» Quiz

» Web Resources

A. National Association of Social Workers: www.naswdc.org
This website is the official site for the National Association of Social Workers.

B. Thomas: http://thomas.loc.gov
This website is the official site and source for reviewing and tracking proposed and enacted federal legislation.

C. International Federation of Social Workers: www.ifsw.org
This website is the official site for an international association of social workers with a goal of reaching global social justice.

D. United States Supreme Court: http://www.supremecourtus.gov
This website is the official site and source for the United States Supreme Court, including cases and opinions.

E. FindLaw: www.findlaw.com
This website provides a search engine for and links to federal and state laws and cases.

» Web Exercises

A. Choose a social problem and find a federal or state social welfare policy which purports to address this social problem. A federal or state social welfare policy can be located through a search conducted on www.thomas.loc.gov. Does this social policy address the social problem adequately? List your criteria for determining whether the social policy adequately addresses the social problem. Why or why not ?

B. The NASW Code of Ethics, located on the NASW website at www.nasw.org, provides a definition for social justice. Through an internet search, locate two (2) different definitions of social justice, preferrably at least one of which is not an American definition. How do these three (3) definitions differ? How are these definitions similar? Seek to determine the reasons for the differences and similarity in these definitions.

» Quiz

» Web Resources

A. Social Security Administration: www.ssa.gov
This website is the official site for the Social Security Administration which provides information about SS, SSD, and SSI in addition to other benefits.

B. Center for Law and Social Policy : www.clasp.org
This website is the official site for a national not-for-profit organization that provides policy analysis and information on numerous social welfare policies.

C. United States Department of Health & Human Services, Offices of Human Services Policy: www.aspe.hhs.gov
This website is the official site for the Office of Human Services Policy which provides research, policy analysis, and general information about a myriad of social welfare policies.

D. American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) : www.aclu.org
This website is the official site for the American Civil Liberties Union which provides information, research, and advocacy in regard to many social welfare policies.

E. United States Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Families and Children:
www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ofa/
This website is the official site for the Administration for Families and children which provides information about social welfare policies impacting families, including TANF.

» Web Exercises

A. Choose a social problem and a corresponding federal social welfare policy that you would like to learn more about - this may be done through searching on www.thomas.loc.gov. After thoroughly reading and reviewing the policy, apply the policy analysis framework discussed in this chapter. Any other elements or analysis that you would feel necessary to conduct in addition to the policy analysis framework?

B. After analyzing the federal social welfare policy designed to address an underlying social problem, locate a social welfare policy enacted in one of the states designed to address the same underlying social problem. This may be achieved through searching on www.findlaw.com. Compare and contrast these policies. Is the policy analysis framework presented in this chapter helpful in analyzing these policies? Why and/or why not?

» Quiz

» Web Resources

A. United States House of Representatives:
www.house.gov/house/Educate.shtml
This website is the official site for the House of Representatives which provides information about important historical documents, including the U.S. Constitution.

B. First Amendment Center: www.firstamendmentcenter.org
This website provides information about First Amendment issues, including case analysis.

C. Center on Budget and Policy Priorities: http://www.cbpp.org
This website provides research and information about social welfare policies and policies impacting low-income individuals and families.

D. Global Policy Network: http://www.globalpolicy.org
This website provides information on global social policies, including social welfare policies, through a focus on the work of the United Nations.

E. Coalition on Human Needs: http://www.chn.org
This website is a result of a coalition of national organizations working together to provide updates on legislation impacting poor and vulnerable populations and advocacy.

» Web Exercises

A. Review an online newspaper and select a story profiling a successful public figure of your choice, such as Sonia Sotomayor. In considering the story, identify any American ideologies presented in this chapter that are identified or implied in this story.

B. Select an organization concerned with social justice, such as NASW, located at www.nasw.org, that provide research, analysis, and advocacy on social welfare issues. After choosing a social welfare problem or social welfare policy concern, identify how the organization provides advocacy on the matter including identifying which First Amendment freedoms are being utilized to address this problem or concern and how they are being so used. Determine whether the organization could be effectively utilizing any additional First Amendment freedoms in their advocacy work and if so, how?

» Quiz

» Web Resources

A. Internal Revenue Service: www.irs.gov
This website is the official site for the Internal Revenue Service which provides information about present rules and regulations, proposed rules and regulations, publications, and taxpayer assistance.

B. United States Department of Health and Human Services: http://aspe.hhs.gov/POVERTY
This website provides information and research about the poverty line.

C. United States Census Bureau:
http://www.census.gov/hhes/www/poverty/poverty.html
This website provides research and statistics about the numbers of individuals and families in poverty.

D. The National Poverty Center: http://www.npc.umich.edu
This website provides analysis, research, and information about poverty and its impact on individuals and families.

E. Welfare Reform Academy:
http://www.welfareacademy.org/pubs/poverty
This website provides articles on poverty and other social welfare issues with a focus on alternatives to the poverty line determination while offering solutions and strategies for reform.

