social welfare policies

Students will be required to write a Policy Analysis on a topic of their choice. This assignment
will contribute to building Competency 5: Knowledge of the history and development of current
social welfare policies In the process, this assignment serves as an opportunity for students to
strengthen their policy analysis skills, learning how to analyze current policies and their
contribution to addressing specific issues, and how to present their analysis objectively with
supporting research.
This assignment involves your analysis of a policy developed to address a social problem or
issue. You will discuss the values that are involved in the policy and its relationship to human
rights as well as its effectiveness in addressing the specific problem. In selecting a policy, you
can take any local, state, or federal policy and use any issue. As an example, if you are
interested in domestic violence or human trafficking, search for specific policies that relate to
these problems. You are asked to discuss the problem and how well the policy addresses it.
Papers should be written objectively with the goal of educating the general public about your
chosen social issue and related policies. It should be up to 5 pages in length, (not including title
page and reference page). Citations are required. Points will be deducted for incorrect or
missing citations and significant grammar errors and typos. The paper must include the
following sections:
A) Introduction (2-3 sentences) of what you are going to discuss and why
B) Issue/ Problem overview
● Describe the social problem. Include data from academic sources that explain the scope of the
problem including who is impacted, how are they impacted, what does this mean for individuals
directly impacted by the problem?
● What is the history of this particular problem? When was it first identified? How has it been
viewed historically? Here you can also discuss the values and interests (economic, political,
cultural) that have influenced the perception of the problem.
● Using the HR framework and the UDHR or other relevant human rights documents discuss how
the current policy is impacting the human rights of the identified target population. Here you can
briefly discuss one issue of social justice that is being affected by this current policy.
● If applicable, discuss any groups that have been influential in responding to the problem.
C) Policy Dealing with Issue
● What are the goals of the policy with regards to this problem?
● How does the present policy view eligibility? What benefits are offered? Are benefits sufficient to
meet needs?
● How is the policy funded? Are funds sufficient to make it effective?
● Which individuals, organizations, or coalitions might support/oppose the policy?
● What gaps do you see in the current policy?
● How does the policy address the oppression of specific groups?
● Are there any unintended consequences of the policy?
● What have been the outcomes?