SW 508: ✔ Factors to consider in

choosing the social policy

Social Policy intervention
Development ✔Issuance of social policy
(writing the
policy)
S.Y. 2022-2023
MAE N. ETONG
Instructor:
Sheela Dela Cruz,RSW
Objectives:
At the end of the session the students are to:
To identify different factors to consider on choosing a
policy intervention
To be familiar with the basic contents of a policy paper and a
policy brief.
Factors to consider in choosing the
social policy intervention
The factors which affect and determine social policy are not only
the needs of society and individuals but also are ideological
movements, crime rates, unemployment, media, politics, industrial
groups, and violence, such economic factors as debit and
recession and the nature of welfare state (social democratic,
liberal, etc.
Social policy interventions are designed to address social problems and improve the well-being of
individuals and communities. According to 1, the factors that affect and determine social policy are
not only the needs of society and individuals but also ideological movements, crime rates,
unemployment, media, politics, industrial groups, violence, economic factors such as debt and
recession, and the nature of the welfare state (social democratic, liberal, etc.).

When choosing a social policy intervention, it is important to consider the following factors 2:

The nature of the problem or issue being addressed

The target population or group
The resources available for implementation
The political climate and public opinion
The potential impact of the intervention on individuals and
communities
 Developing an Intervention
1. Identify the community problem/goal to be addressed and what needs to
be done. Include:
Statement of the community problem/goal to be addressed
Specific behaviors of whom that need to change
Improvements in community-level outcomes that should result
2. Assess the level of the problem or goal. Some types of assessment include:
Direct observation of the problem or goal
Conducting behavioral surveys
Interviewing key people in the community
Reviewing archival or existing records
3. Describe the prioritized groups to benefit and those implementing the intervention. Include

Targets of change or prioritized groups for whom behaviors or outcomes should change

Agents of change or those implementing the intervention

4. Indicate how you will obtain clients' input, identifying and analyzing problems and goals to be
addressed by the intervention. Consider how you will use:

Personal contacts - Who will you speak with about what?

Interviews - What questions will you ask of whom about the problem or goal and possible interventions?

Focus groups - From what groups will you seek what kinds of information?

Community forums - What public situations would present an opportunity for you to discuss the problem
or goal, and how will you use the opportunity?

Concerns surveys - What questions of whom will you ask about the problem or goal and potential
solutions?
5. Analyze the problem or goal to be addressed by the intervention. Use client input to specify

Those for whom the current situation is a problem. Who is affected by the issue, problem, or goal?

The negative (positive) consequences for those directly affected and the broader community. What effect does the
problem or issue have on the lives of those affected?

Personal and environmental factors to be influenced (i.e., people's experience and history; knowledge and skills;
barriers and opportunities; social support and caring relationships; living conditions that put them at risk for or
protect them from experiencing certain problems).

The behavior or lack of behavior that causes or maintains the problem. What behaviors of whom would need to
change for the problem (or goal) to be eliminated (addressed).

Who benefits and how from the situation staying the same (economically, politically).

The conditions that need to change for the issue to be resolved (e.g., skills, opportunities, financial resources,
trusting relationships).

The appropriate level at which the problem or goal should be addressed (e.g., by individuals, families,
neighborhoods, city or county government), and whether the organization has the capacity to influence such
changes).
6. Set goals and objectives for what "success" would look like. Include:

A description of what success would look like. How will the community or
group be different if the intervention is successful?
Those goals the intervention is targeted to accomplish. How will you know if
your intervention is successful?
The specific objectives the intervention will achieve. What will change by how
much and by when?
7. Identify and assess "best practices" or "evidence-based interventions" that could help address the
problem or goal. Indicate:

Potential or promising “best practices” for your situation (consider various available databases and lists of “best”
or evidence-based practices)

How strong is the evidence that each potential “best practice” caused the observed improvement? (Rather than
other associated conditions or potential influences)

Whether the “best practice” could achieve the desired results in your community

Whether the conditions (e.g., time, money, people, technical assistance) that affect success for the “best
practice” are present

(Based on the assessment) The “best practice” or evidence-based approach to be tried in your situation (Note: If
no “best practices” are known or appropriate to your situation, follow the steps below to design or adapt another
intervention.)
8. (Based on the assessment and literature) Specify the core components and elements of the
intervention. Be specific about elements to be included for each of these five intervention components:

