Influencing State Policy Board of Advisor's EPAS proposed statement for III. D. Social Welfare Policy and Services

The understanding and analysis of social welfare policies/services bestows upon social work its unique professional character. Programs provide content about the history, economic, political, and philosophical contexts, and current trends in resource allocation in the American welfare state. This instruction emphasizes how policies directly affect social work practice. A key purpose of this content and relevant field practica is to learn how to analyze, formulate, and influence social policies in light of principles of social and economic justice. Specifically, course content should provide graduates with the knowledge and skills to:

1. Understand major social welfare policies that form the foundation of American welfare, e.g., economic security, health services and social services.
2. Understand historical, economic, political, and organizational systems used to develop and advocate for policies consistent with social work values.
3. Identify financial, organizational, and planning processes required to deliver social services.
4. Employ a framework to analyze local, state, national, international, and organizational social welfare policies and social service delivery systems.
5. Apply the results of policy research to relevant social service delivery.
6. Demonstrate policy practice/advocacy skills, e.g., value clarification, policy analysis, political skills, and interactional skills.
7. Advocate mutually with social service recipients to elected and unelected (appointed) officials for social welfare policies consistent with social work's values.