How did the issue originate? What is the historical background of the issue? Why is this an important issue for social workers, society at large, policy makers to address? Why should society be concerned about this issue?

Assignment Question

Purpose of Assignment: Identifying and critically analyzing social issues, social problems, and specific social policies comprise important skills for social workers. Developing the capacity to effectively identify and evaluate alternatives to existing policies and programs also enables social workers to effectively advocate for vulnerable or marginalized populations and advance social equity-based social change through policy-based decision making and implementation. These skills form the foundation for many roles within social work and serve to position social workers as highly effective advocates and social change agents. This assignment is intended to facilitate the development of these skills. What am I expected do in this assignment? Students will critically analyze a social policy or social policy issue and develop a well justified and supported response the social issue or problem. Students should ensure they consult with the professor about the most feasible topics and policy options/alternatives if there is any doubt on their part.

The required structure for this assignment is as follows:

1. Introduction and Background of the Issue: The purpose of this section is to provide the reader/audience with background information about the social issue. Questions to address include: How did the issue originate? What is the historical background of the issue? Why is this an important issue for social workers, society at large, policy makers to address? Why should society be concerned about this issue?

2. Statement of the Problem: The purpose of this section is to analyze specific issues related to the social issue or problem you have selected and to identify and discuss consequences of the issue/problem to those directly impacted and society as a whole if it continues or remains unaddressed. Questions to address when completing this section include: What evidence is there that suggests a policy change or policy intervention is needed/warranted? How does the social issue impact vulnerable populations and society as a whole? What is the specific social problem? What are the major factors contributing to/causing the problem? What are the key questions, controversies, ethical debates associated with the social issue/problem?

3. Current Policy Responses: The purpose of this section is to identify and analyze current policies (or policy responses such as social programs) that deal with the problem. The questions to address in this section include: What aspects of the problem are current policies (or programs) trying to resolve? What impact (if any) have current policy responses had on the social issue/problem (i.e., resolved, alleviated, exacerbated, no impact)? What are some reasons for these impacts? What are the major flaws or limitations of the current polices/policy responses? Who supports the current policies and why do they support them? Who is in favour of changing the current policies? Why do they want to change them?

4. Alternative Solutions: The purpose of this section is to analyze two (2) or three (3) alternative solutions to the social problem. Be sure to select alternative solutions that have been seriously proposed by advocates or policy makers. Analyze the alternatives that are being seriously considered (it is not necessary to analyze all alternatives). Analyze the strengths and limitations of each alternative solution. Be mindful that you may reject or use parts of these alternative solutions for your own policy proposal in the following section of the paper. The questions to address include: What are the alternatives to the current policies/policy responses to your selected social problem/issue? What are the strengths and weaknesses/limitations of the alternatives? (Please provide a clear rationale/support for your responses) Why haven’t these alternatives been made into policy/been implemented (e.g., inherent flaw in the policy; society’s view of the policy/social issue/problem)?

5. Policy Recommendations, Feasibility and Implementation Strategies: The purpose of this section is to formulate an effective policy proposal for the problem being addressed that is practical, feasible, and effective. The questions to address in this section include: What are the specific policy recommendations you/your group is proposing to solve the problem? How does your policy proposal address the social issue/problem better than the current policy or alternatives? What evidence can you offer that demonstrates your proposal will be effective? What reasoning and/or evidence can you provide that demonstrates your proposal is feasible? What legislative body, agency or other policy-making group will need to approve your proposal in order for it to be implemented? What agency or group will be responsible for administering your proposal? How might you go about influencing these specific groups so that your proposal will be adopted. What spokesperson or policy makers might realistically be interested in supporting your proposal? What evidence can you provide which indicates these people will be likely to serve as advocates for your proposal? What other groups might you entice to form a coalition in support of your proposal? What other implementation strategies might you use to gain support for your proposal? What are the most critical obstacles (financial, ethical, political) you anticipate in implementing your policy proposal? How do you plan to overcome these obstacles? What policy-makers or groups might be opposed to your proposal? Why would they be opposed to your proposal? How will you counteract the influence of these policy-makers and groups? Are there additional benefits or advantages to your proposal? If your proposal is adopted, how soon might we see results? What changes can we expect to see right away? Five years from now?

6. Summary and Conclusion: • This section should briefly summarize the main argument you have made in the paper and include a final persuasive appeal to your reader(s).

7. References: • This section should only contain works cited in the text of the paper. APA 7th Edition format must be followed. (Adapted from Foster, 2007-8, York University) 13 Resource: How to Write a Policy Assignment: https://www.trentu.ca/academicskills/how- guides/how-write-university/how-approach-any-assignment/how-write-policy- assignment Assignment Length: Policy papers are expected to be between 1500 to 2000 words (Note: Please note that content from assignments that exceed the maximum word length will not be graded in fairness to the other students). Sources: Sources for this paper can include books, peer reviewed journals, think tank, organizational and government reports (e.g., CCPA, Wellesley Institute, Broadbent Institute, Caledonia Institute, Fraser Institute). A minimum of seven (7) scholarly/academic sources must be referenced in this assignment. A reference page of citations in APA 7th edition style is also required.

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