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Social Work Assignment

Student

Institution

Instructor

Course ‘
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Social Policy

In order to meet the demands and difficulties that Americans as individuals and

families confront, American social policy is essential. Professionals in social work have a

critical role in comprehending, evaluating, and advocating for social policy reforms that

would improve the wellbeing of clients and communities (Kirst-Ashman & Hull Jr, 2018). A

society's social difficulties and problems are addressed and resolved by a series of

government initiatives, laws, regulations, and programs known as social policy. According to

Kirst-Ashman and Hull Jr. (2018), these problems might affect poverty, healthcare,

education, housing, and other sectors. Social policy's main goals are to advance social justice

and equality as well as raise people's standards of living.

Social policy acts as a crucial framework that affects the generalist social work

practitioners' practice in the field of social work. Social workers handle the needs of

individuals, families, and communities on a variety of scales, including micro, meso, and

macro. Additionally, they practice policy to bring about change in these environments. For

instance, they point out local, state, and federal policies that affect access to social services,

service delivery, and well-being (Kirst-Ashman & Hull Jr., 2018). They utilize critical

thinking to study, develop, and advocate for policies that promote human rights and social,

economic, and environmental justice. They evaluate how social welfare and economic

policies impact the provision of and access to social services. Consider a family that has

housing instability and limited access to healthcare to demonstrate the effects of social policy.

A social worker could point out laws governing access to affordable housing and healthcare

that have an impact on this family's circumstance. Lack of access to stable housing and high-

quality healthcare for the family may upset established family roles, norms, and power

relations. It can cause the family system to experience more stress, uncertainty, and general

ill health.
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A social worker might use the change process to draw attention to these problems and

promote change. The steps in this approach include identifying the issue, gathering pertinent

information, evaluating the family's strengths and needs, and creating mutually agreeable

intervention goals and objectives based on the critical evaluation. To modify relevant

policies, social workers may engage with advocacy groups, lawmakers, and community

organizations (Kirst-Ashman & Hull Jr., 2018). They may try to enhance the family's living

circumstances and general well-being by highlighting the significance of inexpensive housing

and easy access to healthcare. Social workers must take into account the distinct cultural and

environmental aspects that affect the family's condition, therefore cultural sensitivity and

competency are crucial throughout this process. It's critical to approach lobbying with

consideration for cultural variety and, if feasible, engage the family in decision-making.

Human Behavior

Understanding the theories and constructions relating to human behaviour is essential

for successful intervention since human behaviour is a major component of social work

practice. This essay, which is based on the 2016 book "The Skills of Helping Individuals,

Families, Groups, and Communities" by Shulman, Krause, and Cameron, will examine the

importance of human behaviour in the context of social work practice. Human behaviour is a

primary concern in social work because it directs interactions between social workers and

their clients. The book underlines the need of social workers merging their personal and

professional lives and condemns the artificial division between the two. This fusion is

essential because it enables social workers to develop stronger relationships with their clients

and provide more efficient care (Shulman, Krause, & Cameron, 2016). The book also

advocates abandoning the medical paradigm, which uses a four-step model taken from

medicine, and switching to a more interactive strategy for understanding and treating human

behaviour.
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The oppression model and resilience theory are two fundamental ideas of human

behaviour that are emphasized throughout the book. awareness the dynamics of helping,

oppression, vulnerability, and resilience requires an awareness of these ideas (Hutchison,

2018). According to Hutchison (2018), the oppression model focuses on how different types

of oppression impact people differently depending on their ethnicity, gender, sexual

orientation, physical and mental capabilities, and other characteristics. Social professionals

must understand how oppression affects their clients and be equipped to deal with these

problems. Resilience theory, on the other hand, stresses the qualities and resilience that

clients possess, helping them to get beyond major challenges in their life. When dealing with

clients, social workers must be aware of and capitalize on these strengths (Hutchison, 2018).

The relationship between knowledge, desired goals, and skills in social work practice is

highlighted in the book's last section. Our approach is informed by what we understand about

social structures and human behaviour. This information helps in creating concrete objectives

and results for clients, which in turn direct the interventions and tactics used by social

workers.

Social Justice and identity

Identity and social justice are two intricately entwined ideas that have profound

effects on both the profession of social work and larger societal dynamics. Drawing from the

topics and ideas given in these sources, social workers should address the more general

notions of social justice and identity. Social work practice is governed by the core premise of

social justice, which promotes fairness, equality, and the defence of human rights. It covers

the notion that each person and group in society ought to have the same fundamental

freedoms, opportunities, and resources (Park, 2008). The goal of social work is to confront

and correct structural injustices and inequities. Social work has a strong foundation in the
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quest of social justice. Social workers support vulnerable and disadvantaged groups by

empowering them and fighting for their rights.

On the other hand, identity refers to the distinctive qualities and traits that characterize

a person or a group (Mokuau, 2008). Race, gender, sexual orientation, social class, and

cultural background are a few examples of these qualities. The experiences and relationships

a person has in society have a big impact on their identity. It affects how people are seen, the

possibilities available to them, and the difficulties they encounter (Mokuau, 2008). For social

workers to effectively serve clients and promote social justice, they must have a thorough

understanding of the intersectionality of identities, which is the process by which different

facets of a person's identity overlap.

Park (2008) uses the World War II internment of Japanese Americans as a historical

example to show how social workers contributed to injustice. This gloomy period in

American history serves as a stark reminder of the negative effects of discriminatory laws

that singled out a certain group based on their ethnic or cultural identity (Mokuau, 2008). As

professionals committed to social justice, social workers ought to have led the charge against

such practices (Park, 2008). Instead, their role in assisting the incarceration puts into question

the ethics and responsibilities of the profession.

Social workers must identify and combat systematic prejudices and discrimination in

order to address issues of social justice and identity (Mokuau, 2008). They need to support

laws and procedures that advance inclusion and equality. For the purpose of overthrowing

oppressive regimes and advancing social justice, it is crucial to comprehend the dynamics of

power and privilege (Park, 2008). Social workers are better able to serve their clients in a way

that is more culturally competent and responsive when they recognize and value the diversity

of their identities. The source notes that in order to address the dual role it often plays in

implementing social programs and protecting individuals who are harmed by them, the social
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work profession must also face its own past. The conflict between the profession's duties and

ideals does not just exist in historical examples; it also exists in social work practice now.

Social workers need to constantly evaluate how they are advancing social justice and

assisting people on their identity journeys.

Social workers must modify their practices to reflect the shifting dynamics of identity

and social justice as the globe encounters new crises and difficulties. The experiences of

people and communities are still shaped by issues pertaining to immigration, ethnicity,

gender, sexual orientation, and environmental justice (Mokuau, 2008). Regardless of who

they are, social workers must always fight for the rights and welfare of everyone.

Additionally, they must embrace the international arena and understand that social justice

transcends national boundaries.

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References

Hutchison, E. D. (2018). Dimensions of human behavior: Person and environment. Sage

Publications.

Kirst-Ashman, K. K., & Hull Jr, G. H. (2018). Brooks/Cole empowerment series:

Understanding generalist practice. Cengage Learning.

Mokuau N, Garlock-Tuiali’i J, & Lee P. (2008). Has social work met its commitment to

Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders? A review of the periodical

literature. Social Work, 53(2), 115–121. https://doi.org/10.1093/sw/53.2.115

Park, Y. (2008). Facilitating injustice: Tracing the role of social workers in the World War II

internment of Japanese Americans. Social Service Review, 82(3), 447-483.

Shulman, L., Krause, D., & Cameron, M. (2016). The skills of helping individuals, families,

groups and communities. Cengage Learning Empowerment Series.