Providing information and enhancing skills (e.g., conduct a public information campaign to
educate people about the problem or goal and how to address it)
Modifying access, barriers, exposures, and opportunities (e.g., increase availability of
affordable childcare for those entering work force; reduce exposures to stressors)
Enhancing services and supports (e.g., increase the number of centers that provide health
care)
Changing the consequences (e.g., provide incentives to develop housing in low-income
areas)
Modifying policies and broader systems (e.g., change business or public policies to address
the goal)
9. Identify the mode of delivery through which each component and element of the
intervention will be delivered in the community (e.g., workshops for skill training).
10. Indicate how you will adapt the intervention or "best practice" to fit the needs and
context of your community (e.g., differences in resources, cultural values, competence,
language).
11. Develop an action plan for the intervention. Include:
What specific change or aspect of the intervention will occur?
Who will carry it out?
When the intervention will be implemented or how long it will be maintained?
Resources (money and staff) needed/ available?
Who should know what about this?
12. Pilot-test the intervention on a small scale. Determine
how to:
Test the intervention and with whom
Assess the quality of implementation of the intervention
Assess results and consequences or side effects
Collect and use feedback to adapt and improve the intervention
13. Implement the intervention, and monitor and evaluate
the process (e.g., quality of implementation, satisfaction)
and outcomes (e.g., attainment of objectives).
What influences the selection of methods and
interventions?

The selection of methods and interventions is further

influenced by the social worker’s underlying belief
systems, value bases, and theoretical preferences. The
term intervention is sometimes challenged within
social work because of its suggestion of doing
something to others without their consent.
WRITING A POLICY
PAPER
ONE WAY TO UNDERSTAND THE DIMENSIONS OF A POLICY PAPER IS TO JUXTAPOSE IT
AGAINST OTHER COMMON RESEARCH VEHICLES:

DISCUSSION PAPERS DISSEMINATE RESEARCH QUICKLY IN ORDER TO GENERATE

COMMENT AND SUGGESTIONS FOR
REVISION OR IMPROVEMENT. THEY MAY HAVE BEEN PRESENTED AT CONFERENCES OR
WORKSHOPS ALREADY, BUT WILL
NOT YET HAVE BEEN PUBLISHED IN JOURNALS.

BACKGROUND PAPERS OUTLINE CURRENT POLICIES AND ALTERNATIVE SOLUTIONS TO

A PARTICULAR SOCIAL ISSUE
OR PROBLEM.[SO WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE?] == POLICY PAPERS OFTEN BEGIN WITH
DISCUSSION PAPERS AND
BACKGROUND PAPERS AS RESOURCES, BUT ARE MUCH MORE COMPREHENSIVE IN
GOAL AND SCOPE.
POLICY PAPERS

ARE CRITICAL ANALYSES OF AN IMPORTANT

SOCIAL ISSUE OR PROBLEM THAT INVOLVES
THE RESEARCH AND DEVELOP OF A DEFENSIBLE
PLAN (POLICY PROPOSAL) FOR SOLVING THE
PROBLEM AND FORMULATE WORKABLE
STRATEGIES FOR IMPLEMENTING THE PLAN.
 THREE OBEJCTIVES:

AIMS TO IDENTIFY KEY POLICY ISSUES;

APPLY THE BEST AND MOST UP-TO-DATE RESEARCH
TO HELP UNDERSTAND THESE ISSUES; AND
EXPLORES THE IMPLICATIONS OF THIS RESEARCH FOR
THE DESIGN AND CONDUCT OF POLICY.
THE PROSPECTIVE OUTCOME:
POLICY PAPERS ARE GENERALLY EXPECTED TO INCREASE THE
INVOLVEMENT OF ORGANIZATIONS AND
INDIVIDUALS IN AND IMPORTANT EFFORT AT SOME LEVEL,

[1] WHETHER IT BE SUPPORTING AND/OR ENDORSING THE

POLICY PAPER,
[2] ADOPTING THE USE OF THE SET OF CRITERIA,
[3] JOINING A WORKING GROUP, COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP,
ETC., AND/OR
[4] EDUCATING OTHERS ON THIS TOPIC.
THE ORIENTATION:

PRESENTATION {TAILORED FOR RELEVANT

AUDIENCES/STAKEHOLDERS};
MANAGEABILITY AND DIGESTIBILITY {STRUCTURED
TO FAC ILITATE ACCESS TO MAJOR POINTSAND
ARGUMENTS};
MAXIMUM IMPACT {SOLUTIONS GUIDED BY
PRACTICABILITY AND IMPLEMENTABLILITY}
POLICY PAPERS NEED TO BE FORMAL,
CONCISE, STRAIGHTFORWARD,
ORGANIZED, LOGICAL, THOUGHTFUL,WELL
RESEARCHED, WELL SUPPORTED, WELL
WRITTEN, AND WELL ARGUED.
STRUCTURE OF POLICY PAPER

INTRODUCTION:
ABSTRACT/ EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: THE ABSTRACT IS
NUMBERED PAGE TWO (2). IT IS NOT PART OF THE
PAPER. THE ABSTRACT DESCRIBES THE PAPER IN THE
THIRD PERSON. THE ABSTRACT SHOULD NOT BE
WRITTEN, UNTIL AFTER YOUR PAPER IS COMPLETED.
 EXAMPLE FORMAT TEMPLATES
I. INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND OF THE ISSUE.

