Social Work 4355 Policy Practice Final Review

Describe the similarities, in terms of both values and approaches between the two organizations

The similarities between the two would be they were both established by upper class the provided direct services to their clients. They also were try to connect that bridge between lower class and upper class. Their values were similar on helping the ones in need with out dependency, but the settlement house did this by giving the neighborhood the tools needed to organize themselves. (PG 33-35)

Some health care analyst are calling for radical reform in the US health care system. Many insist that the nations free market system should be a more cost-effective comprehensive approach. Assuming that these analyst are correct which of the health care systems described in this chapter would be the best model and why?

According to the text the US has higher medical cost and lower mortality rates. This alone should be a indicator that our system is not working the way it should. The Australian health care system is considered a hybrid of public and private. Having this type of system would still allow the insurance companies to compete for business. The public part of the insurance comes from taxes. People pay on a sliding scale according to they ability. It covers all medical cost except, dental for adults eyeglasses, chiropractic, physiotherapy. Prescriptions are not covered but are subsided to a lower cost for patients. The private portion of the health care system allows for people to supplement their care with the things that are not covered. For a family it would only cost $400 to have the upmost coverage. Waits for elective procedures and specialist are a concern, but honestly we have most of these waiting times here in the states as well. Their system has some of the est outcomes for citizens.

Using the Congress.org website, identify a child welfare policy of interest to you. How has programming changed? Have budget appropriations been adequate to address the problem? What could be done to make the policy more effective?

Adoption has changed over the years and experienced different struggles. Before there were many children that were considered hard to adopt mostly because the cost of adoption. Now subsidies are being provided to adopted parents and other incentives are being offer to help the cost of adoption. Other problems that have arose now are transcultural adoptions and how agencies should maintain cultural identity of the children placed up for adoption, also not enough tea part households with good income levels were available for adoption. This was address by the Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act which helped children be placed with extended family.

FFDR is often thought of as the father of the American welfare state, and most policy analysts agree that his New Deal formed the basis for the current welfare system. What is the most enduring legacy of the New Deal and why?

Although FDR is known for the creation of SO many programs under the New Deal, the book says that his most enduring legacy is the creation of the Social Security Act of 1935, a comprehensive bill that included: 1) A national old-age insurance system 2) Federal grants to states for maternal and child welfare services 3) Public assistance for dependent children (ADC) 4) Vocational rehabilitation for the handicapped 5) Medical care for handicapped children 6) Aid to the blind 7) A plan to strengthen public health services 8) A federal-state unemployment system (PG 39)

How much value do decision makers place on social policy research? Why?

Decision makers place a high value on social policy research due to the information an analysis can provide such as: - Understanding possible ramifications of a policy on a target problem - Verifying key social welfare values are incorporated in the policy and the policy is consistent with established social welfare values or historic precedents - Verifying the policy is economically, politically, or socially feasible Secondly, comparing and evaluating existing or competing policies allow analysts to make recommendations on the most effective way to address the problem or need.

Because any analysis of social policy is by nature incomplete, should decision makers bypass policy studies? What alternatives, if any, can be used in lieu of a thorough and systematic policy analysis?

Decision makers should not bypass policy studies because unexpected consequences will occur more frequently without having an analysis completed. Also, analysts are able to make recommendations based on available data allowing for more effective policies. Though any analysis is naturally incomplete, continued systematic policy analysis seems to be the most advantageous and thorough study of policies despite some it's disadvantages. Secondly, as technology progresses, analysts will have easier and quicker access to more available resources which could lead to a more detailed analysis in the research time frame.

The effects of substance abuse on innocent people present difficult policy dilemmas for decision makers. What policies could be put in place to prevent infants being born with FAS or AIDS?

Educating people on the effects of FAS is the first step towards prevention, however the spoken warnings and pamphlets handed to mothers at clinics is not enough. Women need to be warned by it as soon as they have the potential to be pregnant--when at their OBGYN, receiving birth control, or even when going through sex education at schools. The only full proof way to effectively prevent FAS, is by not drinking at the point of conception. So if there is any chance for pregnancy, then no alcohol should enter the woman's system, even if she does not yet know if she is pregnant. Another way to prevent FAS, is by establishing formal alcohol screening, using validated instruments, and brief intervention programs that are culturally appropriate for women of childbearing age.

Any one who watches television has seen the dozens of advertisements for prescription drugs Many drug have their own website offering discounts or even free products. Critique the aggressive marketing for new Medications by pharmaceutical firms. How does this information affect confidence that you have in federal oversight of the prescription drug industry.

Federal oversight allows for little competition among companies. The amount of money that is being spent on advertisements either to the doctors, or consumers could be used for further research instead of targeting consumers that can not afford the name brad drug. The idea that drug companies here have risen cost by astronomical amount and the government allows it to happen by keeping foreign markets out of the country. Also by allowing companies to reformulate drugs and allowing them to be sold as a totally new drugs is not fair to the drug makers that can create a generic drug that can be sold at a much lower rate. The government is allowing the drug companies to monopolize the market and letting them gouge the american people that have become dependent on the drugs they are pushing.

Identify social workers who serve in local elected offices. What led them to pursue elective office? What are their future political plans? Could you provide constituent services for these persons or help with their reelection?

Identify Social workers who serve in local elected offices --- Senator Sylvia R Garcia from District 6 What led the to pursue elective office?--- She wants to dedicate her life to public service and improvement of education for children. Future political plans?--- She wants to continue working in public office to improve the lives of Texas families Could you provide consistent services for these persons or help with their reelection?--- Yes by contacting her you could get more concrete pathway to achieve this goal. contact info: [email protected] phone: 512-463-0106

Propose federal or state policies that might help poor families find affordable rental housing

It is not uncommon to find that poor families are welfare recipients. Therefore, the welfare policy should merge housing assistance as a leeway to help families afford rent. Generally, under a federal housing program the families rent increases if the incomes rise; leading the family to not be able to sustain financially stability. According to the Brookings Intuition, a research study found that most families that leave welfare for work do not earn enough to afford decent-quality housing, and do not have housing assistance. Merging welfare recipients to an adequate house can reduce the number of welfare recipients overall. A way to maybe maintain affordable housing is by providing housing vouchers at appropriate locations. Appropriate locations include housing apartments and house-complexes vouchers that are close to work, school, and close to public transportation. If poor families have adequate housing they are more than likely to keep a steady job making money potentially leaving the welfare system.

