Policy practice refers to
the skills and strategies of those who seek to modify policies at all levels of
social work practice, whereas policy advocacy describes efforts to change
policies to gain greater resources and opportunities for powerless,
disadvantaged, and oppressed groups (Jansson, 2019).
In an essay discuss why it
is important for social workers to embrace a policy leadership role.
This is to be an
integrated essay, with an introduction and thesis statement, body, conclusion,
citations and a list of references. Cite a minimum of three scholarly
peer-reviewed sources in your essay and include a list of references. The essay
and all citations and references are to be in APA format. In developing the
essay, address the following prompts:
- Explain what constitutes a policy
leadership role within the field of social work. - Explain what can happen if social
workers fail to exert policy leadership, allowing others with less
commitment to client well-being and less dedication to improving the human
condition to shape the social welfare and human service delivery systems. - Explain how policies at all levels
of a social welfare system can impact service accessibility and service
delivery. Provide specific examples. Refer to Social Work Disposition #12: Standard: Social
Workers’ Ethical Responsibilities to the Broader Society when responding
to this prompt. - Explain why policy advocacy can be
a unifying theme for the social work profession. - Describe the intersecting,
multi-level roles (micro, mezzo, and macro) of a policy practitioner
centered around analyzing social problems, developing policy change
solutions and strategies, formulating and implementing policies and
related programs, and evaluating the impact of policies and programs. - Use specific examples to illustrate
how a social worker might bring about policy change at each level of
social work practice.