of social workers encompass a unique purpose that includes: service, social justice, dignity and worth of the person, importance of human relationships, integrity, competence (National Association of Social Workers, 2017).

References

Jansson, B. S. (2017). Becoming an effective policy advocate: From policy practice to social justice (8th ed.). Pacific Grove, CA: Brooks/Cole Cengage Learning Series.

National Assocaition of Social Workers. (2008). NASW Code of Ethics. Retrieved https://www.socialworkers.org/About/Ethics/Code-of-Ethics/Code-of-Ethics-English

RESPONSE 2

Respond to a colleague with suggestions on how he or she can put his or her policy advocacy into action. Discuss which policy advocacy skills you can use as a social worker in all levels of practice.

Colleague: Demetria

As a social worker it is my ethical duty and own personal goal to make society a better place. Creating a healthier and more socially just society is the goal of social work (NASW. 2008). Working on a macro level is a skill that all social workers should acquire. Political issues effect clients that social workers will be working with. Being able to successfully advocate for change is imperative. Social workers are able to understand the need for change on the ground level and tell clients stories or empower them to speak out about their own experiences. Social workers also are able to understand how social issues are affecting clients and society in general. The information that social workers have and can gather may have sway on whether policies change or not. An area of social welfare in which social work policy advocacy is needed is child welfare. The child welfare system is in desperate need of policy changes and overhauls. The policies that were in place and some that are newly put into place at child welfare are hindering the clients more than helping.

References

Jansson, B. S. (2018). Becoming an effective policy advocate: From policy practice to social justice (8th ed.). Pacific Grove, CA: Brooks/Cole Cengage Learning Series.

NASW Code of Ethics. (2008). Retrieved November 09, 2017, from https://www.socialworkers.org/About/Ethics/Code-of-Ethics/Code-of-Ethics-English

Swank, E. W. (2012). Predictors of political activism among social work students. Journal of Social Work Education,48(2), 245-266. Doi:10.5175/JSWE.2012.200900111.