As a social worker you must be attuned to the impacts of a behavioral health or disability policy (or a policy with behavioral health or disability services implications) on your practice in various mental health contexts. Building on the course readings and other assignments, one should be able to think critically about policy and how it implemented. In this paper you will explore a particular policy of your own choosing, the reason for the policy, the services that resulted from it, and the evaluation of the policy with respect to its effectiveness. You will also consider how if at all the policy is trauma informed and if it enhances clients’ human rights. This assignment is worth 35 points. The paper you write will have several interrelated sections as indicated below. When you fully addressed the points in each section, you will earn full points designated for that section; when the points are addressed adequately, midpoint will be awarded; and if the points are not adequately addressed, you will not earn any point. Make sure to use headings/subheadings based on the points below to accentuate lines of demarcation: Point Distribution Major Heading/Section Descriptions 0-2 A description of the policy. This can be done in a one-page summary format. An analysis of the social issues taking place that led to the development of the 0-5 policy. (Think about which problem the policy was supposed to address and which groups were to benefit by it. 0-3 Who was the policy to serve (think about clients with particular diagnoses/problems)? 0-2 Name and describe briefly two evidence based practices that may be implemented as a result of this policy 0-5 A thorough discussion of how the policy has been/may be evaluated. (federal state and/or local data, EBP 0-3 Describe and discuss how the policy influences clients’ access to mental health services 0-2 Describe how the policy impacts the way the social workers, including those in your employment/field placement/area of practice interest, render services 0-3 Discuss which entitlement programs are affected by the policy (e.g., SSI) 0-4 Discuss how the policy is trauma informed and if it is not how you would advocate to make it trauma informed. Discuss how the policy enhances human rights; if it does not, what changes 0-3 would you advocate for so that it could be altered to be more responsive to human rights. 0-3 Conclusion- What were some of the things that surprised you in analyzing this policy and any other recommendations you would make. For this paper, you are required to utilize a minimum of 10 academic/scholarly references (e.g., journal articles, book chapters, and reports from government or non-profit organizations). Do not use lectures or videos, unless they are done by prominent experts in the field. There will not be an option to rewrite or revise the final paper after it has been graded – no exceptions. Points Criteria/Major Sections /2 A description of the policy. This can be done in a one-page summary format. /4 An analysis of the social issues taking place that led to the development of the policy. (Think about which problems the policy was supposed to address and which groups were to benefit by it) /3 Who was the policy to serve (think about clients with particular diagnoses/problems)? /2 Name and describe briefly two evidence-based practices that may be implemented as a result of this policy. /4 A thorough discussion of how the policy has been/may be evaluated (e.g. Federal, state, and/or local data, EBP). /3 Describe and discuss how the policy influences client’s access to mental health services. /2 Describe how the policy impacts the way the social workers, including those in your employment/field practice/area of practice interest, render services. /2 Discuss which entitlement programs are affected by the policy (e.g. SSI). /3 Discuss how the policy is trauma informed and, if it is not, how you would advocate to make it trauma informed. /3 Discuss how the policy enhances human rights; if it does not, what changes would you advocate for so that it could be altered to be more responsive to human rights. /2 Conclusion- What were some of the things that surprised you in analyzing this policy and any other recommendations you would make. /30 Total
