Competency 5
ENGAGE IN POLICY PRACTICE
ENGAGE IN POLICY PRACTICE
Social workers understand that human rights and social justice, as well as social welfare and services, are mediated by policy and its implementation at the federal, state, and local levels. Social workers understand the history and current structures of social policies and services, the role of policy in service delivery, and the role of practice in policy development. Social workers understand their role in policy development and implementation within their practice settings at the micro, mezzo, and macro levels and they actively engage in policy practice to effect change within those settings. Social workers recognize and understand the historical, social, cultural, economic, organizational, environmental, and global influences that affect social policy. They are also knowledgeable about policy formulation, analysis, implementation, and evaluation.
The first artifact I selected to best represent my growth within Competency 5 is the Final Policy Analysis Paper I wrote in the course SW 319: Social Welfare Policy and Services. For this assignment, I selected an issue I was passionate about promoting social change in, which for me is immigration. From there, after some research I chose to focus my analysis on the U.S. Citizenship Act of 2021, also known as H.R. 1177. Throughout this analysis I practiced being informed on policy by giving a full policy description of H.R. 1177, answered policy analysis questions, considered the policy's strengths and weaknesses, thought of suggestions for change, and formulated a policy change advocacy plan. Next, for artifact 2, I selected the National Immigration Forum's Bill Summary of S. 4787, or the Afghan Adjustment Act. During my field placement, I used this resource as well as the State Department to research this policy and discuss its implications with my supervisor, as this policy directly impacted our practice at Samaritas, in New American Resettlement. I engaged in this research and discussion in order to identify social policy at the local, state, and federal level that impacts well-being, service delivery, and access to social services as Competency 5 suggests.
For context, the focus of this policy analysis paper was H.R 1177, the U.S Citizenship Act of 2021. This bill is intended to modernize our immigration system, prioritize keeping families together, to grow our economy, responsibly managing the border with smart investments, address the root causes of migration from Central America, and ensure that the United States remains a refuge for those fleeing persecution. Additionally, this bill would provide a clear, earned path to citizenship for the vulnerable population of immigrants living in the U.S. as well as eradicate derogatory terms, such as 'alien' from official immigration documents and statuses. Currently, there has been no further progress with H.R. 1177 other than its introduction to the House of Representatives in 2021, however I am still hopeful in the implementation of this policy and future policies with the goal of reforming unjust immigration sentiments and laws. Through working on this assignment, I was able to further grasp the importance of policy on social work and social services in general, and was also able to practice critical analysis and actively researching solutions and formulating plans to address the problems I saw within the issue of immigration as well as the areas of the bill that I found were lacking paths to change.
Final Policy Analysis Paper: SW 319
Artifact 2, the Afghan Adjustment Act, is a bipartisan bill that would provide a path to permanent status to tens of thousands of Afghans who were evacuated to the U.S. following the fall of Kabul in August 2021. The legislation also includes provisions to ensure that eligible Afghan evacuees have been subject to rigorous vetting and screening procedures, and it would improve and expand pathways to protection for those left behind and at risk in Afghanistan. This bill is inherently relevant to my internship in New Americvan Resettlement as we work with a large population of Afghan clients, many who have been able to recieve our services through the Afghan Adjustment Act. My superviosr suggested I reserach this policy and her and I had a discussion about how this policy impacts our jobs directly at Samariotas, as well as how the polarity changes in congress, particularly pertaining to the fluctuation of refugee admissions were also impacted by the Afghan Adjustment Act. While the Afghan Adjustment Act is very beneficial to Afghan refugees, a both moral and ethical dilemma presents itself when resettlement agencies are unable to help clients from other countries as many of the resources and benefits presented in the bill only aid refugees from Afghanistan. This creates a power imbalance between Afghan clients and clients from other areas as resettlement agencies cannot provide them the same services the government has allotted for Afghan refugees. I appreciated the research and discussion of S. 4787 as it allowed me an opportunity to practice my engagement with Competency 5 and allowed me to see how policy can directly impact my practice.
Afghan Adjustment Act: S. 4787
My growth within Competency 5 is evident in my personal attitudes towards politics and policy practice; before the BSW program, I preferred to shield myself from politics, and refrained from giving my opinions in order to mitigate unproductive political debates. While I am someone who is strong in my beliefs, and would not tolerate someone perpetuating harmful statements, I have struggled in my early adulthood whether or not it is more beneficial to keep the peace in a certain situation, or if I should risk rocking the boat with my opinions. Additionally, I found myself turning a blind eye to the news and current events, as the world has become an increasingly scary place, and I didn't feel as though I had enough energy to make room for the negativity I often learned of in the news and social media. However, through my practice of Competency 5, I have learned that complacency is a dangerous thing. Being a bystander is not helpful, and change will not be accomplished through waiting. If I want to see society progress, I must inform myself in policy, and I must take action, which are hard yet inspiring truths I've learned through Competency 5.