Course Schedule

About this Page

This page contains a schedule of all lessons and materials for the class.

***All assigned materials should be reviewed before the start of each class unless otherwise instructed***

UNIT I. SOCIAL POLICY BASICS: FOUNDATIONAL PRINCIPLES, VALUES, AND STRUCTURES

Sessions 1-6

Defines social policy and examines the structural, political, social, economic and ideological context in which U.S. social policy is made and which benefit some groups while disadvantaging others. Provides a critical historical and current overview of the development of social welfare policy and the social work profession. Explores the ethics, values and ideologies that underlie social welfare policy and social work, both historically and currently.  

SESSION 1. INTRODUCTION TO COURSE AND MAPPING THE ROAD AHEAD

Learning Outcomes

At the end of this session you will be able to:

  • Define social policy and articulate its relationship to the NASW Code of Ethics and Economic, Social, and Cultural Social Rights as defined by the United Nations.
  • Articulate major course themes and course expectations
  • Know where to locate all course assignments and materials
Learning Materials

Read: National Association of Social Work (2017). Code of ethics of NASW. https://www.socialworkers.org/About/Ethics/Code-of-Ethics/Code-of-Ethics-English

Read preamble and section 6 of the ethical standards

Read: United Nations Human Rights Office of the High Commissioner. 2023. Economic, social, and cultural rights. https://www.ohchr.org/en/human-rights/economic-social-cultural-rights

Read: Key concepts of ESCR; Obligations of States and Examples of Violations

SESSION 2. BASIC SOCIAL POLICY CONCEPTS

Who should government help? How much should it help? What is the relationship between social policies and social justice? What is the relationship between social policies and human and social rights? What is the relationship between the state, market, and family and the US welfare state?

Learning Outcomes

At the end of this session you will be able to:

  • Identify the foundational myths and concepts underlying social welfare policies, including deserving vs. undeserving poor, adequacy vs. equity, equality of opportunity vs. equality of result, oppression vs. social justice.
  • Distinguish between institutional and residual approaches to social welfare in the U.S. and how they contrast with social welfare approaches in other economically rich industrialized nations.
  • Describe the basic structure of US social welfare system on the federal and state level, including the different types of social welfare programs (i.e., social insurance vs. public assistance, submerged welfare programs), and who benefits. 

Learning Materials

Read: Midgley, J. (2009). The definition of social welfare policy. In J. Midgley & M. Livermore (Eds.), The handbook of social policy (pp. 3-20). Los Angeles, CA: Sage.

Watch: Garland, D. and Lacey, N. (2014). What is the welfare state? A sociological restatement. London School of Economics. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n0zkOFzkpeY

Watch first 57 minutes.

Watch: Lens, V. (ND). Foundational concepts [Video]. Watch on Blackboard (8 mins)

Watch: Henry, C. (ND). Summary of Tussings’s “The Dual Welfare System” [Video]. Watch on Blackboard (X minutes) Original article (quite dated) available on e-reserve, but it is NOT required reading: Tussing, Dale (1974) The Dual Welfare System, Society 11(2), (Jan/Feb), pp. 50-57[CH1] 

Watch: Crashcourse. (ND). Social policy: Crash course government and politics #49 [Video]. Youtube.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mlxLX8Fto_A (8.53 min)

Read: Center on Budget & Policy Priorities. Policy Basics: Temporary Assistance to Needy Families. https://www.cbpp.org/sites/default/files/atoms/files/7-22-10tanf2.pdf

Read: Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (2023). Policy Basics: Top Ten Facts about Social Security. https://www.cbpp.org/research/social-security/top-ten-facts-about-social-security

Read: Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (2021). Policy Basics: Unemployment Insurance. https://www.cbpp.org/research/economy/unemployment-insurance

SESSION 3: VALUES & ETHICS OF SOCIAL POLICY

This session delves deeper into the question of how much government should help its citizens with their basic needs, and examine two ethical theories – egalitarianism and utilitarianism – that provide a framework for deciding who gets what, when, and how.

