SOCW 6361

Required Readings

SOCW 6361 Webliography

These websites will be required throughout the semester. Become familiar with these websites, especially when doing research for your assignments.

Jansson, B. S. (2018). Becoming an effective policy advocate: From policy practice to social justice  (8th ed.). Pacific Grove, CA: Brooks/Cole Cengage Learning Series.

Chapter 11, "Developing Political Strategy and Putting It into Action in the Policy-Enacting Task" (pp. 372-419)

Plummer, S.-B, Makris, S., Brocksen S. (Eds.). (2014). Social work case studies: Concentration year.Baltimore, MD: Laureate International Universities Publishing. [Vital Source e-reader].

"Social Work Policy: Children and Adolescents. The Case of Susanna" (pp. 57–60)

"Social Policy and Advocacy: Violence Prevention" (pp. 53–55)

McNutt, J. (2011). Is social work advocacy worth the cost? Issues and barriers to an economic analysis of social work political practice. Research on Social Work Practice, 21(4), 397–403.

Sherraden, M. S., Slosar, B., & Sherraden, M. (2002). Innovation in social policy: Collaborative policy advocacy. Social Work, 47(3), 209–221.

Required Media

Laureate Education. (Producer). (2013). Bradley (Episode 7 of 42) [Video file]. In Sessions. Retrieved from https://class.waldenu.edu



Note: The approximate length of this media piece is 2 minutes.

Accessible player --Downloads--Download Video w/CCDownload AudioDownload TranscriptCredit: Provided courtesy of the Laureate International Network of Universities.

Optional Resources

MSW home page

Use this link to access the MSW home page, which provides resources for your social work program.

Project: Part 4: Identification of a Policy Alternative

As an astute social worker and professional policy advocate, once you have selected and identified a social problem, you begin the process of creating and implementing a policy that addresses that social problem. One of the first things you do in the implementation process is an analysis of the social policy you identified. There is always the possibility that the policy created and implemented to address the social problem you identified is not viable for a variety of reasons. In this case, you must explore a policy alternative.

In Part 4 of your ongoing Social Change Project assignment, you identify a policy alternative to the social problem you identified.

By Day 7

Complete Part 4 of your Social Change Project.

Address the following items within a 3-4 page paper:

• What is the policy alternative?


• What, if any, change(s) in the policy alternative are necessary and where will they need to occur (local, state, national, and international)?


• Is this policy alternative congruent with social work values? Explain.


• What is the feasibility of the alternative policy (political, economic, and administrative)?


• Does the policy alternative meet the policy goals (e.g., social equality, redistribution of resources, social work values, and ethics)?


• What are the forces that are for/against the policy?


• What policy advocacy skills can be used to support the policy alternative?


• How does the current policy affect clinical social work practice with clients?


• What changes could be made in the policy to support the needs of clients seeking clinical services?


• Provide an update on the advocacy activities your proposed in the Week 6 Assignment.

Make sure that your assertions are supported by appropriate research and reputable resources.