Social Welfare Policy and Services

Catalog description

This course provides an overview of social welfare policies and programs as the foundation of practice as social workers. The course emphasizes the role that social welfare policies play concerning social work, ethical values, and commitments in advancing human rights, as well as the social, political, economic, and environmental context. The students will be acquainted with the social policies in the U.S., the policy development processes, and the political philosophies and context that determine the policies adopted. The primary objective of the course is for students to examine and critically analyze social policies such as health, mental health, education, housing, income support, child welfare, criminal justice, and immigration, among others, and their impact at the micro, mezzo, and macro levels. Through interactive assignments, students will also develop advocacy skills to advocate for responsive, affordable, available, and accessible policies and programs. Prerequisites: SWK 2361 , 2362, 2389; Concurrent enrollment in SWK 322 , 329, and 370 required. Restricted to social work majors and social welfare minors.