Learning Outcomes

At the end of this session you will be able to:

  • Examine differing value systems that shape US social policy
  • Describe the ethical frameworks of egalitarianism and utilitarianism.
  • Critically analyze the interrelationship between select ethical frameworks and social justice.
  • Apply select ethical frameworks to social policies.

Learning Materials

Read: Sandel, Michael. (2009). Justice: What is the Right Thing to Do?. Farrar, Straus and Giroux.

Chapter 2: The Greatest Happiness Principle: Utilitarianism (pp. 31-58).

Watch: Crash Course (ND). Utilitarianism Crash Course Philosophy #36 [Video]. Youtube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-a739VjqdSI&list=PL8dPuuaLjXtNgK6MZucdYldNkMybYIHKR&t=112s (10 mins)

Read: Sandel Michael (2009). Justice: What is the Right Thing to Do? Farrar, Straus and Giroux. Chapter 6: The Case for Equality: John Rawls (pp. 140-166)

Watch: PBS Idea Channel. (ND). How do you design a just society? Thought experiment: The original position [Video]. Youtube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P3gWGtf_w_s&t=61s (14 mins)

SESSIONS 4 & 5: FROM PAST TO PRESENT: SOCIAL POLICY, IDEOLOGY, AND SOCIAL WORK

What is the relationship between social policy and ideology? How has social welfare policy, dominant ideologies, and the social work profession changed over time? How has the social, economic, political, cultural, and ideological context shaped social policy and social work practice over time?

SESSION 4: INTERCONNECTED HISTORIES: SOCIAL POLICY & SOCIAL WORK

Learning Outcomes

At the end of this session you will be able to:

  • Identify how the colonialization of the United States and its founding principles shaped social policy and social welfare over time.
  • Describe how social, cultural, and economic change shaped social policy and social work practice over time.
  • Identify how the intersection of different identities and social constructions (e.g., class, race, gender, religion, and immigration status) interacted with social policy and social work practice over time.
  • Describe how professional social work has forwarded, or failed to forward, the cause of social justice and social work values overtime.


Learning Materials

(NOTE: TO UPDATE)

Read: DiNitto & Johnson. (2021). Social Welfare Policy: Overview. Encyclopedia of Social Work.

Read: Abramovitz, M. (2014) Economic crises, neoliberalism & the U.S. welfare state: Trends, outcomes and political struggle, in Noble, Strauss & Littlechild (eds.), Global social work: Crossing borders, blurring boundaries (pp. 225- 240).

Read: Roll, S. Women and Social Policy. In M. Reisch (Ed.), Social policy and social justice (pp.139-163-190). Cognella.

Read: Schiele, J. (2022). A racism-centered perspective on US social policy. In M. Reisch (Ed.), Social policy and social justice (pp.139-158). Cognella.

Watch: Viment, M. (2015). Charity Organization Societies [Video]. Youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J2MBBF7Z5Gg ( 8 mins)

Watch: NBC News Learn (2020). Jane Addams and the Hull House. Youtube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PWiHtUymEhw (3 min)

For more on the history of social welfare policy (Recommended)

Fox, C. (2012). Three worlds of relief: Race, immigration, and the American welfare state from the Progressive Era to the New Deal. Princeton University Press. Read Chapter 1, pp 1-18

Carlton-LaNey, Iris. 1999. African American social work pioneers’ response to need. Social Work 44 (4): 311–321.

For More on the Professionalization of Social Work (Recommended)

Lane, S. Palley, E., & Shdaimah, C. (2019). Social work: A value-based profession in historical context.

In S. Lane, E. Palley, & C. Shdaimah (Eds.) Social welfare policy in a changing world. Sage. Read Policy, practice, and me: A social work perspective – Great Society (pp. 3-14)[CH1] 

SESSION 5: UNDERSTANDING HOW IDEOLOGY SHAPES SOCIAL POLICY TODAY

Learning Outcomes

At the end of this session you will be able to:

  • Define the term ideology.
  • Distinguish between ideology and politics.
  • Describe and compare the three major ideological perspectives that have influenced social welfare policies conservative/neo-liberalism, democratic socialism, and libertarianism.
  • Describe the ideological characteristics of Trumpism and their relationship, if any, to other ideological perspectives.
  • Use one or more  ideological perspectives to identify a policy response to a specific social problem


Learning Materials

Review:  Henry, C. (ND). Ideological Continuum & Social Work. Adapted by Henry from Abramovitz (2021) & Mullaly, R. (2007).