What are the various political and ideological groups in the U.S.? Describe their values?

Liberals and Conservatives are the political and ideological groups in the U.S. Liberals believe that expanding the public good by promoting and expanding economy coupled with growth of universal, non-means-tested social welfare and health care programs (more interference from government). Conservatives are anti-union, oppose governmental regulations, demand lower taxes and less social spending, want local control of public education, opposed extending civil rights legislation, are pro-gun, and oppose gun-control (less interference from government)

Crime varies considerably in terms of both the nature of the offenses and the characteristics of offenders. How prevalent is crime in your community? What are the primary offenses? Who are the offenders?

Living in a college town, most offenses occur on campus or near it. The most recent that comes to mind are the many bombs threats the LBJ Student Center received in just one week. The offender was most likely a student, his act and reasoning behind the threat are unknown. Because I am a student, I find out about most crimes via Texas State email because they want us to be aware of any situation that is occurring. I think most of the crime that happens in San Marcos is either sexual offenses or burglary.

Should housing be viewed as a right or a privilege?

Past and current government programs have had limited impact on the affordable housing crisis. Most affordable housing programs are underfunded and fragmentary. Because the federal government has been viewed as an arbiter of last resort, some housing advocates contend that the government has the responsibility to ensure that adequate housing is seen as a right rather than a privilege and that healthy, sound, and safe neighborhoods become a reality. (p. 352)

Most pundits across the political spectrum agree that Ronald Reagan had a major impact on the American welfare state. His impact included both concrete fiscal cuts and new ideas about welfare. What, if any, permanent legacy was left by this president? Specifically, in what ways did Reagan help shape current values and attitudes towards social programs?

Reagan's election in 1980 led to the further deterioration in the welfare state safety net. His conservative domestic policy agenda involved large tax cuts, cuts in financial support for social welfare programs, and returning more power to the states. Regan's domestic views were based on the assumption that: Federal government expenditures for social welfare should be minimal Only the "truly needy" should receive welfare welfare should be short-term His domestic views/agenda continued into Bush's presidency. As for national debt, United States was pushed from a creditor to a debtor nation. (PG 41)

Why do we have social welfare policy?

Social welfare policy regulates the provision of benefits to people to meet basic life needs, such as employment, income, food, housing, health care and relationships. Social welfare policy is the foundation that enforces social control and relives the social and economic dislocations caused by the uneven nature of economic development under capitalism. For example, closing Block-Buster, Radio shack and other retail stores. Social Welfare policies are also means for rectifying past and present injustices. For example, affirmative action policies were designed to remedy the historical discrimination that denied large number of Americans access to economic opportunities and power.

Medicare has experienced large increases in costs. What are the major factors contributing to this steep rise? What, if anything, can be done to curb costs?

Tax on Benefits Payroll Taxes Premiums State Transfers and Drug Fees General Revenue HI Deficit The first thing that can be done in curbing the costs involves cutting costs for governmental health care programs and the second involves lowering health care costs in the insurance, physician, pharmaceutical, and hospital sectors. The rising costs of Medicare have led the federal government to seek alternative ways to lower hospital costs, including the Prospective Payment System (PPS). In this system, the federal government specifies in advance what it will pay for the treatment of 468 classified illnesses or Diagnostic Related Groups (DRGs).

The American with Disabilities Act (ADA) is the most important piece of legislation affecting people with disabilities. Why? What are its loopholes?

The ADA provides equal protection for people with disabilities similar to the Civil Rights Act of 1964 which protected individuals against discrimination on the basis of race, sex, color, national origin, and religion. One of the loopholes of the ADA is the definition of the term disability; because it is so vague, there are several people who are able to claim disability and use the ADA for protection (p. 90)

Maintaining the cultural identity of minority children who receive foster care and adoption services is a heated issue in child welfare. When there are too few minority families for the children needing foster care and adoption, what should the policy of the welfare department be in placing minority children? How consistent is your answer with current child welfare policy in your community?

The policy of the welfare department in placing minority children should be the institution of diversity training in the foster care training. The current child welfare policy in my San Antonio community is somewhat ambiguous but includes the following: child attachment, loss and grief, discipline and behavior intervention, effects of abuse and neglect, sexual abuse, working with the child welfare system, and the effects of fostering and adopting on the family. Universal precautions training, Psychotropic medication training, and Certification in both First Aid and infant/child/adult CPR.

Why has the United States not developed a healthcare system that is universal and publicly funded like those of its industrialized counterparts?

The reason the United states has not developed a healthcare system that is universal and publicly funded like those of its industrialized counterparts is because the government is in control is so the government can negotiate and regulate the cost of medical services and medication. Ultimately the government enjoys this responsibility. People that lobby are particularly active, spending billions to ensure that private insurers maintain their status in the health system. The role of the government is to subsidize the extremely high cost that are set by the for- profit market. The government believes the government should buy more; for less. The United States currently spend up to three times as much per capita on health care as most industrialized countries.

If marginalization leaves many clients of social programs impotent in the public policy process. How could these people be made more influential? How could the local professional community assist in empowering beneficiaries of social programs? What could you do?

These people could be made more influential by educating the community on different ways to get in contact with their public officials. The local professional community can assist in empowering beneficiaries of social programs by advocating on behalf of them and raising awareness by outreach and education We could raise awareness on a grassroot level, go to city council meetings, become the voice of those who do not have a voice.

Does your state chapter of NASW make legislation a high priority for the professional community? What are the legislative goals of the state chapter? How are those reflected in the resources allocated? How would you prioritize health and human services in your community?

