Social justice problems may affect different populations in unique ways. Social workers must understand the special challenges that may arise when providing services and supports for these populations, as well as the policies that may address the social justice problems that impact them.
The purpose of this assignment is to explore a social justice problem that addresses a specific population or subgroup (for example, access to health care, social services, immigration, or veterans’ mental health and services). This should be a problem that presents current challenges for social workers providing services and support. You will need to investigate the various forms and mechanisms of oppression and discrimination within this social justice problem and identify policies that are currently enacted to address this problem. Ultimately, you will choose one of these policies as the topic for your policy analysis in the coming assignments in this course.
To ensure you choose a viable and scholarly topic, explore the literature in your area of interest by doing article and book searches through electronic resources, including government, educational, and organizational websites. Exploring scholarly, respected literature will be the preliminary work for this assignment. The United States Congress website— reading list—will be an invaluable resource for your research during this assignment if you are exploring a federal-level issue.
Assignment Instructions – 4 PAGES – Apa format
To complete this assignment:
Choose a social justice problem that addresses the needs of a specific population or subgroup that interests you. Use the Internet, United States Congress website, or any relevant state or local website that provides policy and social justice information to help guide your research. Also, refer to the resources above as needed to help guide your search.
After you have chosen a problem, write a 4 PAGES exploration of the topic and address the following:
· Analyze the forms and mechanisms of oppression and discrimination of your chosen population or subgroup that exist within this social justice topic (for example, based on race, religion, disabilities, gender orientation, socioeconomic status, or access to services).
· In your analysis, describe how the oppression and discrimination impacted this population or subgroup.
· Support this with data on the number of people affected that you have found during your research.
· Analyze ethical problems associated with your selected social justice problem.
· Use the NASW Code of Ethics web page, to guide your analysis:
· What ethical considerations in your selected social justice problem must be addressed?
· What are implications for social work practice and positive client outcomes?
· Describe the current enacted policies for this social justice problem.
· Research current enacted policies that seek to address this social justice problem. Important: These policies must be passed legislation currently in practice. Legislation can be at the local, state, or federal level.
· Analyze how effective these policies are in addressing the needs of your chosen population or subgroup.
· Do the policies effectively address the social justice problem? Provide a rationale that includes scholarly, peer-reviewed research.
· Assess the impact these policies have had on your selected population or subgroup.
· What policy constraints exist for this population or subgroup?
· Compare advocacy methods for the selected social justice problem.
· What are the strengths and challenges of advocacy methods? What additional steps could be taken to address the challenges?