Social Policy and Social Work Notes

Social Policy and Social Work

  • Introduction to social policy and its relevance to social work.
  • Linking social policy, leadership, and advocacy in social work.
  • The goal is to provide an early understanding of social policy and how it relates to a social work career.

Ice Breaking

  • Introduction and sharing of personal backgrounds.
  • Discussion of majors and reasons for taking the class, including students from outside the social work department.
  • Fun questions to encourage interaction:
    • Hosting a talk show: Who would be the first guest?
    • Joining a circus: What act would you perform?
  • Instructor's introduction: Min Chi Yeh, with a background in sociology, focusing on social structure and its impact on social work.
  • If hosting a talk show, the instructor would invite her late grandma.
  • If joining a circus, the instructor would be a commentator, making jokes for the audience.

Student Introductions

  • Kaylee Andres (Social Work):
    • Taking the class as part of the degree plan.
    • Wants to invite smart people to a talk show to learn from their expertise.
    • Would want to be a trapeze artist in a circus due to having poor balance.
    • In an advanced standing program, graduating in the fall.
  • Alejandra Garcia (Social Work):
    • Taking the class as part of the course.
    • Wants to invite Pedro Pascal (Venezuelan Chilean actor from "The Last of Us") to a talk show.
    • Would be a meme if joining a circus, enjoying teasing people.
  • Aileen (Social Work):
    • Feels social work is her calling, with a history of helping others.
    • Wants to invite a motivational speaker like Brene Brown to a talk show.
    • Would perform a gymnastic act involving jumping from bar to bar in a circus.
  • Diana Hernandez (Social Work):
    • Enrolled in the master's program to help others due to past experiences without adequate support.
    • Wants to invite January to a talk show due to his humility and philanthropy.
    • Would do the aerial silk act in a circus.
  • Aliyah Hernandez (Social Work):
    • Doing advanced standing in social work.
    • Influenced by her grandmother's work with foster kids and exposure to social workers.
    • Wants to invite people who debunk alien conspiracies to a talk show.
    • Would do acrobatics in a circus.
  • Leslie (Social Work):
    • Originally wanted to go to law school but chose social work to help others more directly.
    • Wants to invite Oprah Winfrey to a talk show due to her advocacy and personal journey.
    • Would perform the fire dancing act from Lilo and Stitch in a circus.
  • John (Social Work):
    • In the one-year program, graduating in the fall.
    • Pursuing social work due to a growing understanding of mental health.
    • Wants to invite Denzel Washington to a talk show due to his inspirational influence.
    • Would be shot out of a cannon in a circus for the adrenaline rush.
  • **Sophie (Social Work)
    • Passionate about helping people.
    • Would invite Doctor Phil or Ellen DeGeneres to a talk show.
    • Would perform acrobatics, influenced by her daughter's gymnastics.
  • Jocelyn (Social Work):
    • Has a minor in psychology.
    • In the one-year program, aiming to graduate in December.
    • Would invite Leonardo da Vinci to a talk show, fascinated by his scientific discoveries and art.
    • Would work with elephants in a circus.
  • Natalie (Social Work):
    • Inspired by her mother, who is also a social worker.
    • Would invite her mother and favorite female artists to empower other women.
    • Would perform the rope walking act in a circus.
  • Emily (Social Work):
    • Mental health is a significant factor in her family.
    • Wants to invite Elon Musk to a talk show due to her father's work at SpaceX.
    • Would do the tightrope act in a circus for the adrenaline rush.
  • Alina (Social Work):
    • In the two-year program, graduating in the fall.
    • Passionate about advocacy.
    • Would invite Justin Bieber to a talk show.
    • Would ride motorcycles in a cage in a circus.
  • Noel (Social Work):
    • Long-term goal is to be a mental health counselor (LCSW).
    • Would invite Anthony Bourdain to a talk show due to his fascination with kitchens and travel.
    • Would be a human cannonball in a circus.
  • Alida (Social Work):
    • Wants to be there because it's required.
    • Would invite God to a talk show.
    • Would walk on a tightrope in a circus.
  • Isabelle (Social Work):
    • Has been a social worker for four years, working on her master's.
    • Would invite her favorite music artist, Ziza, to a talk show.
    • Would work with elephants in a circus.
  • Dina (Social Work):
    • Taking the class as part of her degree plan, aiming to graduate in the fall.
    • Would invite her grandma to a talk show to show her facing her fears.
    • Would be an animal tamer in a circus.
  • **Linda (Social Work):
    • Likes politics.
    • Would choose Bernie Sanders or Neil deGrasse Tyson as talk show guests.
    • Would want to perform with fires in a circus.
  • Isabelle Martinez (Social Work)
    • Excited to get the master's
    • Works at an Advocate Center
    • Wants to study Criminal Justice, loves helping children
    • Would like to see her here in a Interview
    • Would like to train to be with Elephants
  • Irene (Social Work)
    • Psychology major as Undergraduate.
    • Would want to do fire twirling for the circus act.

Learning Styles

  • Importance of understanding individual learning styles (abstract vs. experiential learning).
  • Instructor's teaching style: concepts with basic foundations, followed by practical applications.
  • Encouragement to take a job learning style assessment.

Brightspace Syllabus Overview

  • Fourteen-week course structure.
  • Weeks 1-3: Understanding policy and its relation to social work.
  • Week 4: Short exam/project (choosing a topic for the final project).
  • Weeks 5-6: Applying and evaluating policy.
  • Week 7: Exam (identifying the problem).
  • Weeks 8-9: Advocacy, focusing on social media.
  • Week 11: Exam (policy proposal outline).
  • Weeks 12-13: Policy evaluation and consequences of failure.
  • Week 14: Final project submission.
  • Pre-class assignments: reading and formulating three questions.
  • Post-class assignments: Short reflections (generate a very short reflection answer question, 300 word, usually, like, just a one page or half page).
  • Clear rubric for assignments and exams.
Grading Scale
  • Standard grading scale.
  • Opportunity for resubmission based on feedback.
Extra Credit
  • Complete course evaluation (one point added).
  • Share a fun video or music (3-4 minutes) related to the course (one-time extra credit).

What is Policy

*Social policy connects to social work’s mission of managing dependency.
*Social policy refers to decisions and actions by governments and agencies that can improve people’s lives.

  • Policies shape practices, which shapes social work.
  • Social Work helps shape the community.

Policy that Affects You

*No Child Left Behind is talked about.
*Bilingual Program and Lunch Program
*Medicaid discussed.

  • Wic Program for pregnant woman.

Power.

*Social Work shapes the policy and practice.
*Shape Social Work: Leadership.

Power Differences.

*If you have identified with a policy value (fairness, dignity, equity, etc.)