Yes, the Texas NASW chapter makes legislation and political involvement a priority. The chapter seems to stay up to date with current events and legislative reforms. Every year the chapter formulates new legislative goals. In the wake of the new shooting in Sutherland Springs, the NASW issued a statement calling for sensible gun control. Many of the other legislative goals for the year include 11 goals referring to school social work, accessible healthcare, pay for social workers, Medicaid reforms, increased funding, etc.. The goals stated by the NASW on their website, are very telling of the current climate in Texas and the US. National and state issues in the media, like civil rights, healthcare, and funding are reflective of the political climate. These goals set forth by the NASW of Texas align with many issues in my own community. However, I strongly believe that initiatives that protect immigrants should have been included, because my community and the state is largely impacted by our immigrant population. Additionally, with the conservative ideology in power, immigrants and their basic rights have been under attack, and a large population within my community has been affected.

Evaluate Bill Clinton's contribution to the American welfare state? What are the successes and the failures of the first Clinton term?

he Clinton administration's record included fully funding the HIV/AIDS-related Ryan White Care Act that strengthened the Office of AIDS research at the NIH. The administration also placed those with HIV/AIDS under the protections of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Clinton passed a large urban stimulus package and AmeriCorps, a national service corps initiative. A failure of the first Clinton term was that the administration couldn't get a comprehensive health care reform bill passed (this wouldn't be done until Obama's presidency). Clinton's most enduring, yet conservative, legacy was signing into law the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Act of 1996. It capped public assistance benefits, ended AFDC, and eliminated recipients' entitlement to public assistance. The book says that "this bill was the most dramatic change to public assistance since the passage of the Social Security Act of 1935.

Most women in the U.S. society work to either provide a necessary second income or as the family's primary wage earner. Describe some of the major obstacles faced by working women. What can be done to eliminate some of these obstacles?

-Some of the major obstacles working women face are: equal pay, harassment, career opportunities, having children while building a career, and work-life balance. Also, a strong, fearless woman is viewed as less feminine or too aggressive, and it is viewed negatively if a woman has a high role in power at times. -Well starters men and women should be treated equally in the workplace, women shouldn't be discredited or viewed as less reliable because they aren't a man. Woman should receive the same amount of pay as their male colleagues if they are completing the same job as each other, also woman should be viewed as human beings and not someone who can be controlled or manipulated or harassed inappropriately. Work places should be more understanding for woman who are pregnant, on maternal leave, or have small children, and should pay the women when they are on maternal leave. It needs to be made socially acceptable for women to be strong and focused. And that it is okay for women to say whats on their mind and to take on high leadership roles without being viewed poorly by men. It should also begin with parents teaching their daughters to be strong and do what they want, and not let any man or anyone make them feel less than or like they can't achieve their goals

What are the advantages of using analytic framework for social policy analysis? any drawbacks?

-Useful in examining a specific social welfare policy or set of policies -Useful in comparing existing policies -Helpful in evaluating competing policies and helping analysts make a recommendation as to which policy most effectively addresses a problem or need -Useful for social work practitioners on several levels such as Micro, Marco, statewide, and national levels -Useful in the environmental scanning activities of non or for profit agencies A drawback I have found for the analytic framework is that is does not work with individuals in the Meso level.

A commonly held belief is that government make-work jobs are inferior to private sector employment. Yet many New Deal jobs programs have made important contributions to the infrastructure of the nation's cities. What New Deal projects are evident in your community? If a new governmental jobs program were initiated, what community needs might it address?

A New Deal project that is well known in Austin is Zilker Metropolitan Park, which was built 1934-1938. Zilker Park is used for outdoor activities such as jogging, biking, and swimming. There are also several events held for the community, including Austin City Limits Musical Festival, Zilker Park Kite Festival, and much more. The University of Texas at Austin main building and library were another New Deal project that was built 1933-1937. This university is one of the first things people associate with Austin and according to U.S. News, the campus is ranked number 56 in national universities. If a new governmental jobs program were initiated, I think it would need to address the homeless population. Since Austin is growing so rapidly, the cost of living has skyrocketed and many people who have lived here for years or their entire life are being pushed out. Gentrification is occurring and there is an overall lack for affordable housing. This can be seen by the growing homeless population and limited resources for them. It would be beneficial to create a program that would give the homeless population job opportunity within Austin and possible create affordable housing programs.

Can a policy researcher neutralize his or her personal values when conducting a policy analysis? If so, describe ways in which this can be done.

A policy researcher must separate their own value system and ideological beliefs when analyzing policy, then focus basing their analysis on the objective criteria of the policy at hand. While it is expected that one accept their own values and beliefs, they are best left to the side when conducting policy analysis. Doing so will leave the air open for the discovery of alternative solutions, improve understanding of unfamiliar subject material, and possibly compromise with opposing members of the policy.

Although the charity organization societies and the settlement houses seemed to be at opposite poles, some commentators argue that there were strong similarities in terms of both values and approaches between the two organizations.

Charity Organizations Societies Established 1870's COS's had offices in most American cities Major provider to the care of the destitute Coordinated relief by operating a community wide registration bureaus Provided direct relief education to the upper and lower classes COS's work was carried on by a committee of volunteer and agency representatives who examined cases of needy applicants and they decided the course of action COS would instruct the poor in ways to better manage their lives COS did believe that beneficent charity was counterproductive and contributed to dependency Settlement Houses Established in the 1880's Responded to the harsh urban conditions Settlement Houses were started in immigrant and low income neighborhoods It was started by wealthy people and staffed by college students, single women, doctors, teachers Settlement Houses tried to bridge class differences Settlements sought to help neighborhood residents organize themselves Worked for political and legislative reform Provided individual services Settlements formed and joined national alliances

Ideology tends to parallel schools of political economy. How would classical conservatives and liberals address current social welfare issues such as health care, long-term care for the aged, and substance abuse?

