test 3

Question 1

What is social policy?

Answer 1

​​*A topic that is brought up in advanced courses due to it being considered to be too complex, however, it would be the most appropriate topic for introductory courses

Question 2

Why is it important to understand social policy?

Answer 2

*Having an understanding of social policy helps to appreciate the significant impact it has on the design and delivery of services

Question 3

What are the aspects that can be characterized when it comes to social policy?

Answer 3

*Social policy is problem oriented-that is it seeks to improve an existing or anticipated condition
*Social policy is action oriented-that is, it outlines or describes programs that seek to affect change
*Social policy is focused on individuals or groups such as target populations
*Making social policy involves making choices regarding the kind and/or the extent of changes to be made

Question 4

Understand social policy in modern times
a. Rapid and significant industrialization

Answer 4

*Loosening of family bonds
*Rise in crime
*Increase in the numbers of mentally ill

Question 5

Demand outstrips capability of organized religion, private organizations, and individuals
c. Social problems grow in size, number, and complexity
d. Governments step in to develop/implement social programs

Answer 5

Demand outstrips capability of organized religion, private organizations, and individuals
c. Social problems grow in size, number, and complexity
d. Governments step in to develop/implement social programs

Question 6

What are some purposes of social policy?

Answer 6

*Improve lives of people
*Meet the needs of specific populations

Question 7

What are some types of social policy?

Answer 7

*Social welfare
*Housing
*Mental health
*Aftercare services
*Outpatient clinics/services
*Prevention programs
*Child welfare
*Unemployment policy

Question 8

How does social policy affect us?

Answer 8

*Social policy affects most of us in our daily lives, even if we are not directly impacted by the policy

Question 9

Who identifies social problems?

Answer 9

*Politicians
*Laypeople
*Human services workers

Question 10

Who are the decision makers for social policy?

Answer 10

*Board members and/or executive directors of voluntary agencies, and local, county, state, or federal legislators
*Citizen involvement in policy determination is a form of redistribution of power that previously did not allow for such sharing
*“A journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step.”

Question 11

What are the steps to initiate social policy?

Answer 11

*Inform coworkers and/or supervisor of unmet need
*Inform other clients to make them aware of the problem
*Get support from influential people
*Learn about political candidates’ positions
*Actively work for political candidates whose positions you support
*Network with other human services providers to support/lobby for specific reform
*Participate in public hearings/discussions
*Learn your local legislative process

Question 12

What are some ways that influence social policy?

Answer 12

*Learn about political candidates’ positions
*Actively work for political candidates whose positions you support
*Network with other human services providers to support/lobby for specific reform
*Participate in public hearings/discussions
*Learn your local legislative process

Question 13

Understand the each of the factors that in establishing social policy
a. Research

Answer 13

*Studies, surveys, experiments, reports, etc.

Question 14

Pressure and lobbying

Answer 14

*Professional lobbyists and citizens
*2016: 12,553 federal lobbyists registered in Washington
*Corporate welfare
*Billions of dollars given to corporations through legislation such as tax abatement, subsidies of all kinds, and tax loopholes

Question 15

Media

Answer 15

*Helps drive public opinion by framing the issue(s)

Question 16

Opposition

Answer 16

*Often based on self-serving economic factors

Question 17

Understand the aspects of implementation of social policy
a. Funding

Answer 17

*Especially when no money is designated to implement policy

Question 18

Interpretation

Answer 18

*Including details of who qualifies for the program and for how long

Question 19

Identity of the implementer

Answer 19

*Human services workers typically deliver/provide services; success determined by proper training

Question 20

What is prevention?

Answer 20

´Interventions that occur before the initial onset of a specific problem or disorder
´Prevention focuses on how to keep stressful life events and losses from becoming overwhelming and causing disorders

Question 21

Prevention in the past

Answer 21

´Ancient Preliterate and Literate Civilizations
´Started with prayer and rituals, but became more aware of natural causes rather than supernatural phenomena
´Hippocrates prevented spread of malaria due to not living near swamps
´Ancient Rome, sewers and aqueducts were built to overcome unpleasant living situations

Question 22

Dark Ages

Answer 22

´Medical practices reverted to an emphasis on prayer and rituals
´Combination of pagan myth and Christian prayer
´Church did provide food to many in need

Question 23

Renaissance/Age of Reason

Answer 23

´Acceptance of more scientific medical practices
´Quarantines were used to prevent spread of disease
´Vaccinations were being developed (small pox)
´Continuing to find new drugs to be useful in treatment and prevention of diseases
´Promote general cleanliness

Question 24

19th/20th Centuries

Answer 24

´Magic bullet” was introduced, a single medication could cure or prevent a particular disease
´Settlement house movement was a major attempt to help people deal with the perils and pressures of poverty, hunger, crime, poor education, sweatshops, and filthy living conditions
´Not prevention of mental health but rather on helping the millions of immigrants coming to America establish themselves in their new homeland
´Education is the key to helping the exploited immigrants out of poverty
´Union movement
´Unions were formed and supported by exploited workers
´Minimum wage laws and unemployment insurance
´Advances in medicine; mental hygiene movement
´“A healthy lifestyle could save people from insanity, hence the importance of educating the public as a means of preventing mental illness”

Question 25

What are the four current trends in community psychology?

