HUSR5103

This course examines the evolution of American social problems and the response of the social welfare policy systems and programs at the national, state, regional and local levels. A basic framework for comparison with international social welfare systems will also be provided. The course will focus on the following aspects of the social welfare system: the impact of social policy on the delivery of human services, social welfare policy, and the systematic analysis of social welfare policy; understanding of social welfare policy analysis from both historical and current standpoints, and the organization, community and policy practice settings requiring advocacy and policy formulation; comprehension of social welfare policy analysis in the areas of welfare reform, homelessness/housing, poverty, mental health, substance abuse and health care; and individual communication skills in describing, analyzing, synthesizing and presenting a letter to the editor, a letter to a legislator, and a social welfare policy analysis response to a current societal problem. Applications in social welfare advocacy at all levels will be explored.