Classical conservatives believe the public good is best served through marketplace participation, they prefer private sector approaches over governmental programs. Conservatives believe the government should have a minimal role in ensuring social welfare of citizens. While the classical conservatives believe the private sector should take part in governmental programs, they do believe in the separation of church and state. Traditional liberals believe the government as the primary institution capable of bringing a measure of social justice to millions of Americans who cannot fully participate because of obstacles such as racism, poverty, and sexism. Traditional liberals support public programs and believes they are important in promoting the public good.

What components should be added to the proposed policy framework? which ones are important?

Components that I believe should be added to the policy framework, is on how to find certain information/research and on how to communicate properly with individuals on exchanging or providing information. Also decision making process is not based on the framework. Important components to the policy framework is that it serves a large population of individuals, and strives to success in order to find a conclusion.

Many strategies have been developed to fight poverty, including the curative approach, and the preventive approach. Of these strategies, which is the most effective in fighting poverty and why? What alternative strategies, if any, could be developed that would be more effective in combating poverty?

For the vast majority of households, the road to ending poverty involves savings and the accumulation of assets. Assets are important when purchasing a home, sending a child to college, starting a small business, and reaching other economic goals within the lines of alternative strategies well as the poor has been virtually ignored in welfare state policies. moreover, the tax system does not reward assets accumulation for the poor in two primary areas which are tax benefits for home mortgages and retirement pensions. Combating poverty that develops to fight poverty, I feel would be curative approach to poverty because it aims to end chronic and persistent poverty by helping the poor to become self-supporting through changes in their personal lives and in their environment. By breaking the cycle of poverty, the curative approach strives to initiate the poor into employment and, later, the middle class. This will help people that are in need of living and to survive with no worries.

State and local governments vary regarding the management of juvenile delinquency. Does your community have a juvenile court? Are its deliberations open to the public? What are the usual offenses that bring a youth to juvenile court?

Hays County has a Juvenile Probation and Detention Center, which immerses youth into community activities and boot camps as a form of discipline. The deliberations of the Hays County Juvenile Detention Center are open to the public about its discipline, strategies, and goals for at risk youth. Information about the Academy program, Supporting and Promoting Resilience in Girls program, Mental Health program, Substance Abuse program, and Sex Offender Therapy program can all be accessed on the Hays County website. The usual offenses that bring youth to juvenile court are caused by the school to prison pipeline epidemic. Schools in low income communities have a large population of youth that are sent to juvenile court. Schools use police to deal with disciplinary issues through zero tolerance policies such as, brining over-the-counter medication, disrespecting staff, and going against school behavioral codes. The school to prison pipeline immerses students into the criminal justice system and increases the chances of becoming adult deviants.

What resources has your community committed to dealing with substance abuse? Have these resources been adequate? Which organizations support or oppose increasing treatment for substance abuse?

Hays county has various resources that deal with substance abuse and its treatment. Hays Caldwell Council on Drug and Alcohol Abuse (HCCADA) provides a service called Out Reach Screening Assessment Referral (OSAR) which is a free program funded by the Texas Department of State and Health Services that provides: Confidential alcohol and drug screenings, and assessments; Referrals for state-funded inpatient and outpatient drug and alcohol treatment; Brief interventions, Motivational counseling; Education and support; Case management for clients who need assistance in accessing supportive services. These resources have been adequate. Upon viewing the substance abuse outcome measures of OSAR majority of the regions have fulfilled the 42% of clients successfully completing treatment services. An organization that supports increasing treatment is The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). The organization believes that Increasing access to research and information that can empower individuals, families, and communities to overcome substance abuse and addiction is a needed service.

Providing preschool programs for children is an increasingly important issue as more mothers enter the workforce. How adequate is day care provision in your community? Who is responsible for the oversight of day care? To what extent are the needs of low-income families considered in day care arrangements? What percentage of families eligible for Head Start actually participate in this program in your community?

Head Start day care in San Antonio serves only the very central area and only 3,236 children in San Antonio, so it is not adequate. The Department of Human Services is responsible for the oversight of Head Start day care. Due to limited locations, the extent of consideration for low SES families is limited. San Antonio is funded to serve only 3,236 children while nearly 130,000 children in San Antonio live below the poverty line and are eligible for Head Start. That's only 2.5%.

Which committees and interest groups supported or fought the proposed legislation? How was the bill changed to make it more acceptable to special interests? Have local interests, such as a major newspaper, endorsed or objected to the proposed legislation? Why?

House Bill 436 sparked my interests for this question. This bill proposes that Texans receiving TANF benefits would be required to complete a drug test in order to receive benefits. This bill was referred to the Human Services committee. Multiple version of this bill have been proposed within the last decade. Many republican lawmakers have made this a priority. The Texas Conservative Coalition Research Institute loudly supported the bill and made many comments regarding their concern for drug abuse among TANF users. In contrast, organizations like the ACLU of Texas have made it clear that this would be huge waste of resources, just as it has proved to be many other states. Of local interest, the Texas Tribune, a major magazine in Texas, reported on the bill but did not take a stance. This bill seemed to get less attention and momentum in the 2017 legislature.

Homelessness has been described as simply a manifesation of poverty. Others contend that it's roots are psychological, and that it should be treated as a social service problem. Where do you stand on the issue?

I believe that homelessness is the end result of poverty. Housing is a fixed cost that is often paid before food, clothing, and health care bills. For low income families the money that is left over after paying rent or mortgage is used to buy food and other necessities for the rest of the month. I believe that the opposite is true. Most families will provide food and clothing for their families out of necessity first and will become more reliant on government subsidies to provide shelter for their families as a result. A combination of declining funds provided to assist low income families to pay their rent or mortgages and the amount of homes available for them to live in becoming fewer and fewer has led to an increase in homelessness

As the War on Drugs has failed to live up to its promise, more attention has been focused on prevention, particularly among children. What models have agencies in your community adopted to prevent substance abuse among kids? How much money has been allocated for prevention programs? What is the track record of the prevention programs adopted in your community?

