According To The Council On Social Work Education Competenci

According To The Council On Social Work Education Competency 5 Engag

According to the Council on Social Work Education, Competency 5: Engage in Policy Practice: Social workers understand that human rights and social justice, as well as social welfare and services, are mediated by policy and its implementation at the federal, state, and local levels. Social workers understand the history and current structures of social policies and services, the role of policy in service delivery, and the role of practice in policy development. Social workers understand their role in policy development and implementation within their practice settings at the micro, mezzo, and macro levels and they actively engage in policy practice to effect change within those settings. Social workers recognize and understand the historical, social, cultural, economic, organizational, environmental, and global influences that affect social policy.

They are also knowledgeable about policy formulation, analysis, implementation, and evaluation. Social workers: Identify social policy at the local, state, and federal level that impacts well-being, service delivery, and access to social services; Assess how social welfare and economic policies impact the delivery of and access to social services; Apply critical thinking to analyze, formulate, and advocate for policies that advance human rights and social, economic, and environmental justice. This assignment is intended to help students demonstrate the behavioral components of this competency in their field education. To prepare: Working with your field instructor, identify, evaluate, and discuss policies established by the local, state, and federal government (within the last five years) that affect the day to day operations of the field placement agency (Georgia Department of Family and Children Services).

The Assignment (1-2 pages): Describe the policies and their impact on the field agency. Propose specific recommendations regarding how you, as a social work intern, and the agency can advocate for policies pertaining to advancing social justice for the agency and the clients it serves.

Paper For Above instruction

The field of social work is deeply intertwined with policy practice, which serves as a cornerstone for advancing social justice and human rights. As a participant in field education at the Georgia Department of Family and Children Services (DFCS), I have identified several recent policies at local, state, and federal levels that significantly impact the agency’s operations, service delivery, and client access. This essay will describe these policies, analyze their effects on the agency, and propose strategies for advocacy to promote social justice both within the agency’s framework and for the vulnerable populations served.

One recent policy at the federal level is the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) of 2021, which provided targeted investments aimed at pandemic recovery, including funding increases for child welfare programs. This policy directly affected DFCS by increasing resources for child protective services, improving staffing levels, and expanding access to services for children and families facing economic hardship. Similarly, at the state level, Georgia’s implementation of the Georgia Families program, which manages Medicaid and broader health coverage, has had a profound influence on how health and social services are coordinated. Moreover, recent amendments to state foster care policies aim to improve permanency and permanency support services, affecting how DFCS operates in placement and permanency planning.

The impact of these policies on DFCS’s daily operations has been multifaceted. Increased federal funding and policy support have enabled the agency to bolster its workforce and improve service quality, which benefits the clients but also introduces challenges such as managing increased caseloads and complying with federal and state reporting requirements. Policies promoting permanency and family reunification have both improved outcomes for children but also placed additional pressure on social workers to navigate complex legal and social systems, sometimes leading to resource constraints and burnout among staff.

Despite these positive impacts, challenges remain. For example, the federal and state policies often lack sufficient consideration of racial and economic disparities, inadvertently perpetuating systemic inequalities. Additionally, policy changes frequently occur rapidly, and often without comprehensive consultation with front-line practitioners, leading to implementation gaps that hinder service delivery and client engagement.

To address these issues and advocate for social justice, I propose that as a social work intern and within the agency, proactive participation in policy advocacy is essential. Firstly, fostering continual dialogue with policymakers can help ensure frontline perspectives inform policy revisions. The agency can establish a dedicated policy advocacy committee comprising staff, clients, and community stakeholders to monitor policy developments and advocate for equitable policies. Moreover, staff training on policy analysis and advocacy can empower social workers to effectively communicate the impact of policies and suggest practical improvements.

Additionally, engaging clients and community members as partners in advocacy efforts is vital. This can be achieved through community forums, advocacy campaigns, and collaborations with local organizations focused on social justice issues such as economic inequality and racial disparities. Such efforts help amplify marginalized voices, ensuring policies are inclusive and equitable.

Finally, leveraging data-driven approaches can strengthen advocacy. By systematically collecting and analyzing data on service outcomes disaggregated by race, socioeconomic status, and other variables, the agency can identify disparities and compelling evidence to inform policy change. For example, if data shows disproportionate placements of children of color in foster care, this can catalyze targeted advocacy for policy revisions to address these inequities.

In conclusion, the policies enacted at federal and state levels significantly affect the operations of DFCS, influencing resource availability, service quality, and equity of access. As a future social worker, actively engaging in policy advocacy—grounded in an understanding of these policies and their social justice implications—is essential for fostering systemic change. Through strategic collaboration, community engagement, data utilization, and ongoing education, social work interns and agencies can influence policy development to promote justice, equality, and human rights for all clients.

References

• National Association of Social Workers. (2018). NASW standards for social work practice with families. NASW Press.
• Congressional Research Service. (2021). Child welfare policy: Trends and issues. CRS Report R47276.
• Georgia Department of Family and Children Services. (2022). Annual report on foster care and family services. Georgia DFCS Publications.
• Center for the Study of Social Policy. (2020). Promoting racial equity in child welfare. CSSP Reports.
• U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. (2021). Child welfare outcomes 2019: Report to Congress. Administration for Children & Families.
• Windsor, R. (2019). Policy and practice in social work: An introduction. Routledge.
• Reisch, M., & Jansson, B. (2019). Foundations of social policy (4th ed.). Routledge.
• Adams, R., & Gloss, A. (2020). Advocating for social justice in policy practice. Journal of Social Service Research, 46(2), 175-187.
• Graham, J. R. (2017). Social work and policy: Advancing social justice. Oxford University Press.
• National Association of Social Workers. (2022). Code of ethics. NASW.