SW 5235: American Indians and Social Policy

What is Social Policy?

• The activities and principles of a society that guide the way it intervenes in and regulates relationships between individuals, groups, communities, and social institutions. 

• These principles and activities are the result of the society’s values and customs and largely determine the distribution of resources and level of well being of its people. 

• Thus, social policy includes plans and programs in education, health care, crime and corrections, economic security, and social welfare made by governments, voluntary organizations, and the people in general. 

• It also includes social perspectives that result in society’s rewards and constraints.

Barker, R., The Social Work Dictionary, 3rd Ed., (1997) p. 355.

NASW Press, Washington, D.C.

Definition:

Social policies are “those principles, procedures, and courses of action established in statute, administrative code, and agency regulation that affect people’s social well being”. 

Popple, P.R. & Leighninger, L. (2004, p. 27). The Policy Based Profession: An Introduction to Social Welfare Policy Analysis for Social Workers.

How does policy affect direct practice?

• Determines the major goals of service
• Determines characteristics of clientele
• Determines who will get services
• Specifies or restricts certain options for clients
• Determines the theoretical focus of services
• Policy establishes a course of action to be followed by the agency/practitioner
• Policy involves the principles, guidelines, or procedures that serve to maximize the uniformity in decision making

Popple, P.R. & Leighninger, L. (2004). The Policy Based Profession: An Introduction to Social Welfare Policy Analysis for Social Workers.