I chose this question because the topic my group is using for our project is based on the War on Drugs. Many schools implemented the Zero Tolerance Policy into their programs to decrease the amount of violence in school. It was enacted to decrease the amount of crime and bad behavior in schools, but really it did not have any positive effect at all. More students were being suspended and expelled for minor offenses, leading them directly into the juvenile system. There is a prevention program called Sober Austin that helps individuals and families understand any type of drug or alcohol addiction. They focus on catching the problem early to minimize any damage it may cause. They have locations all around the Austin area including San Marcos. In the San Marcos school systems, there are also programs to help children, These include Rainbow Days Kids Connection, Middle School Life Skills, Project Toward No Drug Abuse, and a few other programs.

To what extent have Adverse Childhood Experiences affected your classmates? What are the incidences of infant mortality and low birth weight for children of teenage and minority mothers in your community? What plans does your community have for improving the child welfare of minority and low-income families?

I do not know my classmates to the fullest extent, but I can see how an adverse childhood experience could negatively affect my classmates. If my classmate did not receive proper care from their household, it could affect their educational experience and they may possibly have to go through more barriers than those who are living in a consistent and secure house hold. I have no idea what the infant mortality rate is within the San Marcos community but I do feel like we need for of a federal or state presence regarding child welfare. All the agencies within the community do not have the capacity to serve all of the San Marcos child population who are in need of their services. After school programs, TRiO Programs, the Greater San Marcos Youth Council, and Kids Against Drugs offer the most benefits to child welfare within the San Marcos community. I do feel that a stronger federal and state presence is need to ensure the effectiveness of the San Marcos child welfare programs

....Chapter 15, Question 7

I don't feel that many social welfare workers are liable if a child is harmed. I believe that if more child welfare workers are more aware of this judicial decision then they will be empowered to fight harder for child welfare. So many child welfare workers have so much on their case load that they often don't have enough time to devote to making sure each child gets the best care they can get. If child welfare workers were more aware of this judicial decision the children would greatly benefit the greater dedication from the child welfare workers.

Politicians elected to your state legislature have responsibilities similar to members of Congress. Identify your state representatives. Do they have assignments on health and human services committees? Do they have position statements they could send to you on health and human service issues?

If you are registered to vote in San Marcos, the state representatives are Texas State Senator Judith Zaffirini (D) and Texas State Representative Jason Isaac(R). On the homepage of Senator Zaffirini's website (http://www.senate.texas.gov/member.php?d=21#cmtes), you can see some of the health and human services she advocates for such improved health services for the "very young/old/poor", veterans, and people with disabilities. She is not assigned to the health and human services committee but also opposes people getting powerful positions without the proper qualifications and promotes protecting individuals under guardianship. For additional information, there is a link on the homepage to email her staff about specific issues. Texas State Representative Isaac's website (http://www.house.state.tx.us/members/member-page/?district=45) is not as detailed when it comes to the issues he is concerned with. He is also not a committee member for health and human services but serves on the energy resources committee and the urban affairs committee. The closest thing to health and human service issues on his website was his recognition last month for fighting welfare fraud. Some of his strong areas of interest are the education system, supporting pro-life ideas and individual responsibility. There is also a link on his page to email staff for more information regarding his specific positions.

Prevention and treatment of substance abuse vary from locality to locality. What has your community done to dissuade young people from substance abuse? Have these initiatives been successful? According to what indicators?

In 1984, the Hays Caldwell Council on Alcohol & Drug Abuse, a private non-profit corporation, was formed by substance abuse professionals concerned about substance abuse and related problems. Though its focus includes outpatient treatment, counseling, intervention, and treatment referrals, the agency was originally established to provide prevention and education services. It is the only program located in San Marcos, Texas, and is one of the few that give focus towards adolescents--perfect for the college town. According to the substance abuse trends in Texas, direct and indirect alcohol and drug deaths stayed around the same numbers between the years 1994-2002. I am sure that the agencies such as Hays Caldwell Council are successful in treating those who go to them for help, but it does not stop the abuse being done by others. Researching this discussion question was the first time I have heard about the Hays Caldwell Council on Alcohol and Drug Abuse, when everyone should know where their resources are, especially near a college campus. Many don't even realize they have a problem because they are not being educated on it, and then it is hard to find help. Perhaps the corporation should come to campus every so often to raise awareness of it, and also use more creative tactics in it's services to have more people willing to come in and seek treatment.

Several proposals have been developed around homelessness. Which of these (or combination of thereof) have the best chance for success?

In 1987, former president Ronald Reagan signed the Mckinney- Vento Homeless Assistance Act. The act created more than 20 different programs that address homelessness. The program that has a best chance for success under the Mckinney- Vento Homeless Assistance Act in aiding the homelessness is the Supportive Housing Demonstration Program (SHDP). The program has two components; the permanent and transitional housing. The federal government provides grants for permanent and transitional housing components. The focus is to aid the homeless families and those with special needs. The SHDP permanent housing component provides long term housing for special need or disabled homeless. The permanent housing project offered services such as money management, medication and management housing. The transitional housing component offers housing services to help families move toward stability with the focus of helping participants to make progress toward independent living. According to the Office of Policy Development and Research, the transitional housing component of SHDP 70 % of families who completed the program moved to stable housing. The SHDP is a great program because it challenges participants in these programs to become more productive as possible while linking them to services and resources that they need.

Legalization of drugs has become a heated issue. What are the implications of drug legalization for substance abuse programs? How could drug legalization be structured in your state? How would substances be taxed? How would tax revenues from legalization be allocated?