THE PURPOSE OF THIS SECTION IS TO PROVIDE THE READER WITH BACKGROUND

INFORMATION ABOUT THE SOCIAL ISSUE. QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER ARE AS FOLLOWS:

∙ HOW DID THE ISSUE ORIGINATE? WHAT IS THE HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF THE
ISSUE? ARE THERE CRITICAL INCIDENTS WHICH EMPHASIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF THE
ISSUE?

∙ WHY IS THIS AN IMPORTANT ISSUE FOR SOCIETY AT LARGE AND POLICY MAKERS
TO ADDRESS? WHY SHOULD CITIZENS BE CONCERNED WITH THIS ISSUE?

∙ WHAT PHILOSOPHICAL OR ETHICAL ISSUES UNDERSCORE THE IMPORTANCE OF

THE ISSUE?
II. STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
THE PURPOSE OF THIS SECTION IS TO ANALYZE THE SPECIFIC ISSUES RELATED TO
THE PROBLEM YOUR GROUP HAS CHOSEN AND THE SOCIETAL CONSEQUENCES IF
THIS PROBLEM CONTINUES UNADDRESSED. QUESTIONS TO FOCUS ON IN THIS
SECTION ARE AS FOLLOWS:
∙ WHAT EVIDENCE IS THERE SUGGESTING A CHANGE IS POLICY IS NEEDED?
∙ HOW DOES THE PROBLEM AFFECT CRITICAL POPULATIONS, GROUPS, AND
SOCIETY AT LARGE?
∙ WHAT IS THE SPECIFIC PROBLEM? (DEFINE THE SPECIFIC PROBLEM.)
∙ WHAT ARE THE MAJOR CAUSES OF THE PROBLEM?
WHAT ARE THE KEY QUESTIONS, ETHICAL DEBATES, OR CONTROVERSIES
ASSOCIATED WITH THE PROBLEM?
 III. CURRENT POLICIES
THE PURPOSE OF THIS SECTION IS TO ANALYZE CURRENT POLICIES (OR PROGRAMS) THAT
DEAL WITH THE PROBLEM. THE QUESTIONS TO ADDRESS ARE AS FOLLOWS:

∙ WHAT ASPECT OF THE PROBLEM ARE CURRENT POLICIES (OR PROGRAMS) TRYING TO
SOLVE?
∙ HAVE THESE POLICIES SOLVED, ALLEVIATED, EXACERBATED, OR HAD NO EFFECT ON
THE PROBLEM? WHY OR WHY NOT?
∙ WHO SUPPORTS THE CURRENT POLICIES? WHY DO THEY SUPPORT THEM?
∙ WHAT ARE THE MAJOR FLAWS OR LIMITATIONS OF THE CURRENT POLICIES?
∙ WHO IS IN FAVOR OF CHANGING THE CURRENT POLICIES? WHY DO THEY WANT TO
CHANGE THEM?(THESE QUESTIONS CAN SERVE AS A TRANSITION TO THE NEXT SECTION OF
THE PAPER.)
 IV. ALTERNATIVE SOLUTIONS
THE PURPOSE OF THIS SECTION IS TO ANALYZE TWO OR THREE ALTERNATIVE SOLUTIONS TO THE
PROBLEM. IN SELECTING THE ALTERNATIVE SOLUTIONS, CHOOSE ALTERNATIVES THAT HAVE BEEN
SERIOUSLY PROPOSED BY ADVOCATES OR POLICY MAKERS. YOU DO NOT HAVE TO ANALYZE EVERY
POSSIBLE ALTERNATIVE, BUT YOU SHOULD ANALYZE ALTERNATIVES THAT HAVE BEEN OR ARE BEING
SERIOUSLY CONSIDERED. EXPANDING (OR MODIFYING) CURRENT POLICIES (OR PROGRAMS) CAN BE
TREATED AS ONE OF THE ALTERNATIVE SOLUTIONS. FOR EACH ALTERNATIVE SOLUTION, ANALYZE ITS
STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES AND DISCUSS WHICH GROUPS, OPINION LEADERS, OR POLICY MAKERS
SUPPORT OR REJECT IT. ULTIMATELY, KEEP IN MIND THAT YOU MIGHT BE REJECTING THESE
ALTERNATIVE SOLUTIONS OR USING PARTS OF THEM FOR YOUR OWN POLICY PROPOSAL IN THE NEXT
SECTION OF THE PAPER. THE QUESTIONS TO ADDRESS ARE AS FOLLOWS:
∙ WHAT ARE THE ALTERNATIVES TO THE CURRENT POLICIES?
∙ WHAT ARE THE STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES OF THE ALTERNATIVES? WHY?
∙ WHO SUPPORTS AND OPPOSES THE ALTERNATIVES? WHY?
∙ WHY HAVEN'T THESE ALTERNATIVES BEEN MADE INTO POLICY? IS THERE SOME FATAL FLAW
INHERENT IN THEM OR IN THE WAY THAT SOCIETY VIEWS THEM? IS THERE ANOTHER REASON WHY
THESE ALTERNATIVES HAVEN’T BEEN IMPLEMENTED?
V. POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS, FEASIBILITY & IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGIES {OR
THIS SECTION IS SOMETIMES CALLED – “ACTION PLAN” (PROACTIVE
CONNOTATION)}

