Rethinking Policy Practice in Social Work Education - Gaps in Policy Implementation

Presenter(s)

Emily Loveland, PhD, MSW

Assistant Professor
California State University San Bernardino
Madri Hall-Faul, PhD, MSW

Assistant Professor
University of Kentucky, College of Social Work

Contributor(s)

Kathryn Libal, PhD

Professor, Social Work and Human Rights
University of Connecticut

Social work education emphasizes legislative advocacy as a primary driver of systemic change and the pursuit of social justice and human rights. Policy implementation is often overlooked. This workshop explores the current policy curriculum landscape, content gaps, and ways to engage students with policy implementation beyond legislative advocacy.

Learning Objectives:

At the end of this session, attendees should be able to:

Summarize the major topics currently covered in MSW social policy curriculum
Distinguish content gaps in the major social work policy textbooks and content including at the state and federal levels and with regard to administrative and judicial policy-making
Brainstorm ways to engage social work students in learning activities that teach social welfare policy implementation and other concepts that go beyond the scope of legislative advocacy.