Legalizing drugs would allow substance abuse programs to have more funding for prevention and treatment. The prison population would decrease and there will be additional revenue because drugs would be regulated and taxed by the government. The legalization of drugs would create better treatment programs, which would reduce the cycle of incarceration and substance abuse. Texas could follow other states such as Colorado in structuring the legalization of drugs. In Colorado, those who are 21 and older and are residents of Colorado can purchase only up to one ounce of a marijuana product. Non-residents can purchase up to a quarter of an ounce of marijuana products. Drugs that are legalized can be regulated in a more pragmatic policy that can be regulated and taxed similarly to substances such as alcohol and tobacco. Substances that are legal in other states, such as Colorado, have a 15% tax on marijuana sales. Additional revenue from the taxation of drugs could be implemented into treatment programs, schools, and infrastructure

In 2015, U.S. health care expenditures were roughly $3 trillion a year. This cost has risen dramatically over the past 25 years in terms of the amount spent and the percentage of the GDP it consumes. Identify the main factors that have driven up health care costs, and discuss how they can be controlled.

Main Factors 1. Pharmaceutical Between physicians, hospitals, facilities and drugs; drugs are considered the most expensive..This could be controlled if the government regulated the pharmaceutical companies. Set limitations, add deductions. 2. Expensive technologies and procedures. The United States chooses the most expensive technologies and procedures. This could be controlled if the government became more aware. There are millions of machines that operate the same way however, they will choose the most expensive machine to profit from what the patient is paying. 3. Fragmented care . Care providers often treat the same patient with little consultation. This could be controlled if the healthcare providers provided adequate care. Often times the visit to the doctor isn't thorough which means, there is a chance the doctor missed something of importance. The client will continue to return to the health care provider more than needed. ​4. Fee-for-service. Hospitals and physicians are reimbursed for every service they provide they tend to a focus on volumes instead of care. This could be controlled if hospitals putting more emphasis on the patients and treating them versus, giving them medication they don't need that is likely causing their condition to worsen, unfortunately the hospitals are more concerned with the amount of money not the well-being of the patients. 5 .Chronic illnesses such as: heart disease, cancer and diabetes This cannot be controlled by the government. 6. Provider consolidation. Hospitals and health systems are merging, the increased market power leads to higher prices This could be controlled if the government reduced prices in half versus doubling what the client is obligated to pay.

Critics argue that America is experiencing a severe health care crisis. Describe the main characteristics and symptoms of that crisis.

Main characteristics and symptoms of the health care crisis: - Health care spending and cost efficiency - The effectiveness of the U.S. health care system - Attempts at cost cutting - The growing role of managed care - The impact of AIDS on the health care budget. U.S. health care costs slightly more than $3 trillion in 2014 ​The costs of providing health care have risen faster than the rate of inflation. Although insurance premiums have risen modestly, the number of employees with deductibles and the size of those deductibles have increased dramatically ​Workers have not experienced a slowdown in health care expenditures as their insurance coverage has eroded and their out-of-pocket expenses increased

Are most social policies analyzed rationally? If not, why not? Describe the factors that stand in the way of a systematic and rational analysis of social policy in the U.S. context

Most policies are not analyzed rationally due to the subjectivity of the analyst. The bias of the analyst's value system, ideological beliefs, and their personal understanding of the goals and purposes of the policy may lead to skewed results. Omission of facts, variable weight given to one variable over another, evaluating on the basis of personal expectations, or expecting the policy to address an issue it was not designed to can all be factors which stand in the way of an objective analysis. Political pressure can also be a factor considering social policy is driven by politics and rarely systematically analyzed.

How would neoconservatives and neoliberals diverge from traditional conservatives and liberals on these issues?

Neoconservatives are the far right. They believe social welfare programs should be completely transferred to the private sector. They believe healthcare should remain in the private sector and unemployment is good for the economy. It is safe to say social welfare issues such as health care, long-term care for the aged, and substance abuse is a personal problem and should be handled by the individual without government assistance. Neoliberals are more cautious of government, less antagonistic of big business, and more skeptical about the value of universal entitlements. Like their neoconservative counterparts, they support personal responsibility, work, and thrift as an alternative to governmental programs.

What are some obstacles standing in the way of homeownership for the poor? What policies can best help these families?

Obstacles preventing home ownership for the poor/low-income population: -Cost: the average American spends 34% of annual income on housing -Focus: housing policy often focuses it's efforts on the middle class, as opposed to low-income populations -Over 10 millions households earn less than $15,000 annually and pay more than 50% of their income on housing -Inexpensive housing is often rundown and expensive to repair and/or maintain -Affordable housing exists in neighborhoods that are economically distressed, areas with high crime rates and poor schools -Subprime mortgages target low-income buyers -Low-income buyers works unstable and recession-sensitive jobs -Rising home insurance rates and property taxes put major financial strain on low-income populations -Gentrification increases property taxes and rental rates, pushes low-income families out of their homes Policies that can best help low-income families overcome barriers: -Government should stimulate production of affordable housing through financial incentives such as tax breaks to builders, investors, and entrepreneurs -Policies regarding fair housing laws should be enforced -Federal tax laws should be reformed to give priority to aiding people with the greatest housing needs -Gentrification should be limited or eliminated, as it displaces low-income families who then have difficulty finding new affordable housing

Most women in the U.S. society work to either provide a necessary second income or as the family's primary wage earner. Describe some of the major obstacles faced by working women. What can be done to eliminate some of these obstacles?

Over the past four decades, numerous legal and judicial decisions have attempted to eradicate racism, including the 1964 Civil Rights Act and various Supreme Court rulings. Were these attempts successful? Why or why not?" No, these attempts have not eradicated racism. If you look at the African American community, they appear to still be at quite a disadvantage compared to the white community. Poverty is much higher in black communities than in white communities. (10 percent vs. 27 percent) Unemployment rates are twice as high for African Americans than for white Americans as well as a 29 percent wage gap between the two races. The effects of racism continue to spill over into other aspects of life such as health and education. The black infant mortality rate was twice that of white, and black men were 7 times more likely to contract HIV than white men. These kind of adverse effect of racism effect other demographics as well as the Hispanic population suffer from poverty at triple the rate of whites. It is clear that despite the attempts of the courts to combat racism, it still lives on today and spills into almost every facet of an individuals life.

People with disabilties face significantly discrimination. What is the evidence to support this belief?

