This document provides an overview of the topics and assignments for the first weekly unit of a social work policy analysis course. It introduces frameworks for analyzing social systems and relationships. It also covers the basics of social policy analysis and its relevance to social work. Students are asked to introduce themselves online, choose a topic for a policy analysis paper, and complete readings on the three perspectives of policy analysis: process, product, and performance.

1. WEEKLY UNIT ONE
Introduction: Frameworks, Systems &
Relationships

2. Objectives
 Course Information
 Systems Introduction
 System Relationships
 Basics of Social Policy Analysis
 The Relevance of Policy Analysis to Social
Work

3. Welcome to SWRK 654
 Getting Started
 Introductions
 E-Mail Instructor
 Syllabus
 Course Expectations
 Policy Analysis Assignment

4. Welcome to SWRK 654
 Introductions
 Go the “Student Introductions” link in Module
One.
 See the instruction to go to www.glogster.com
 Create an introduction page in glogster and post
the URL to the blog in “Student Introductions.”
 Review posts.

5. Welcome to SWRK 654
 E-Mail the Instructor
 At the beginning of the course, email the
instructor some basic information about yourself
including:
 Your name, phone and preferred email address.
 A brief statement about what you are currently doing
and what you would like to do with your MSW.

6. Welcome to SWRK 654
 Syllabus
 Course Description
 Purpose of Course
 Content Outline
 Course Objectives
 Required Text

7. Welcome to SWRK 654
 Course Expectations
 Weekly Reading
 Four Written Assignments
 Participation

8. Welcome to SWRK 654
 Policy Analysis Assignment
 Policy Analysis Paper is central to the course
 The paper and the steps up to it represent almost
all of your grade for this course
 Assignment 1: Policy Analysis Paper Topic
 Due Week 2
 Graded
 Two Year Standard
 No more that one page double-spaced

9. Welcome to SWRK 654
 Policy Analysis Assignment Continued
 Classparticipants will choose a social policy that
has been legislated no less than two years ago.
The topic is to be relevant to the purpose of the
course. The topic will be explained, including a
statement of reasons why the policy is important
for analysis; identification of potential supporters
and detractors of the policy; and the potential of
the policy to have a substantial impact on mental
health systems, services, and/or consumers.

10. Weekly Unit One
 Systems Introduction
 Thebasic components of the mental health
system according to Scheid:
 Private Practice
 Public Systems and Managed Care
 Hospitals (local, acute, state)
 Corrections

11. Weekly Unit One
 System Relationships
 Systems can be related and categorized
according to Scheid:
 Formal System (primary care and specialty mental
health)
 Lay System (family and friends)
 Folk System (religious and alternative healing)
 Human/Social Services (social workers, schools,
police)
 Gateways and Referrals

12. Weekly Unit One
Formal Social
Lay Folk
System Services
System System
System
Private Public Corrections
Practice Managed Hospitals
Care Courts and
VA

13. Weekly Unit One
 Perspectives on the Study of Social Policy
 Weekly Reading (Gilbert)
 The Three P’s of Analysis
 - PROCESS - focus on the dynamics of policy formulation with regard to
sociopolitical and technical variables. Understand relationships and interactions
among the political, governmental, and interest groups that affect policy. The study
of systems of programs.
 - PRODUCT - the product of the planning process is a set of policy choices.
Choices can be programs, laws, statutes, or plans that will eventually become
programs. Studies are on the issues of the choices. What are the values, theories,
and assumptions of choices?
 - PERFORMANCE - Description and evaluation of program outcomes. How well
was it carried out and what was the impact?

14. Weekly Unit One
 Perspectives Continued
 Weekly Reading
 Political Perspective on the Study of Social Welfare
Policy
 Individual versus Community Values
 Individual – Pursuit of individual interests; traditional
“American Dream” or Laissez-fair approach; Public
Welfare undermines personal responsibilities.
 Community – Common action on behalf of common
goals; “fair share” correction to social economics
malfunction; protect the interests of all against the
agenda of a few.

15. Weekly Unit One
 Why is policy analysis relevant to social work?
 - The social worker can play an important role in the development and
execution of social policy.
 - Ability to interpret policy.
 - Policy formation is not easily understood and not as clearly taught as
other social worker functions.
 - Policy choices affect the direct services that social workers use.
 - Policy structures the nature of social work practice at the service
delivery level. For example, deinstitutionalization reduced the need for
in-hospital social services and expanded the demand for community-
based services.
 - Social workers must now do more than just direct counseling, they
have to weave together housing, health, income support, and social
service programs on behalf of their clients.
 - Policy analysis allows workers to be more effective.
 - Decision-makers turn to practitioners for information and advice.
 - The opportunity to advance in career from service provider to planner,
manager, or researcher.

16. Summary
 Course Information
 Systems Introduction
 System Relationships
 Basics of Social Policy Analysis
 The Relevance of Policy Analysis to Social
Work

17. Remember
 Complete weekly units.
 Go to glogster.com, create your introduction
page, post a link to it to the blog.
 Pick a topic for your policy analysis (see
Assignment #1) and turn it in to the instructor
when you start Weekly Unit 2.