Read: Abramovitz, M. (2021). Political ideology and social welfare. In T. Mizrahi & L. Davis (Eds.),
Encyclopedia of social work. http://socialwork.oxfordre.com/view/10.1093/acrefore/9780199975839.001.0001/acrefore-9780199975839-e-292 Read the following sections: The Role and Function of Political Ideologies; The Clash of Ideologies: Conservativism, Liberalism, Social Democracy, and Radicalism; Conclusions and Implications for Social Work

Conservatives Voices

Watch: Milton Friedman, Scholar (10 mins), Free to Choose: From Cradle to Grave: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VWliEiLeqRA


Watch: Ronald Reagan, President (3 min): “Government is the Problem” – Watch from minute 2:20 onward.

Watch: Mitch McConnell,Senate Majority Leader (4 mins)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pmLHsenBJE0

Liberal Voices

Watch: Barack Obama, President (4 mins) (Start clip at minute 15 and watch through min 23): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pcNXFz_QCVU

Watch: Joe Biden, Vice President : Government Investment in Education (1 min): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rawu9IeQXXk&feature=youtu.be :

Government Investment in Infrastructure (30 seconds): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kru5j-gEcaU

Watch: Kamala Harris, Senator (1.30 min)https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NE61woltt1M

Social Democratic Voices

Watch: Alexandria Ocasio Cortez, Congresswoman (8 mins). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wcM11G1lbL0 or

Watch: Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez & the Washington Post (3mins)  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GSP5Bqhi5uA

 

Watch: Elizabeth Warren, Senator, (3.57 min video) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZYdjn6tkwmU

Watch: Bernie Sanders, Senator (2 mins)  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ksfWFMnTLU4

Libertarian Voices

Watch: Libertarianism (6. Min) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lzPbUUPutnk

Watch: Rand Paul, Senator (8 mins): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BNUg7nWoBEk

Other Voices: A New Conservativism?

Watch: The Atlantic. (2017, Jul). Is Trumpism the New Conservatism? Watch Video (4.21 mins) https://www.theatlantic.com/video/index/534333/is-trumpism-the-new-conservatism/

Recommended:

Listen/Read:  Montanero, D. (2021, November). Feel like you don’t fit in either political party? Here’s Why. NPR.: https://www.npr.org/2021/11/09/1053929419/feel-like-you-dont-fit-in-either-political-party-heres-why

Take the Quiz Pew Research Center. (2021).

Take Political typology quiz: Where do you fit in the political typology? https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/quiz/political-typology/

SESSION 6: MAKING SOCIAL POLICY: HOW GOVERNMENT WORKS & WHEN IT FALTERS

This session explores the “text-book” version of how government works, including how social policy is made by the three branches of government (Executive, Legislative, and Judicial) and on the state level. We then examine what happens when the text book version of governing is disrupted and democratic norms and rules weakened.

Learning Outcomes

At the end of this session you will be able to:

  • Define federalism and identify the different levels of government.
  • Describe how each of the three branches of government – Executive, Legislative, and Judicial – on both the federal and state levels make social policy in interaction with each other.
  • Identify recent breaches in democratic rules and norms and potential policy responses
  • Describe how recent judicial decisions reshape social policy and fundamental rights.