» Web Exercises

A. Ascertain the current poverty line for a family of four on the Office of Management and Budget website, located at www.uscensus.gov. Using this figure, compute the monthly income received and prepare a rudimentary budget for a family of four. Are the funds sufficient to meet the basic needs of all family members? Why or why not? Are the funds sufficient to meet all needs of all family members? Why or why not?

B. Determine the most recent median income for a family of four in your county and state. How does the median income compare to the poverty line? What factors are influential in causing the difference between these numbers?

» Quiz

» Web Resources

A. National Organization for Women (NOW): http://www.now.org
This website provides research, information, and publications about women and women’s issues.

B. People with a History:
http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/pwh/index.html
This website provides research, articles, and links to numerous articles on lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered and queer history.

C. Feminist: http://feminist.com
This website provides research, resources, advocacy, and links in regard to innumerable women’s issues.

D. United States Department of Justice, ADA homepage: http://www.ada.gov
This website provides the text of the Americans with Disabilities Act, publications, resources, and research about legislation impacting on persons with disabilities.

E. United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission: http://www.eeoc.gov/types/race.html
This website provides the text of the Civil Rights Act, publications, resources, and information about employment discrimination based on race.

» Web Exercises

A. Review the article summarizing the status of same sex marriages located at
www.stateline.org/live/ViewPage.action?siteNodeId=136&languageId=1&contentId=15576.
Choose two states that ban same sex marriage and review those states’ law governing same sex marriage. What reasons are cited for the ban on this right? Compare and contrast the similarities and differences between the reasons given in support of these laws. Are there any ideologies or reasons given which were previously cited in banning interracial marriages?

B. Family discrimination involves the discrimination against individuals, frequently females, who have caregiving responsibilities for dependent family members, such as minor children, disabled spouses/partners, or elderly parents. Spend ten to fifteen minutes conducting internet research to locate a policy which addresses this form of discrimination. Were you able to locate a federal or state policy which adequately addressed this evolving issue? Why or why not?

» Quiz

» Web Resources

A. National Association of Social Workers: www.nasw.org
This website is the official site for the National Association of Social Workers.

B. American Association of Social Work Boards: www.aswb.org
This website provides licensing information for social workers, including information about each state’s licensure policies.

C. Council on Social Work Education: www.cswe.org/CSWE
This website provides research, resources, publications, advocacy, and information about the education of social workers.

D. New York State NASW: www.naswnys.org
This website provides research, resource, information, and advocacy about issues important to social workers, particularly in New York State.

E. International Federation of Social Workers: www.ifsw.org
This website is the official site for an international association of social workers with a goal of reaching global social justice.

» Web Exercises

A. Review the NASW website, located at www.nasw.org. Under the issues section of the website, choose one issue of interest which you believe requires advocacy in furtherance of social justice, your ethic responsibility What steps are social workers taking in advocating for this issue? What arguments being asserted in support of this matter? What advocacy steps would you take?

B. Choose a state NASW website, such as the NYS NASW website located at www.naswnys.org . Select an issue impacting the practice of social work, such as student loan forgiveness or social work licensure. How does the resolution of this issue impact on the practice of social work now and in the future?

» Quiz

» Web Resources

A. The National Poverty Center: http://www.npc.umich.edu
This website provides analysis, research, and information about poverty and its impact on individuals and families.

B. Welfare Reform Academy:
http://www.welfareacademy.org/pubs/poverty
This website provides articles on poverty and other social welfare issues with a focus on alternatives to the poverty line determination while offering solutions and strategies for reform.

C. United States Dept. of Health and Human Service, Administration for
Children and Families: www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ofa
This website provides the text of the TANF Act, together with regulations, publications, and resources relating to poverty and legislation impacting on same.

D. Social Security Administration: www.ssa.gov
This website is the official site for the Social Security Administration which provides information about SS, SSD, and SSI in addition to other benefits.

E. Welfare Information Network: www.welfareinfo.org
This website provides information about the history of welfare programs in the United States, practical guidance in applying for welfare, and numerous articles in regard to welfare programs.

» Web Exercises

A. Several solutions have been proposed in your textbook to maintain the solvency of the Social Security Administration. Choose a solution that you believe may be effective and research the arguments made in support of this solution. Begin your research using the Social Security Administration website located at: www.ssa.gov.

B. Your textbook presents the Elizabethean Poor Laws as the initial welfare system in the United States. After reviewing a summary of the TANF rules and regulations located at:
http://www.workworld.org/wwwebhelp/temporary_assistance_for_needy_families_tanf_.htm#Temporary_Assistance_for_Needy_Families_General
compare and contrast the ideologies underlying these policies?
What remains the same in these policies? What has changed?

» Quiz

» Web Resources

A. Child Welfare Information Gateway: www.cbpp.org/cms
This website provides publications, research, state specific child welfare statute summaries, and advocacy information on child welfare policies.

B. Child Welfare League of America: www.cwla.org/advocacy
This website provides current legislation and updates on child welfare policies, publications, and information about child welfare issues.

