Week 2: Social Policy and Advocacy Skills The focus of Week 2 is on policy advocacy skills and the impact of social policy on the practice of social work. You will identify an agency or organization, examine one of its policies, and describe that policy as well as the social problem it addresses. You will also work in small groups this week, discussing the responsibilities and obligations of the social worker to the community and society affected by social policy. Learning Objectives Analyze agency or organizational policy Apply policy advocacy skills Evaluate impact of policy on social work practice Generate Social Change Project ideas Learning Required Readings Resources: SOCW 6361 Webliography Uploaded These websites will be required throughout the semester. Become familiar with these websites, especially when doing research for your assignments. Jansson, B. S. (2018). Becoming an effective policy advocate: From policy practice to social justice. (8th ed.). Pacific Grove, CA: Brooks/Cole Cengage Learning Series. Chapter 2, “Articulating Four Rationales for Participating in Policy Advocacy” (pp. 31-69) Chapter 3, “Obtaining Skills and Competencies for Policy Advocacy” (pp. 70–98) Martin, M. E. (2012). Philosophical and religious influences on social welfare policy in the United States: The ongoing effect of Reformed theology and social Darwinism on attitudes toward the poor and social welfare policy and practice. Journal of Social Work, 12(1), 51–64. Moyes, J., & Quadagno, J. (2002). Political theories of the welfare state. Social Service Review, 76(1), 34–57. Discussion 1: Policies and Social Problems Why is it important for social workers to understand policy? When you think of policies, you may tend to think of the federal policies that support services such as Medicare and state policies that support education and welfare services. However, sometimes the policies that have the greatest impact on clients are the policies of agencies and organizations.