Learning Materials: How government works

Watch all videos 6-10 mins: Crash Course in Government & Politics :

Watch: Vox. (2019). How the Electoral College Works, and Why We Have One [Video]. Youtube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0rb7CvxwTd0 (4 min)

Learning Materials: When Government Falters

Watch: Vox. (2019). Filibuster. The weird rule that broke American politics [Video]. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gt4jHLteXag (5.57 minutes)

Read: Ortegon, M (2021). Fixing the filibuster. The Brennan Center for Justice. https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/analysis-opinion/fixing-senate-filibuster

Read intro and “Options for modifying the filibuster today”

Group Work: Review Assigned Section

Group I: The Supreme Court: Increasing Power

Read: Bowi, N. (2021, July) How the Supreme Court dominates our democracy. The Washington Post. https://www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/2021/07/16/supreme-court-anti-democracy/

Read: Liptak, A. (2022, July). Gridlock in congress has amplified the power of the Supreme Court. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2022/07/02/us/supreme-court-congress.html?searchResultPosition=5

Read: Blake, A. (2021, April). 4 ideas for Supreme Court reform. The Washington Post. https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2021/04/15/4-ideas-supreme-court-reform/

Group 2: Restriction & Expansion of Voting Rights

Watch: Duane de la Vega, K.D. & Anthony, J. (Directors) (2016). Supreme Court vs. the American voter

[Video]. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/video/opinion/100000004677716/supreme-court-v-the-american-voter.html?smid=pl-share  (10 mins).

Review: Brennan Center for Social Justice (2021). Voting Laws Roundup: February 2021. https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/research-reports/voting-laws-roundup-february-2021

Review summary of restrictive voting laws and restrictive voting laws map; Review summary of expansive voting laws and expansive voting laws map


Group 3: Gerrymandering


Watch: The Washington Post. (2021). Gerrymandering Explained [Video]. The Washington Post. https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/sundaytake-gerrymandering-congress-/2021/11/20/994d6d1e-4983-11ec-b8d9-232f4afe4d9b_story.html (2 mins)

Watch: University of Washington School Law. (2023). The significance of Allen v. Milligan, from the lawyer who argued the case [Video]. https://youtu.be/K3PQvv4Aro0 (8 mins)

Review: Brennon Center for Justice. (ND).Gerrymandering & Fair Representation. https://www.brennancenter.org/issues/gerrymandering-fair-representation

Unit II. THE WELFARE STATE TODAY: Consequences & Opportunities.

Sessions 7-11

Identifies who benefits and who loses from social welfare policy and the tax code, with an emphasis on poverty and inequality. Describes major federal programs and their impact on diverse and disenfranchised groups. 

SESSION 7:  Inequality AND ECONOMIC JUSTICE

Learning Outcomes

At the end of session, you will be able to:

  • Compare and contrast theories on the causes of economic inequality and how values and ideologies inform our understanding of those theories
  • Differentiate between income and wealth inequality and how rates of inequality have changed over time
  • Identify how structural racism and sexism perpetuate economic inequality
  • Identify and assess policy solutions for alleviating economic inequality and its consequences
Measuring Income Inequality

Watch: Politzane. (ND). Wealth inequality in America [Video]. Youtube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QPKKQnijnsM (6.23 min)

Watch: Chalabi, M. (2023). (ND). 9 Ways to imagine Jeff Bezos’ wealth. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2022/04/07/magazine/jeff-bezos-net-worth.html

Watch: Time. (ND) A look at income inequality in the United States [Video]. Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qc7g6Uhi1i4  (3.36 min)

Read: National Women’s Law Center. (2022). Gender and racial wealth gaps & why they matter. https://nwlc.org/resource/gender-and-racial-wealth-gaps-and-why-they-matter/

Causes and Cures for Inequality

Watch: Rice, S. & Reich, R. (2020). How America created its shameful wealth gap [Video]. Youtube.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9diZJks95Ko (6.39 min)

Watch: Vox (2019). Who pays the lowest taxes? [Video] Youtube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kXCGbAv8YPw&ab_channel=Vox (3.18 min)

Read: Institute on Tax and Economic Policy (ND). Tax Fairness Fundamentals. https://itep.org/wp-content/uploads/guide1.pdf

Read: Traub, A. & Ruetschlin, C. (2017). The racial wealth gap: Why policy matters. Demos. http://www.demos.org/publication/racial-wealth-gap-why-policy-matters. Read Executive Summary

Session 8: Poverty and Economic Justice

Learning Outcomes

At the end of session, you will be able to:

  • Describe the different ways poverty is measured
  • Compare and contrast theories on the causes of poverty and how values and ideologies inform our understanding of those theories
  • Identify how racism and sexism and other forms of structural discrimination perpetuate poverty
  • Identify and assess policy solutions for alleviating poverty and its consequences

Learning Materials

Measuring Poverty

Watch: AmeriCorps Service Resources. (ND) How poverty is measured in the United States [Video]. Youtube.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M6QSI_Ze9hE (2.34 min).

