This document provides instructions for an assignment requiring students to write a paper summarizing the background of a social issue. Students must choose a social issue addressed by health and human services organizations, such as homelessness, mental health, aging, or substance abuse. The paper must discuss the issue's history, contributing factors, and impact on service delivery. It should be 3-4 double-spaced pages and include at least 3 scholarly sources, with 2 from the university library. The paper aims to demonstrate students' understanding of content related to analyzing and addressing social issues.

1. Background of Social Issues
Throughout the course of your degree program, you have had
the opportunity to examine various topical issues that are
addressed by professionals in the health and human services
field. To demonstrate your mastery of the program learning
outcomes, you will synthesize your knowledge of various
content areas related to a social issue of your choosing, and use
this to develop an original intervention (i.e., strategy,
technique, or application) to address this particular topic in
your Final Paper. To facilitate in the development of this final
assignment, you will prepare and submit the first of four written
assignments, which will involve a thorough overview of your
proposed social issue.
More specifically, your task will involve addressing the
following content areas:
Identify a social issue that health and/or human service
organizations address in some capacity and discuss its current
impact on group(s) affected by it. When selecting an area of
focus, take into account broad topics that have been
exhaustively scrutinized at the scholarly level, such as
homelessness, mental health, aging, substance abuse, child
welfare, etc. A good place to begin your search on an area of
interest is the
HHS A to Z Index.
Describe the historical underpinnings of this issue. Factors to
consider include: where and how it originated, pertinent events
and their dates, and its current status.
Discuss specific factors contributing to the social issue.
Consider environmental, social, political, and economic reasons
that have attempted to explain why this issue persists.
Evaluate the impact of this social issue on the delivery of health
and human service efforts by reviewing the scholarly literature
and relevant professional/governmental resources for evidence
of formal responses in the form of policy implementation,
legislation, or Acts related to this social issue. What impact has

2. this had on how health and/or human service organizations
provide support in terms of direct practice with clients and
within communities?
At minimum, your submission must include three scholarly
sources (excluding the required course readings), two of which
must come from the Ashford University Library (e.g., articles,
professional critiques, research reports, etc.). The third source
can come from either the library or from a professional website
ending in .gov.
The Background of Social Issues Paper
Must be three to four double-spaced pages in length (not
including title and references pages) and formatted according to
APA style as outlined in the
Ashford Writing Center
.
Must include a separate title page with the following:
Title of paper
Student’s name
Course name and number
Instructor’s name
Date submitted
Must use at least three scholary sources (excluding the required
course readings), two of which must come from within the
Ashford University Library (e.g., articles, professional
critiques, research reports, etc.). The third source can come
from either the library or from a professional website ending in
.gov).
The
Scholarly, Peer Reviewed, and Other Credible Sources
table offers additional guidance on appropriate source types. If
you have questions about whether a specific source is
appropriate for this assignment, please contact your instructor.
Your instructor has the final say about the appropriateness of a
specific source for a particular assignment.
Must document all sources in APA style as outlined in the
Ashford Writing Center.

3. Must include a separate references page that is formatted
according to APA style as outlined in the Ashford Writing
Center.