People with disabilities are a minority group in America. They are constantly overlooked and prejudged. Some evidence in showing that is that people have preconceived ideas of how a person with a disability is to act or behave, for instance the idea that all people who are disabled can not be sexually active or have children. Also, that people with a disability aren't as capable or have the potential to be smart as someone who does not have one. Not only that, not all facilities are made with wheelchair access or have accommodations for people with a disability. In addition, people with disabilities are amongst the last groups to come to a sense of self-conscious political and social awareness.

Although the unintended consequences of a social policy are obviously unpredictable, what can a policy analyst do to minimize the risk? Describe a social policy that has produced unintended consequences that were either positive or harmful.

Policy analysts can minimize the risks of unintended consequences of an enacted social policy by constructing multiple policy models or scenarios in order to view the policy from various angles and different perspectives. Unintended consequences occur more frequently when the decision-making process is not based on an analytic policy framework. One social policy that produced harmful consequences was the enactment of prohibition in the U.S by the eighteenth amendment. Touted by social workers and politicians as the right step in cutting down on crime, familial instability, and unemployment, the Prohibition Act would do the exact opposite. Rather than curb the issues at hand, the act led to an increase in organized crime, a surge in the demand for alcoholic beverages, and the opening of illegal "speakeasies" in many metro and rural areas. Thus, the Prohibition Act proved to be an inadequate result of poor policy analyzation. A systematic analysis before the passage of the bill could have demonstrated the bill's incompetence.

How could the rights of mothers be protected? What should be the role of human service professionals in such cases?

Prevention of child to mother transmission (PCMT) programs provide treatment to women who have HIV, giving them antiretroviral treatment. A policy should be put into place making access to this treatment widespread. In 2015, 23% of pregnant women with HIV did not. It should also be customary for those with any transmittable diseases to test their children right away, so that they may begin on treatments offered like this one as soon as they can, to lessen their chances of getting it. Programs like these have made it possible for women with the virus to still give birth without giving HIV to their babies, but if she does not test her child or have access to it, the chances of it being spread is significantly higher. From the beginning of the epidemic through 2014, there were 5,419 deaths among people who acquired HIV through perinatal transmission and were ever diagnosed with AIDSc. Most of the deaths (82%) were among children (under age 13). In order to protect the rights of pregnant women, they should be able to choose whether or not they want to be tested for any diseases, but she should not be able to choose to not have her child tested. Whether it is a sexually transmitted disease, or one from the woman abusing alcohol or drugs, babies should have to be tested. From there, human service professionals should be involved to see if the mother is fit to take care of a child, and offer services to help with alcohol or drug abuse. If the woman is seen as able to still take care of her own child, she should then be able to make the decision to give treatment or not.

Which schools of political, social, and economic thought discussed in this chapter would come closest to being classified as moderate? Why?

The classical conservatives and traditional liberals would be classified as moderate with the Neoconservatives and Neoliberals as the far right and left groups of the United States. While the classical conservatives and traditional liberals are not perfect groups, they could do great work promoting the public good through productive collaboration.

Sexism is a powerful and pervasive force permeating much of U.S. society. How is it manifested? What strategies can be employed to lessen the impact of sexism in society?

Sexism is manifested through the prohibition of women to enter combat duty and select sports (i.e. football). It is not just focused on females however, males are affected too; males can be excluded from certain clubs or environments simply because of his sex. Sexism is also manifested from violence and economic status as well (p. 73). Affirmative action is set in place to ensure that women and minorities are admitted, hired, and promoted in direct proportion to their numbers in the population (PG 91)

Identify your representative and senator. Email them about an issue that is important to you. Do any of your members of Congress have any important health and human services committee assignments? Do your representatives have committee assignments that could make them influential on issues important to you? Do your representatives have position statements available to constituents about specific social programs?

Texas Senators include John Cornyn and Ted Cruz while our U.S. Representative for District 35 is Congressman Lloyd Doggett. I emailed both senators about the policy my group has decided to analyze. It is Senate Bill 842 regarding federal agencies being unable to request a criminal history before offering a conditional offer of employment. Neither senators have assignments on health and human services committees. Senator Cornyn is assigned to the Committee on Judiciary and the Subcommittee of Crime and Terrorism which has jurisdiction with the oversight of the Department of Justice (https://www.judiciary.senate.gov/about/subcommittees). He could have influence over this issue of importance because he is one of the committee members who determines if bills go to the floor or not. I wasn't able to find positions on his website regarding specific social programs. Senator Cruz is also on the Committee on Judiciary and serves as the chairman of a subcommittee. He could also have influence over this issue because he is assigned to the committee regarding this broad issue of criminal justice. With a more detailed knowledge of how the judicial system works, both senators could help by educating other senators and the public. The senators do not have clear position statements available regarding specific social programs so I included this question in my email I sent. I have not received a response yet.

Are there any residual social welfare policy values that have persisted from colonial times to the present? Describe specific social welfare policies or values that have their origin in colonial times.

The English poor Laws functioned as an early model for much of American social welfare. The English Poor Laws established the principle of "less eligibility," the idea that any form of public assistance should be less than the lowest prevailing wage. These laws institutionalized the responsibility of the English government to provide relief to the needy and provide the need wit h a legal right to receive that assistance, and required local governments to assume responsibility for the needy. To clarify the boundaries of government help, the law recognized three classes of dependents: Needy children, the able-bodied, and the worthy poor. Certain social welfare policies have tweak the classification system of who is considered with a current focus on care and relief for the disabled, mentally ill, young and old, can be traced back to the English Poor laws. State governments are tasked with be responsible with welfare for these groups. (PG 27)

Several theorist have been advanced to explain why some individuals and groups of people are persistently poor while others are not. Theorists who have tried to tackle this problem include Daniel Patrick Moynihan, Oscar Lewis, and Edward Banfield, among others. Although all theories of poverty have intrinsic flaws, which theory or combination of theories described in this book (or elsewhere) do you think best explain the dynamics of poverty?

