T H E U N I V E R S I T Y S C H O O L O F O F M I C H I G A N S O C I A L W O R K Course Syllabus SW 530 Introduction to Social Policy and Services Section 004 Room 3816 SSWB Fall 2001 Monday 1 00 4 00 am Instructor Karen M Staller PhD JD Office Office Hours 2702 Social Work Building TBA or By appointment Phone and Voicemail 763 5769 Email kstaller umich edu The moral test of a society is how it treats those in the dawn of life its children those in the twilight the elderly and those in the shadow of life the sick the needy and the handicapped Hubert Humphrey 1977 If you are poor your main problem isn t lack of money it s all the people who know what s best for you Kay McDonald NY County Family Court I Course Description This course surveys the history of social welfare and the social work profession a broad array of U S social welfare services and the evolution of social work values and ethics Emphasis is placed on major fields of social work service such as income maintenance health care mental health child welfare corrections and services to the elderly Analytic frameworks with regard to social welfare policies and services will be presented These frameworks will identify strengths and weaknesses in the current social welfare system with respect to multiculturalism and diversity social justice and social change behavioral and social science theory and research and social work relevant promotion prevention treatment and rehabilitation programs and services Staller SW530 Fall 2001 1 II Course Content There are four main content areas for the course 1 The philosophic and practical basis for social welfare provisions including consideration of the respective roles and relationships of the individual the family the community groups educational settings churches workplaces and the nonprofit sector the government at various geographic levels 2 The history of the social work profession from the altruistic philanthropist to the development of professional practice the emergence of distinct methods of practice in their historical context the influence of religious values ethics and social and political climates on the profession s development the emergence of specific policies and programs within their historical social and political contexts 3 A critical analysis of current social welfare policies procedures and programs nationally and cross nationally with attention to the strengths and weaknesses of various policies programs and procedures evolving population needs the ways in which current policies and programs address promotion prevention treatment and rehabilitation issues and social justice social change perspectives 4 Descriptions and analyses using recent social science theory research knowledge of major areas of social welfare provision and patterns of their delivery including but not limited to services for families children adolescents adults and the aging including income maintenance foster case protective services and school social work mental and physical health services including those targeted toward promotion prevention treatment and rehabilitation community service programs correctional services and criminal justice Staller SW530 Fall 2001 2 III Course Objectives Upon completion of this course students will be able to Describe the historical basis for the current U S social welfare system including the history and role of the social work profession Describe and critically analyze current social welfare policies procedures and programs including the role of behavioral and social science research and theory in their evolution Discuss the strengths and limitations of the current U S social welfare system in terms of the functions of provision of basic needs protection of the vulnerable prevention promotion treatment rehabilitation protection of society and provision of social control This discussion will incorporate state national and cross national analyses Describe and critically analyze major fields of social welfare service provision from a multicultural perspective including but not limited to income security health and mental health services child welfare social work practice in school settings services to the elderly and correctional systems Discuss and critically analyze current debates trends and ethical issues in each specific field of service presented in the course including the implications for social work practice and promoting social justice and social change IV Relationship SW530 to School s Four Curricular Themes Multiculturalism and Diversity Specific field of service is critically analyzed from multicultural historical or cross national perspectives Social Justice and Social Change The course critically analyzes current trends and ethical issues and their implications for promoting social justice and social change Promotion Prevention Treatment and Rehabilitation The course gives attention to the ways in which current policies and programs address promotion prevention treatment and rehabilitation Behavioral and Social Science Research Analytic frameworks drawn from behavioral and social science literature and research are presented for each field of service Staller SW530 Fall 2001 3 V Textbooks and News Media Requirements Required Textbooks 1 Jansson Bruce S 2001 The Reluctant Welfare State 4th Edition Belmont CA Brooks Cole Thomson Learning 2 Midgley James Martin B Tracy Livermore Michelle Editors 2000 The Handbook of Social Policy Thousand Oaks California Sage Publications Inc 3 Other Material as noted in syllabus and on reserve in the library Required texts may be purchased at Ulrich s Michigan Book and Supply and Michigan Union Bookstore Required Media 1 The New York Times or Los Angeles Times Washington Post etc The NYT is available online at http www nytimes com 2 The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer Mon Fri on Public TV The NewsHour is online at http www pbs org newshour Recommended Media 1 2 3 4 5 Local Newspaper Ann Arbor News Detroit CNN News and Policy discussions National Public Radio news Morning Edition Evening Network News CBS ABC NBC West Wing Wednesday 10 11 pm VI Written Assignments and Grading 1 Legislative Policy Project Definitions and Responses 20 of final grade 2 Hot Topic Project 20 of final grade 3 Judicial Analysis 20 of final grade 4 Final Exam 35 of final grade 5 Citizenship 5 of final grade Legislative Policy Project requires student to identify two 2 legislative responses in different domains addressing a single general social