1 Introduction: social work and the making of social policy
-
Ute Klammer
Abstract
Both social policy and social work contribute to processes of societal (dis-)integration in modern welfare states of the ‘global North’. The interdependence of the two fields is quite often framed as a one-way road: Reforms in generalised social policy schemes affect social work top-down. By contrast, this book underscores the mutuality of the relationship between social policy and social work by focusing on the bottom-up influence of social work(ers) on the making of social policy, as well as the role of social workers as implementers. The introductory chapter gives an overview of the state of the art regarding this research perspective. In addition, it presents a conceptual framework of social work’s role in social policy-making by using the policy cycle as the core analytical lens. The chapter reflects on possibilities for political influence at the different stages of the policy cycle and explores the opportunities of political action open to different types of social work actors.
Abstract
Both social policy and social work contribute to processes of societal (dis-)integration in modern welfare states of the ‘global North’. The interdependence of the two fields is quite often framed as a one-way road: Reforms in generalised social policy schemes affect social work top-down. By contrast, this book underscores the mutuality of the relationship between social policy and social work by focusing on the bottom-up influence of social work(ers) on the making of social policy, as well as the role of social workers as implementers. The introductory chapter gives an overview of the state of the art regarding this research perspective. In addition, it presents a conceptual framework of social work’s role in social policy-making by using the policy cycle as the core analytical lens. The chapter reflects on possibilities for political influence at the different stages of the policy cycle and explores the opportunities of political action open to different types of social work actors.
Kapitel in diesem Buch
- Front Matter i
- Contents v
- List of figures and tables vii
- Notes on contributors ix
- Acknowledgements xvii
- Introduction: social work and the making of social policy 1
-
Social work, problem definition and agenda setting
- Social work as policy innovator: challenges and possibilities in the UK 21
- Social work, problem definition and policy change in the US: the case of sex-trafficked youth 37
- The voices of Italian social workers: from a pilot anti-poverty intervention to a national policy 53
-
Social work interests in policy formulation and decision making
- Social reform in the US: lessons from the Progressive Era 71
- Social work academia and social policy in Israel: on the role of social work academics in the policy process 89
- Social workers’ collective policy practice in times of austerity: Italy and Spain compared 105
- Social policy and welfare movements ‘from below’: the Social Work Action Network (SWAN) in the UK 121
-
Social work and implementation
- Policy work and the ethics of obedience and resistance: perspectives from Britain and beyond 139
- Systemic barriers to effective implementation of child protection reform in Israel 155
- Social workers implementing social assistance in Spain: reshaping poverty in a familialistic welfare state 169
- Layering, social risks and manufactured uncertainties in social work in Poland 185
- ‘A little more humanity’: placement officers in Germany between social work and social policy 201
- Conclusion: social work and the making of social policy – lessons learned 217
- Index 229
Kapitel in diesem Buch
- Front Matter i
- Contents v
- List of figures and tables vii
- Notes on contributors ix
- Acknowledgements xvii
- Introduction: social work and the making of social policy 1
-
Social work, problem definition and agenda setting
- Social work as policy innovator: challenges and possibilities in the UK 21
- Social work, problem definition and policy change in the US: the case of sex-trafficked youth 37
- The voices of Italian social workers: from a pilot anti-poverty intervention to a national policy 53
-
Social work interests in policy formulation and decision making
- Social reform in the US: lessons from the Progressive Era 71
- Social work academia and social policy in Israel: on the role of social work academics in the policy process 89
- Social workers’ collective policy practice in times of austerity: Italy and Spain compared 105
- Social policy and welfare movements ‘from below’: the Social Work Action Network (SWAN) in the UK 121
-
Social work and implementation
- Policy work and the ethics of obedience and resistance: perspectives from Britain and beyond 139
- Systemic barriers to effective implementation of child protection reform in Israel 155
- Social workers implementing social assistance in Spain: reshaping poverty in a familialistic welfare state 169
- Layering, social risks and manufactured uncertainties in social work in Poland 185
- ‘A little more humanity’: placement officers in Germany between social work and social policy 201
- Conclusion: social work and the making of social policy – lessons learned 217
- Index 229
