SOCW 6351 Discussion Questions with Answers Week 1 to 11

SOCW 6351 Week 1 Discussion: Micro vs. Macro Practice

Post by Day 4 an explanation of the dichotomy between micro and macro practice. Describe how micro practice comes to dominate the social work profession.

SOCW 6351 Week 2 Discussion 1: Policy Development

Post by Day 3 a brief explanation of the event you selected that led to the formation of social policy. Then, explain what changes you would make to the policy that resulted from this event and why. Finally, explain the role of social work (as a profession and political lobby) in formation of the policy.

SOCW 6351 Week 2 Discussion 2: Ideological Perspectives of Population-Specific Policy

Post by Day 4 a brief description of the population you selected. Then provide a description of three to five policies (including two to three state level and two to three federal-level policies) related to that population. Finally, explain the relationship between policies and the population you selected.

SOCW 6351 Week 3 Discussion: The Impact of Social Policy

Post by Day 3 an explanation of the effects of the social welfare policies presented in the case study you selected. Be specific and reference the case study you selected in your post. Finally, explain how policies affect social agencies and how social workers work with clients, such as Tessa or Luisa.

SOCW 6351 Week 4 Discussion 1: The Effects of Means-Tested Social Programs

Post by Day 3 a brief explanation of the means-tested programs that might be available to Eboni. Be sure your answer is specific to the means-tested programs available in your state or region. Then, explain the potential long-term outcomes for Eboni and her child, if she chooses to parent. Finally, explain the state public assistance policies that might help Eboni manage the responsibilities of parenthood.

SOCW 6351 Week 4 Discussion 2: Welfare Programs

Post by Day 4 an explanation of whether means-tested programs (TANF, SNAP, and SSI) create dependency. Then, explain how the potential perception of dependency might contribute to the stigma surrounding welfare programs. Finally, explain the perceptions you have regarding people who receive means-tested welfare and how that perception might affect your work with clients.

SOCW 6351 Week 5 Discussion 1: Social Security and Social Welfare Programs

Post by Day 3, an explanation of how Social Security is different from public assistance programs. Then, explain how these differences are important, in terms of the general perception of Social Security benefits.

SOCW 6351 Week 5 Discussion 2: Disenfranchisement of the Social Security Program

Post by Day 4 a brief description of the population you selected. Then, explain how that population might be disenfranchised by the Social Security program based on research, statistics, or policy analysis.

SOCW 6351 Week 6 Discussion 1: Mental Health Care

Post by Day 3 an explanation of the specific challenges or gaps in the mental health care system for the care of individuals with chronic mental illnesses. Base your response on the Parker case. Then, describe how environmental stressors, such as poverty, can aggravate mental illness and make treatment more challenging.

SOCW 6351 Week 6 Discussion 2: Emerging Issues in Mental Health Care

By Day 4, post an explanation of those emerging issues in the mental health care arena that the policymakers address and those that are in need of policy advocacy and why. Then, explain what strategies social workers might use to ensure that clients/populations receive necessary mental health services. Finally, explain the mental health commitment standards and mental health services in your state. In your explanation, refer to the services covered under your state’s Medicaid program.

SOCW 6351 Week 7 Discussion 1: Cultural Influences of Social Policy

Post by Day 3 an explanation of how cultural considerations might affect child welfare policy. Then, explain what your responsibilities, as a social worker, might be in supporting the Hernandez family in addressing their child welfare needs through the accessibility of services.

SOCW 6351 Week 7 Discussion 2: Child Welfare and Family Preservation

Post by Day 4 an explanation of the role of family preservation in child welfare. Then, explain whether research supports the assumption that foster care is harmful for children, as presented by the cornerstone argument for family preservation. Be sure to include whether you agree with this assumption and why you agree or disagree. Subsequently, identify the gaps in your state foster care system that contribute to the idea that foster care is harmful to children. Then, compare the benefits and shortfalls of permanency planning and family preservation. Finally, provide a description of whether you prefer the permanency or the family preservation approach as a child welfare social worker and why you prefer it.

SOCW 6351 Week 8 Discussion: Social Policy – Child Abuse and Neglect

Post by Day 3 a brief description of the position you selected from the NASW policy statement on child abuse and neglect. Then, describe a policy initiative you might introduce to further that position. Finally, describe the policies that already exist in your state and explain how your initiative might alter these existing policies.

SOCW 6351 Week 9 Discussion: Stakeholders in Healthcare Policy

Post by Day 3 an explanation of how the evolution of health care policy has influenced programs such as Medicaid and Medicare. Then, describe a specific Medicaid policy in your state that should be amended, and explain how you would amend it and why. Finally, describe the stakeholders involved in the Medicaid and Medicare health care policy in your state, and explain the role of these stakeholders in policy development for this issue.

SOCW 6351 Week 10 Discussion: Drug Policies and Ethics

Post by Day 3 an explanation of how drug policies affect Joe’s circumstances as described in the case study. Then, explain any gaps in service you found in Joe’s case as a result of the drug policies described in the case study. Finally, describe a strategy you might use to address these gaps or make changes to the policies that affect Joe.

SOCW 6351 Week 11 Discussion 1: Policy Analysis and Application

For this discussion, choose either “The Case of Rita” or “The Johnson Family” to analyze.

Post by Day 3 an explanation of one change you might make to the policies that affect the client in the case. Be sure to reference the case you selected in your post. Finally, explain how you might evaluate the success of the policy changes.

SOCW 6351 Week 11 Discussion 2: The Social Work Advocate in Politics

Post by Day 4 an explanation of the role of lobbying and campaigning in social work practice. Then, explain how you think social workers might have a powerful and positive effect as elected officials. Finally, explain of the impact, if any, the experiences and opinions of your colleagues have had on your own experiences and opinions.