Federal Policy Analysis and Recommendations

Assignment Overview

So far in the project, you have explored a social problem, selected a relevant federal policy, and analyzed the policy’s development and potential impacts. These assignments have not only enabled you to demonstrate mastery of the course competencies, but have provided you with an initial experience with federal policy analysis, a valuable professional practice for your work as a social worker.

By successfully completing this assignment, you will demonstrate your proficiency in the following EPAs and practice behaviors:

Competency 2: Engage Diversity and Difference in Practice
C2.GP.A Apply and communicate understanding of the importance of diversity and difference in shaping life experiences into practice at the micro, mezzo, and macro levels.
Related Assignment Criteria:
1. Analyze the social justice issue and its connection to the chosen population, including addressing cultural values, privilege, and power in your analysis.
2. Analyze the federal policy and its connection to the social justice problem and the targeted population.
Competency 5: Engage in Policy Practice
C5.GP.B: Assess how social welfare and economic policies impact the delivery of and access to social services.
Related Assignment Criteria:
4. Evaluate the effectiveness of the policy, including addressing issues with policy design, implementation practices, and external constraints that inhibit effectiveness.
6. Draw conclusions about the continuing effectiveness of the policy.
Competency 5: Engage in Policy Practice
C5.GP.C: Apply critical thinking to analyze, formulate, and advocate for policies that advance human rights and social, economic, and environmental justice.
Related Assignment Criteria:
3. Analyze the historical issues and context leading up to and including the development of the policy.
5. Evaluate the feasibility of the policy from political, economic, and administrative perspectives.
7. Provide recommendations to improve the policy or to replace it with alternative solutions, including a plan for advocacy and implementation.
Assignment Description

This assignment is the final component of your course project. Part of this assignment is a compilation of all previous assignments, revised according to your instructor’s feedback. All the course assignments will be combined to create a policy analysis report. The purpose of this assignment is to analyze the extent to which your chosen federal policy addresses the social justice issue concerning your chosen population and to make recommendations.

Assignment Instructions

As noted above, use the revised work you have done in your Policy Selection and Background (Unit 4) and Policy Analysis (Unit 6) assignments to develop a complete analysis. Additionally, this final submission includes recommendations you would make regarding future changes to the policy to improve its effectiveness in address the social justice issue for the chosen population.

For your final version, include:

Introduction
Body of Paper
Address the following, based on revising the assignments you submitted previously:

Analyze the social justice issue and its connection to the chosen population, addressing cultural values, privilege, and power in your analysis.
Analyze the federal policy and its connection to the social justice problem and the targeted population.
Analyze the historical issues and context leading up to, and including, the development of the policy.
Evaluate the effectiveness of the policy, including addressing issues with policy design, implementation practices, and external constraints that inhibit effectiveness.
Evaluate the feasibility of the policy from political, economic, and administrative perspectives.
Conclusion
Provide a brief summary of the current state of the policy’s implementation in regards to the chosen social justice issue and target population.
Draw conclusions based on your analysis about the continuing effectiveness of the policy. What have been the policy’s strengths and weaknesses, and how might these look going forward? Cite specific examples to support your analysis.
Recommendations
Provide recommendations to improve the policy or to replace it with alternative solutions, including a plan for how you will advocate for these changes. Should the policy be replaced, modified, or extended upon?
Justify your recommendations for new policies or revisions with a detailed rationale.
Describe how the new or revised policy for the chosen population will be implemented into policy planning and action.
Guidelines

Additional Requirements

The assignment you submit is expected to meet the following requirements:

Written communication: Written communication is free of errors that detract from the overall message.
APA formatting: Resources and citations are formatted according to current APA style and formatting standards.
Parts of the paper: Include a title page, table of contents, body of paper, references, and running headers.
Cited resources: Minimum of eight scholarly sources. All literature cited should be current, with publication dates within the past five years.
Length of paper: 12–16 double-spaced, typed pages

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