2 On the social work–social policy interface
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John Gal
Abstract
This chapter provides an infrastructure for understanding the social work–social policy interface and, in doing so, sets the stage for the following chapters, which explore components of the conceptual framework. It discusses the types of social policies that social workers are likely to interact with, the various policy arenas in which social policy is made and the modes of social policy relevant to the policy-related activities of social workers: displacement, layering and conversion. A final focus of the chapter is on the various policy routes that social workers can take to affect policies, two of which social workers engage in as citizens (voluntary political participation and elected offices) and four where they act in a professional capacity (street-level policy involvement; academic policy practice; policy practice; and policy practice through professional organisations). We then discuss the differences between the routes and the implications of these.
Abstract
This chapter provides an infrastructure for understanding the social work–social policy interface and, in doing so, sets the stage for the following chapters, which explore components of the conceptual framework. It discusses the types of social policies that social workers are likely to interact with, the various policy arenas in which social policy is made and the modes of social policy relevant to the policy-related activities of social workers: displacement, layering and conversion. A final focus of the chapter is on the various policy routes that social workers can take to affect policies, two of which social workers engage in as citizens (voluntary political participation and elected offices) and four where they act in a professional capacity (street-level policy involvement; academic policy practice; policy practice; and policy practice through professional organisations). We then discuss the differences between the routes and the implications of these.
Chapters in this book
- Front Matter i
- Contents vii
- List of figures and tables viii
- Acknowledgements ix
- Introduction 1
- On the social work–social policy interface 13
- The environments 41
- Opportunity 61
- Facilitation 81
- Motivation 102
- Explaining the policy engagement of social workers and beyond 120
- Notes 131
- References 132
- Index 167
Chapters in this book
- Front Matter i
- Contents vii
- List of figures and tables viii
- Acknowledgements ix
- Introduction 1
- On the social work–social policy interface 13
- The environments 41
- Opportunity 61
- Facilitation 81
- Motivation 102
- Explaining the policy engagement of social workers and beyond 120
- Notes 131
- References 132
- Index 167