THE PURPOSE OF THIS SECTION IS TO FORMULATE AN EFFECTIVE POLICY PROPOSAL FOR THE PROBLEM YOU ARE ADDRESSING,
DEMONSTRATE THAT YOUR PROPOSAL IS PRACTICAL AND FEASIBLE, AND PROVE THAT YOUR PROPOSAL WILL WORK. THE QUESTIONS
TO ADDRESS ARE AS FOLLOWS:
∙ WHAT ARE THE SPECIFIC POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS THAT YOUR GROUP IS PROPOSING TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM? WHAT SPECIFIC
ADMINISTRATIVE OR LEGAL GUIDELINES WILL YOUR POLICY PROVIDE?
∙ HOW DOES YOUR POLICY PROPOSAL SOLVE THE PROBLEM BETTER THAN CURRENT POLICY OR ANY OF THE ALTERNATIVES? WHAT
EVIDENCE CAN YOU OFFER THAT DEMONSTRATES YOUR PROPOSAL WILL BE EFFECTIVE? WHAT REASONING AND/OR EVIDENCE CAN
YOU PROVIDE THAT DEMONSTRATES YOUR PROPOSAL IS FEASIBLE AND WORKABLE?
∙ WHAT LEGISLATIVE BODY, AGENCY, OR OTHER POLICY-MAKING GROUP WILL NEED TO APPROVE YOUR PROPOSAL IN ORDER FOR
IT TO BE IMPLEMENTED? WHAT AGENCY OR GROUP WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ADMINISTERING YOUR PROPOSAL?
∙ HOW MIGHT YOU GO ABOUT INFLUENCING THESE SPECIFIC GROUPS SO THAT YOUR PROPOSAL WILL BE ADOPTED? WHAT
SPOKESPERSONS OR POLICY MAKERS MIGHT REALISTICALLY BE INTERESTED IN SUPPORTING YOUR PROPOSAL? WHAT EVIDENCE CAN
YOU PROVIDE WHICH INDICATES THESE PEOPLE WILL BE LIKELY TO SERVE AS ADVOCATES FOR YOUR PROPOSAL? WHAT OTHER
GROUPS MIGHT YOU ENTICE TO FORM A COALITION IN SUPPORT OF YOUR PROPOSAL? WHAT OTHER IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGIES
MIGHT YOU USE TO GAIN SUPPORT FOR YOUR PROPOSAL?
∙ WHAT ARE THE MOST CRITICAL OBSTACLES (FINANCIAL, LEGAL, ETHICAL, OR POLITICAL) YOU ANTICIPATE IN IMPLEMENTING
YOUR POLICY PROPOSAL? HOW DO YOU PLAN TO OVERCOME THESE OBSTACLES? WHAT POLICY-MAKERS OR GROUPS MIGHT BE
OPPOSED TO YOUR PROPOSAL? WHY WOULD THEY BE OPPOSED TO YOUR PROPOSAL? HOW WILL YOU COUNTERACT THE INFLUENCE OF
THESE POLICY-MAKERS AND GROUPS?
∙ ARE THERE ADDITIONAL BENEFITS OR ADVANTAGES OF YOUR PROPOSAL? IF YOUR POLICY PROPOSAL IS ADOPTED, HOW SOON
MIGHT WE SEE RESULTS? WHAT CHANGES CAN WE EXPECT TO SEE RIGHT AWAY? FIVE YEARS FROM NOW?
VI. SUMMATION AND CONCLUSION
THIS SECTION IS THE CAPSTONE OF YOUR POLICY PAPER, AND, AS
SUCH, SHOULD BRIEFLY SUMMARIZE THE ARGUMENT YOU HAVE
MADE. THIS SECTION SHOULD ALSO INCLUDE A FINAL PERSUASIVE
APPEAL TO YOU READER(S).

VII. WORKS CITED OR REFERENCE PAGE

THIS SECTION CONTAINS THE WORKS CITED PAGE (FOR MLA) OR
REFERENCE PAGE (FOR APA). ONLY LIST REFERENCES CITED IN THE TEXT
OF THE PAPER. FOLLOW APA/MLA PROCEDURES WHEN FORMATTING EACH
REFERENCE.
THANK YOU SO
MUCH
AND GOD BLESS