Week 3 - Introduction to Social Policy in a Canadian Context

Question 1

Defineexplain: fiscalization, positive and negative aspects

Answer 1

• a process aimed at lowering tax rates and providing tax credits, exemptions, and other types of tax relief
• positive aspects: avoids stigmatization of the poor, stimulates the economy, promotes working rather than idea of lazy people on welfare
• negative aspects: tax benefit would not be used as intended, ex. no way of knowing whether the CCTB actually benefits children, a lot of poor people don’t pay/file taxes, unpaid work is not considered, deserving poor/undeserving poor debate

Question 2

6 Stages of Social Welfare Policy Development

Answer 2

1. Problem/Issue Identification
   - identify and define what needs to change and why a policy is needed
   - clarify the desired outcome of the policy
2. Problem/Issue Analysis
   - social policymakers learn about the nature and scope of the issue/problem
   - determine how the problem/issue will be measured and defined
3. Policy Consultation and Review
   - consider the policy options and objectives
   - seek input from the policy community
   - consider constitutional influences on the proposed policy
4. Policy Selection, Authorization and Transition
   - select a policy
   - authorize the policy through agreement or legislation
5. Policy Implementation
   - design initiative
   - decide who will deliver the initiative
   - allocate resources to support the initiative
6. Policy/Program Evaluation
   - clarify what is to be learned about the policy
   - select a model/lens to guide the evaluation

Question 3

Define: social policymakers

Answer 3

elected government official who make the laws, legislation, and policies related to social programs

Question 4

Define: social conditions

Answer 4

• circumstances that exist for large segments of the population and are not problematic in and of themselves but have the potential to become social issues or social problems
• ex. divorce, unemployment, high-density housing, population aging

Question 5

Define/explain: social problem

Answer 5

• a condition in society that creates a measurable degree of social hardship, psychological or physical injury, or other negative consequence for a large segment of the population, and that people are concerned about and want changed
• ex. crime, child poverty, racism, violence against women, drug addiction, homelessness
• the greater consensus that something is a social problem = greater attention from policymakers

Question 6

Define: social exclusion

Answer 6

• the process of blocking an individual’s participation in or integration into society
• excluded people tend to feel alienated, marginalized, or unaccepted by the mainstream society

Question 7

Define: poverty

Answer 7

• a state of living characterized by lack, deprivation, and an inability to obtain the basic necessities
• a form of social exclusion, in which the person is unable, or denied the opportunity, to fully engage in society or meet societies expectations, being powerless, voiceless, or dependent on others for resources

Question 8

Logic vs Process Models of Evaluating Policy

Answer 8

• logic model; identifies the connections between activities of a policy/program and the achievement of its goals, looks at the components of a program,
• process model; primarily concerned with how the program is created/implemented, assumes that policy evolves from sequntial stages or steps