This Week: How Social Welfare Policies Emerge
His Week You Will Explore How Social Welfare Policies Emerge And Deve
His Week You Will Explore How Social Welfare Policies Emerge And Deve
his week, you will explore how social welfare policies emerge and develop. Given the professional and ethical commitment that social work has to social justice, exploration of policy development and evaluation is appropriate. Social work plays an integral role in determining the direction of policies, their implementation, and evaluation. Choose two familiar past or current local, state, or federal social policies. Explore and explain how social workers may have influenced the development, implementation, and evaluation of these policies.
Also, assess how social work has been influenced by the policies. Note: You will work with one of these policies later on in the course. Posts should reflect your personal and professional experience—and all posts and responses should be supported by recent scholarly research with APA-formatted citations and references. 300 words
Paper For Above instruction
The development, implementation, and evaluation of social welfare policies are deeply intertwined with the advocacy and influence of social workers, who serve as pivotal agents of social justice. This paper examines two influential policies—Medicaid and the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)—and explores their relationship with social work practice, emphasizing how social workers have shaped these policies and how the policies, in turn, have impacted social work.
Medicaid, established in 1965, significantly expanded access to healthcare for vulnerable populations. Social workers played an instrumental role in advocating for Medicaid’s development by highlighting healthcare disparities faced by impoverished and marginalized groups. They participated in policy discussions, pushed for coverage expansions, and provided grassroots support. As a result, Medicaid has become a cornerstone of social service provision, especially within community health and medical social work. The policy’s ongoing evolution reflects social workers’ influence through ongoing advocacy aimed at increasing coverage and reducing health inequities (Kaiser Family Foundation, 2022).
Similarly, the FMLA of 1993 was influenced by social workers advocating for family rights and workplace protections. Social workers championed legislative efforts to allow employees to take unpaid leave for medical or family reasons without economic penalty. Their involvement in policy advocacy, research, and community organizing helped shape FMLA’s provisions. The policy enabled social workers in employment settings to support clients in navigating leave policies and advocating for workplace accommodations. Conversely, FMLA has affected social work by providing a legal framework for family support, enabling professionals to better assist clients facing work-family conflicts, thereby reinforcing social work’s commitment to family welfare and social justice (McGraw et al., 2021).
In conclusion, social workers have historically influenced the development and implementation of policies like Medicaid and FMLA. These policies also shape social work practice, highlighting a reciprocal relationship rooted in social justice advocacy. Understanding this dynamic enhances social workers’ ability to advocate effectively and deliver equitable services.
References
- Kaiser Family Foundation. (2022). Medicaid Policy and Eligibility. https://www.kff.org/medicaid/issue-brief/medicaid-policy-and-eligibility/
- McGraw, P., Powers, P., & Burgess, D. (2021). The Impact of Family and Medical Leave Act on Social Work Practice. Journal of Social Welfare & Family Law, 43(2), 203-217.