TESTIMONY OF A SOCIAL WORK TRAINEE

I love working with teenagers! At least I get the feeling that I can do something that will really make a difference in their lives. Maybe if we can help them soon enough, they wont have to live the same kinds of lives as their parents. And it makes me feel so good when kids turn their lives around. But sometimes I find it hard to do my job as a social worker. I can get these kids to think about their future, but I cannot make jobs appear magically or stop the violence in their schools or get the gangs out of their neighborhoods...

If society wants kids to have a fighting chance,

Social Policy
ARUN PAUL, MAHATMA GANDHI UNIVERSITY

WHAT IS SOCIAL POLICY

The strategy of action indicating means and methods to be followed in successive phases to achieve the declared social objectives.

SALIENT FEATURES
The policy of state responsible conducting the affairs of society. for

Framework within which and course of action for adopting affairs of society to be conducted. Relates to people and provision of social services concerns with

Promoting human and social development.

CHARACTERISTICS
Distributional and redistributive
Social and economic justice>principle of equality>better off to worse off

Concern with weaker and vulnerable sections

e.g. poor, women, children, disabled etc.

Do not exist in isolation

Socio-political scenario of the nation, economic viability, Socio-cultural ethos of people.

OBJECTIVE

z a i o n o

s u f e ri n g

MODELS OF SOCIAL POLICY

RESIDUAL WELFARE MODEL INDUSTRIAL ACHIEVEMENTPERFORMANCE MODEL INSTITUTIONAL REDESTRIBUTIVE MODEL

RESIDUAL WELFARE MODEL

Family and market only instruments for meeting human needs Emphasis on means-testing and less eligibility Selectivity: poor who qualify means testing are eligible for benefits

INDUSTRIAL ACHIEVEMENTPERFORMANCE MODEL

Significant role for social welfare institutions. Benefits: merit, work performance and productivity. Derived from economic and psychological theories.

INSTITUTIONAL REDESTRIBUTIVE MODEL

Built-in institutional social provision to overcome the stresses of the modern complex industrial-urban life.

ACTORS IN FORMULATION OF SOCIAL POLICY

Government Political parties Individual reforms Voluntary organizations Social action groups Plan documents Laws and courts Parliamentary committees Technological breakdown etc.

PROBLEMS IN POLICY IMPLEMENTATION

Lack of political will Prevalence of coaliation government Widespread corruption at each and every level of functioning Financial constratints Red-tapism Erosion of moral values Inadequate staffing Absence of training Lack of people participation etc.

STRATEGIES FOR EFFECTING CHANGES IN POLICIES

Use of mass media Demonstrations Public interest litigation Discussions, Meetings and Seminars Building pressure over government Submission of memorandum Signature Campaign Pressure groups etc. Creation of public opinion

THE SOCIAL WORKERS ROLE IN INFLUENCING SOCIAL POLICY CHANGE

FINDING OUT ABOUT SOCIAL POLICY

CONDUCTING RESEARCHS

USING LIBRARY RESOURCES

INFLUENCING THE POLITICAL PROCESS

Lobbying-Person paid to represent an organization with government office holders and agencies Public Hearings

Written and verbal Communication with Legislators- Telephone, Snail mail, email, social media

Using Media- Press conferences, letters to editors, appearances on television and radio talk shows, press releases. Going to Court to Change Policy- litigation.