Read: US Health and Human Services. (2022). Federal Poverty Guidelines for 2023. https://aspe.hhs.gov/poverty-guidelines

Read: Surbhi, S.(2019). Difference Between Absolute and Relative Poverty. https://keydifferences.com/difference-between-absolute-and-relative-poverty.html

Read: Fox. L. (2018). What Is the Supplemental Poverty Measure and How Does It Differ From the Official Measure? US Census Bureau. https://www.census.gov/newsroom/blogs/random-samplings/2018/09/what_is_the_suppleme.html

Causes of Poverty

Watch: Pimpare, S. (ND). 13 lessons about poverty [Video]. Youtube.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=15-DE4i30m8 (15 min)

Read: Matthew, D. (2023, April 3). Why poverty persists in America. New York Times Magazine  https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/09/magazine/poverty-by-america-matthew-desmond.html

Policy Solutions

Read: Edin, K.J., & Shaefer, H.L. (2015). Conclusion: Where, then from here? In $2.00 a day: Living on Almost Nothing in America (pp. 157-174).  Boston: Houghton Mifflin.

Watch: Lowy, A. (2018). Why the U.S. should provide universal basic income [Video]. The Atlantic. https://www.theatlantic.com/video/index/567739/universal-basic-income/ (3 min)

Watch: Above the Noise. (ND). UBI: Should we get free money from the government? [Video]. Youtube.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EqqcW7O1r1k (6.02 min)

SESSIONS 9 & 10: THE WELFARE STATE:

What are the major federal programs and tax policies that provide economic or other assistance to disadvantaged populations? How are such programs financed? How effective are they? Who do they leave out?

Learning Outcomes

At the end of these 2 sessions you will be able to:

  • Describe the major residual federal social welfare and health care programs and tax policies, the populations they serve, and whether they promote health and economic well-being.
  • Identify how such programs are financed, and how fiscal policies (tax and spending policies) limit the scope and effectiveness of such programs.

Learning Materials

How are social welfare programs paid for: the federal budget

Read: Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (2022). Policy Basics: Where Do Federal Tax Revenues Come From? https://www.cbpp.org/research/federal-tax/where-do-federal-tax-revenues-come-from

Read: Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (2022). Policy Basics: Where Do Our Federal Tax Dollars Go? https://www.cbpp.org/research/federal-budget/policy-basics-where-do-our-federal-tax-dollars-go

Cash assistance social welfare program

Reread: Center on Budget & Policy Priorities. Policy Basics: Temporary Assistance to Needy Families. https://www.cbpp.org/sites/default/files/atoms/files/7-22-10tanf2.pdf

Read: Chart Book: Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) at 26 https://www.cbpp.org/research/income-security/temporary-assistance-for-needy-families-tanf-at-26

Tax based social welfare programs

Read: Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. (2020). Policy basics: Federal “tax expenditures.”  https://www.cbpp.org/research/federal-tax/policy-basics-federal-tax-expenditures

Read: Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. (2023). Policy basics: The Earned Income Tax Credit. https://www.cbpp.org/research/federal-tax/the-earned-income-tax-credit

Read: Lens, V., Arriagi, A., Pisciotta, C., Bushman-Copp, L., Spencer, K., & Kronenfeld, S.