Answer 25

1.Prevention and competence promotion
2.Community building, citizen participation, and empowerment
3.Understanding human and cultural diversity
4.Developing “adventuresome” research methods to match the complexity of the community phenomenon

Question 26

Understand the levels of prevention
a. Primary prevention

Answer 26

´Reduction of new cases of disorders in a community
´Educate and provided resources
´Build strengths
Training

Question 27

Secondary prevention

Answer 27

´Early detection and treatment of dysfunction
There has to be communication

Question 28

Tertiary prevention

Answer 28

´Efforts to rehabilitate and return to the community those afflicted with severe mental disorders

Question 29

What are the reasons that the emphasis on primary prevention is important?

Answer 29

´Treatment and rehabilitation efforts cannot completely eliminate serious disorders
´Not enough human services personnel to treat or rehabilitate all those in need
´Society pays huge financial cost for disorders that are not prevented
´Estimated cost of alcoholism and alcohol abuse
´136 billion (1990)
´150 billion (1995)
´175 billion (2015)
´Emotional and behavioral disorders exact an enormous “human cost”

Question 30

Primary prevention strategies
a. Passive strategies

Answer 30

Broad informational-type approaches (e.g. warnings on cigarette packages or TV programs)

Question 31

Active strategies

Answer 31

´Working directly with the target populations in developing skills that enable individuals to deal successfully with pressures and problems that might lead to dysfunction
´Life skills model
´Active strategy that includes problem solving, making thoughtful and helpful decisions, and recognizing consequences of behavior

Question 32

Understand the obstacles to development of primary prevention programs
a. Professional issues

Answer 32

´Training, practice, philosophy, and ethics of human services workers and human services professions
´No one definition of primary prevention is accepted by all human services workers
´Is it biological, psychological or sociological?

Question 33

Political issues

Answer 33

´Including our societal tendency to focus on crises rather than ongoing prevention/wellness

Question 34

Economic obstacles

Answer 34

´Limited resources and the high price tag of many prevention programs

Question 35

Understand the clash of values in social policies.

Answer 35

´Agreement about social needs and appropriate ways to meet those needs is unlikely
´Agreement regarding role of human services workers is also unlikely
´Clash in values in social policies
´Morality of social services
´Who shall receive services and on what terms?
´Nature of social obligations
´For what needs and problems is society responsible, and which shall receive priority?
´Preferred interventions
´What kind of policy remedies should be chosen to address specific social problems
´Compensatory strategies
´Should society give preferential assistance or treatment to members of specific groups lag behind the rest of the population in economic and other conditions?
´Magnitude of federal policy role
´What policy powers should federal authorities possess, and what should be the magnitude of federal social spending?

Question 36

What is euthanasia?

Answer 36

´Euthanasia - intervention in hastening death of an individual
´Should assisted suicides be allowed?
´What criteria should be used to justify active (assisted) or even passive (unassisted) euthanasia?
´In 2002, 72% of Americans supported euthanasia
´Human services workers often in crosshairs over the implementation of controversial services
´States that Physician Aid in Dying (PAD) or assisted suicide is legal
´Oregon
´Montana
´Washington
´Vermont
California

Question 37

Understand all of the controversial aspects that a human services worker may come a
a. Reproductive choice

Answer 37

´Human services work requires consideration of philosophical and moral questions
´Abortion and advances in medical science have created additional reproductive choices; further ethical and moral questions
´Health risks associated with reproductive choice complicate pursuit of single “right” choice
´1973 Roe v. Wade
´It is important to understand your own values and make sure that they do not impede on your duties as a human service worker

Question 38

The struggle for support for target populations

Answer 38

´Domestic spending unlikely to increase
´Programs reflect social priorities
´Priorities shift, thus human services must shift also
´Some human services issues, such as HIV/AIDS, adjacent to other controversial issues; funding for these services are particularly at risk
Questions facing human services workers working on HIV/AIDS issues:
´Distribute free hypodermic needles to drug addicts?
´Teach contraceptive methods in elementary and secondary schools?
´Mandate virus testing?
´Make names of those positive available to public?
Questions facing human services workers working on homelessness:
´Allow homeless to sleep in public places?
´Allow homeless to forage in garbage for food or anything else of value to them?
´Provide homeless with subsidized housing?
´Force them off the streets and into shelters or hospitals against their will?
´Allow them in any business or residential neighborhood they choose?
Questions facing human services workers working on welfare reform:
´Accept jobs, even if the wages less than welfare benefits?

Question 39

Sexual expressions among older adults

Answer 39

Human services workers working with clients over the age of 65 can benefit from:
´Sensitivity training on older adults and their sexual needs
´Information about late life sexuality
´Assessment and re-evaluation on how to help older adults continue to make healthy and self-directed decisions