The book goes into detail on the Culture of Poverty (COP), Eugenics theory, and more progressive theories on poverty. In the 1960's, Oscar Lewis, a COP theorist, argued that poverty and poverty traits were passed down from generation to generation. He described the characteristics of COP to include hopelessness, indifference, alienation, apathy, and ineffective participation in society and the economy. Eugenics theorists believed the case of poverty was due to inferior genetics. As learned in class this pseudoscience was the reasoning behind thousands of forced sterilizations and used by Hitler to justify genocide. Both theories are grossly flawed as it places the blame on victims of poverty by making it seems like poor people are somehow different. The best theory, in my opinion, comes from the understanding that there is a division of labor where the elite have put a value on certain labor. Highly valued labor receives more status and privileges while those with lower valued jobs are denied these resources. Oppression and discrimination on certain groups of people have made it so generations have been valued less in the similar way that COP describes. The difference is less about character flaws and more about how society values people. As the book puts it, there will always been poverty as long as "wealth and privilege is solely based on hereditary and market values."

Being elderly in U.S. society is in many ways a social handicap. Why might this be true?"

The elderly population can be at a social disadvantage in our society as American society tends to idolize the idea of youth. This is perpetuated through media and our perceptions, as we have negative stereotypes of the elderly. (Ageism.) When elderly people lose their economic productivity due to being too old to work they are seen as less and are seen as a burden to a society they can no longer contribute to. It is also evident that a handicap may exist for them as they are subjected to crime, domestic violence by family members and by job discrimination. While the Age Discrimination in Employment Act may protect elderly people up to 69, once they reached the age of 70 it offers virtually no protection for them in the workforce.

The measurement of poverty is both complex and controversial. Nevertheless, the way that poverty is measured has important consequences for the development of social policy in the United States. Describe some of the potential pitfalls in measuring poverty rates and discuss how the calculation of poverty rates affects the creation of social policy.

The federal government measures poverty in two ways: the poverty threshold and the poverty guideline. The poverty threshold, otherwise known as the poverty line, was developed by taking the least expensive food plan and multiplying it by three. To create this formula they used the data from a 1955 survey that showed an average family spent about one-third of their budget on food. The poverty guideline is slightly lower than the poverty threshold. The book's example was a family of four's poverty threshold in 2013 was $23,834. For the same family poverty guideline for is $23,550. These measurements do not take into account income, cost of transportation to work, regional cost of living, any taxes, medical expenses, family structure and so on. Despite this, federal programs use these calculations to make policies on who is eligible to receive their services.

The progressive era was important an important period in American history. Describe the major contributions of the Progressive era, in terms of its programs and policies and of policies for the later American welfare state.

The progressive era lasted from the early 1900s to World War 1. President Teddy Roosevelt's administration had a belief that the government was responsible for the public good Natural resource conservation and civil service reform which strengthened the Interstate commerce commission. President Woodrow Wilson enacted reforms on tariffs and banking and put a stop to monopolistic practices through the Clayton Antitrust act of 1914 He also created better credit facilities, agricultural education for farmers, better working conditions for Merchant Marine, workers comp for all federal civil service employees, eight hour days for workers on interstate railroads, excluding products made by child labor, and federal aid for highway construction. The rights of working women were also protected, like women's wages.

Describe the major shortcomings in federal low-income housing policy and discuss alternative policies to rectify these problems

There are many shortcomings found in federal low-income housing policy. Shortcomings include: a major lack of low-income affordable housing a large inventory of dilapidated and dangerous housing The Quality Housing & Work Responsibility Act of 1998 (Bill Clinton) <-- embedded with discrimination. This encouraged public housing agencies to recruit "good" working class families federal housing programs are not automatically provided to all eligible applicants, only a portion receive assistance and the demand far exceeds the supply there are long waiting lists for public house and Section 8 vouchers the US federal government spends less on housing assistance than any other Western industrial nation a climate of housing discrimination perpetuates in the US. racial biases and refusing to rent to families with children is technically illegal, but it is common practice. Alternative policies to rectify these problems: Government intervention in housing should occur by stimulation production of rental housing through financial incentives such as tax breaks to builders, entrepreneurs, and investors Preservation of neighborhoods should be encouraged to end displacement and gentrification End racial segregation through affirmative housing programs Enforce fair housing laws Reform federal tax laws to give priority to aiding people with the greatest housing needs

Policy analysts have traditionally argued that jobs are preferable to welfare and that the lack of employment opportunities results in increasing needs for social welfare. Is this relationship apparent in your community? What is the evidence?

This relationship is apparent in my community. The community I live in is rapidly growing and there are several new businesses that have opened. The housing market is also expanding which means that there are people who keep these businesses running by being customers. With an increasing population there is a higher demand for services which creates more employment opportunities. Demographically, there is evidence that displays the relationship between social welfare and employment in my community. It is rare to see someone who is homeless, and I have no idea what social welfare programs are available in the area. I would not be able to own a home in my community and can only afford it since I live in an apartment which speaks volumes to the type of people who are able to thrive in the community. As a social work student, I have looked for social welfare programs and found that most of them are closer to the city.

Currier holds child welfare workers liable in the event a child is harmed. To what extent have child workers in your community become aware of this judicial decision? How could it be used to empower child welfare workers?

To my knowledge, I was not aware of this decision and I cannot give a definite answer regarding child workers knowledge of this judicial decision within the San Marcos community. But if they are aware of it, I feel that this could empower child welfare workers by learning the severity of a child's wellbeing in an abused/neglected household. By having empathy for a child's situation, child welfare workers will ensure that the child is receiving the appropriate benefits and receives the best care that child care. An agency that makes a great impact within the San Marcos community is the Greater San Marcos Youth Council (GSMYC) and Kids Against Drugs (KAD). GSYMC provides shelter for children who are living within abused households. They also provide meals as well as extra-curricular activities to raise their morale. KAD is an after school program for youth who live in low-income communities. KAD provides tutoring to youth as well as educational programs regarding nutrition and the harmful effects of drugs.