Spotlight on Child Tax Credit: Transforming the Lives of Families (March, 2022). Robin Hood Foundation. https://www.robinhood.org/wp-content/themes/robinhood/images/poverty-tracker/pdfs/POVERTY_TRACKER_REPORT32.pdf

Disability based social welfare programs

Read: Center on Budget & Policy Priorities. Policy Basics: Social Security Disability Assistance

https://www.cbpp.org/research/retirement-security/policy-basics-social-security-disability-insurance

Read: Center on Budget & Policy Priorities. Policy Basics: Supplemental Security Income

https://www.cbpp.org/research/social-security/policy-basics-supplemental-security-income

Food Assistance

Read: Center for Budget & Policy Priorities (2022). Policy Basics: Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children. https://www.cbpp.org/research/food-assistance/special-supplemental-nutrition-program-for-women-infants-and-children

Read: Center for Budget & Policy Priorities (2022). Policy Basics: The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). https://www.cbpp.org/research/food-assistance/the-supplemental-nutrition-assistance-program-snap

Read: Center for Budget & Policy Priorities (2021). More Adequate SNAP benefits would help millions of participants better afford food.

https://www.cbpp.org/research/food-assistance/more-adequate-snap-benefits-would-help-millions-of-participants-better

Health based social welfare programs

Read: Center for Budget & Policy Priorities (2022). Policy Basics: Introduction to Medicaid. https://www.cbpp.org/sites/default/files/atoms/files/policybasics-medicaid_0.pdf

Watch: Vox. Medicaid, explained: why it’s worse to be sick in some states than others [Video]. Youtube.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sOo_aw-xgHQ&t=41s (11 min)

Housing

Read: Center for Budget & Policy Priorities (2022). Policy Basics: Public Housing

https://www.cbpp.org/research/public-housing

Read: Center for Budget & Policy Priorities (2021).Policy Basics: The Housing Choice Voucher program

https://www.cbpp.org/research/housing/the-housing-choice-voucher-program

SESSION 11: CHOOSE OUR OWN POLICY ADVENTURE

In this session, in consultation with the class, the instructor chooses a contemporary welfare state issue/social policy related topic area they would like to explore in more depth (e.g., housing policy, health policy, education policy, criminal justice policy, immigration policy, environmental policy). Using Flynn’s frameworks, consider how we might “rewrite the rules” for specific policy areas to better address inequalities rooted in structural racism, sexism, heterosexism, cisgenderism, and/or ableism. Additional learning materials to be selected by instructor and shared with students at least one week prior to session.

Learning Outcomes

At the end of session, you will be able to:

  • Describe a contemporary social problem – its scale, scope, causes, and differential impact on diverse populations
  • Identify how existing social policies have affected this social problem and how new or revised social policies can mitigate or eradicate it.

Learning Materials

Frameworks for Addressing Social Problems & Inequalities

Flynn, A. (2016). Rewrite the racial rules: Building an inclusive American economy. The Roosevelt Institute. https://rooseveltinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/RI-RRT-Race-201606.pdf

  • Read executive summary & introduction (1-15).
  • Pay key attention to the use of exclusionary rules, inclusionary rules, and non-rules acerbate or mitigate social injustice.

Additional Materials Selected by Instructor & Class

UNIT III: IMPLEMENTATION: WHEN POLICY MEETS PRACTICE

Session 12

This unit explores how policy is implemented on the ground, with a focus on managerialism, the privatization of public services, and strategies and tactics for changing agency policies to better align with the needs and interests of the people they serve.

SESSION 12: POLICY IMPLEMENTATION & THE NEW(ISH) PUBLIC MANAGEMENT

How have practices imported from the private sector affected the delivery of benefits and services to our clients?

Learning Outcomes

At the end of this session you will be able to:

  • Describe the main features of streel level bureaucracies and frontline work
  • Describe the main features of New Public Management (NPM) and Managerialism.
  • Identify the social costs and benefits of NPM and Managerialism among historically marginalized populations.
  • Identify the influence of NPM or Managerialism on at least one area of public programming (e.g., housing, public assistance, education, corrections).