C. Children’s Defense Fund: www.childrensdefense.org
This website, for a national not-for-profit children’s rights organization, contains information about legislation and proposed legislation impacting on children, advocacy, and research.

D. National Indian Child Welfare Association: www.nicwa.org
This not-for-profit organization’s website provides information in regard to legislation impacting Native American children, advocacy, training, and research.

E. Child Welfare Research Institute: www.childwelfare.com
This website provides detailed state statute information on a range of child welfare policies.

» Web Exercises

A. Although federal legislation has provided guidelines defining child abuse and neglect, tremendous variations still exist among the states in these definitions. Using the Child Welfare Information Gateway website, located at: www.cbpp.org/cms, the definitions of child abuse for two different states. Compare and contrast these definitions. Which do you prefer? Why?

B. Choose one of the federal child welfare policies presented in your textbook. Using the website cited above, research this policy in depth. What ideologies do you identify in this policy? What are the strengths and weaknesses inherent in this policy? How would you revise this policy to insure a nondiscriminatory application that adequately protects children and families?

» Quiz

» Web Resources

A. United States Dept. of Health and Human Services,
Agency for Health Care Research & Quality: www.ahrq.gov
This website provides research, statistics, and articles on health care issues and policies.

B. Kaiser Family Foundation: www.kff.org
This not-for-profit organization provides a clearing house of information on health care issues, as well as policy analysis and information.

C. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid: www.cms.hhs.gov
This government website provides text of important health care policies, research, statistics, and information about Medicaid, Medicare, SCHIP, and other health care policies.

D. United States Medicare Dept: www.medicare.gov
This website is the official government website in regard to Medicare which contains information designed to help the potential and actual Medicare recipient utilize and understand the services offered by this program.

E. World Health Organization (WHO): www.who.int
This website is the official website for a division of the United Nations, which addresses health care issues and health care policies worldwide.

» Web Exercises

A. Numerous solutions have been proposed to “fix” the health care system presently in place in the United States. Choose one of the solutions presented and research this solution in depth. What are the strengths and challenges presented in this solution? Any omissions that you would address? Any changes that you would you suggest? Begin your research at the Kaiser Family Foundation website located at: www.kff.org.

B. Under the NASW website, located at www.nasw.org, select a healthcare issue. What position does NASW hold on this particular issue? What advocacy steps has NASW taken? What advocacy steps would you take as a social worker?

» Quiz

» Web Resources

A. United States Dept. of Housing and Urban Development:
www.hud.gov
This official government website provides research, statistics, articles, and publications on housing related issues and policies.

B. National Coalition for the Homeless:
http://www.nationalhomeless.org
This not-for-profit organization provides policy information, research, and advocacy on homelessness.

C. National Law Center on Homelessness and Policy: www.nlchp.org
This not-for-profit organization website provides advocacy, information, and publication on homelessness.

D. Fair Housing Accessibility First: www.fairhousingfirst.org
This government website provides detailed information about the Fair Housing Act, and subsequent amendments, with a focus on providing information to increase compliance with this act.

E. Federal Reserve Board: www.federalreserve.gov/dcca/cra
This official government website provides information about the Community Reinvestment Act, including the performance of banks in compliance with this act.

» Web Exercises

A. As your textbook suggests, homelessness has not been adequately addressed by federal policies. As such, the problems of homelessness have been left to states and municipalities. Choose one of the entities located in your town that works with the homeless population and research it. Is this organization able to effectively serve the homeless in your town? Why or why not? What solutions would you to propose that would assist this organization in improving the services offered to this population?

B. The definition of homelessness, as established by the federal government, is detailed in the beginning of the housing policy chapter of your textbook. Should this definition be revised to be more inclusive and, therefore, to include more individuals as eligible for assistance? How would you revise this definition? What elements would you keep? What elements would you remove?

» Quiz

» Web Resources

A. United States Dept. of Education: www.ed.gov/nclb/landing.jhtml
This official government website provides information about the No Child Left Behind Act, including school performance statistics.

B. Thomas: http://thomas.loc.gov
This website is the official site and source for reviewing and tracking proposed and enacted federal legislation.

C. The White House: www.whitehouse.gov/CONTACT
This official website for the administration contains biographies of the President and other elected/appointed officials, issues important to the administration, contact information, and articles on United States history.

D. United States Supreme Court: http://www.supremecourtus.gov
This website is the official site and source for the United States Supreme Court, including cases and opinions.

E. FindLaw: www.findlaw.com
This website provides a search engine for and links to federal and state laws and cases.

» Web Exercises

A. Using the NASW website, located at www.nasw.com, select a social welfare issue that you believe will be important in the next decade. Why do you feel that this issue will be significant? What advocacy steps has NASW taken in connection with this issue? What advocacy steps would you take?

B. Using the White House website located at:
www.whitehouse.gov/CONTACT, select a social welfare issue listed as important to the Obama administration. As a social worker, would you analyze this issue differently than this administration? How would your analysis differ using a social justice perspective?