Learning Materials

Street Level Bureaucrats

Read: Lipsky, M. 1980. Street-level bureaucracy: Dilemmas of the individual in public services. Russell Sage Foundation  Chapter 2: Street-Level Bureaucrats as Policy Makers, pp 13-26

Recommended: United States Studies Centre. (ND). Street level bureaucracy with Michael Lipsky [Video]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZX1IivgPspA  (4 min)

Read: Maynard-Moody, S. & Musheno, M. (2003). Cops, Teachers, Counselors. The University of Michigan Press. Chapter 2: State Agents, Citizen Agents

Privatization & Managerialism

Read: Zelnick, J.  & Abramovitz, M. (2020). The Perils of Privatization: Bringing the Business Model into Human Services. Social Work 65(3), 213-224.

Recommended:  Wilner, L. (2019). Organizational legitimacy and Managerialism within social justice nonprofit organizations: An interest divergence analysis. Administrative Theory & Praxis 41 (3), 225-244.

UNIT IV: SOCIAL POLICY, SOCIAL CHANGE, AND SOCIAL MOVEMENTS

Sessions 13-15

The sessions in this unit examine the evolution and effectiveness of contemporary social movements and campaign strategies to make social change. What do we want to see happen? How can social change and restorative remedies be infused in policy-making & practice?

SESSION 13: ENGAGING IN SOCIAL CHANGE ACTIVITIES

This session explores the range of approaches commonly used by social workers involved in campaign strategies that seek to reduce injustice within communities and neighborhoods.

Learning Outcomes

At the end of this session you will be able to:

  • Describe strategies and tactics that can be used to facilitate social change and their effectiveness
  • Identify how the intersectionality of power, privilege, and oppression can be addressed and integrated into campaign strategies and tactics
  • Analyze approaches and supports that generate restorative and/or transformative social policy and change.

Learning Materials

Read: Haynes, K.  & Mickelson, J. (2010). “All Social Work is Political” pp 1-8 in Affecting Change: Social Workers in the Political Arena. Bost, Allyn & Bacon.

Read: Bessel & Carman (2021) Advocacy. Encyclopedia of Social Work. NASW and Oxford University Press [CH2] 

SESSIONS 14 & 15: EXAMINING AND LEARNING FROM SOCIAL MOVEMENTS

Students will examine social movements that have emerged to challenge injustices and the hollowing of rights related to race, sex, class, ability, national origin, and the environment. Students will trace how these movements began and examine how these movements are different from past movements, the social change strategies and tactics used, and consider how social work can contribute to solving the problems these movements are designed to address.

Learning Outcomes

At the end of these sessions you will be able to:

  • Describe the history of a specific social movement and its connections to contemporary social movements
  • Identify the social change strategies and tactics used by the movement and evaluate their effectiveness
  • Discuss what impact the movement had on social policy

Learning Materials

Read: Reisch .M. (2021). Social Movements. Encyclopedia of Social Work NASW and Oxford University Press

Read: Delozia & Birore. (2022) Black Lives Matter. Encyclopedia of Social Work NASW and Oxford University Press

Disability Rights Movement & Social Policy

Watch: Lebrecht, J. & Newnham, N. [Directors]. (2020). Crip camp: A disability revolution [Film]. Netflix

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OFS8SpwioZ4 (1h 46 mins)

Read: US Department of Justice Civil Rights Division. (2023). Introduction to the American with Disabilities Act. https://www.ada.gov/topics/intro-to-ada/

Read: Wall, H. (2020, July22). The ADA at 30: Beyond the law’s promise. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/us/disability-ADA-30-anniversary.html?searchResultPosition=2

Read introduction

Read/Listen: Wells, K. (2020, July 20). What the ADA means to me. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/20/us/judy-heumann-alice-wong-haben-girma-disability-activists.html

  • We should celebrate. But there is still work to do, interview with Judy Heumann (2.5 mins)
    • Real Culture Change Takes Time, interview with Alice Wong (2 mins),
    • Using the Law to Pursue Justice, interview with Haben Girma (2 mins)

**NO FINAL EXAM**

**SYLLABUS SUBJECT TO CHANGE**

 [CH2]Learning materials for this section might be updated by policy chair before semester start. TBD.