Did the committee follow Robert Rules of Order? Was the meeting conducted in a formal or informal manner? What was your immediate impression of the meeting? Briefly describe the agenda items that were addressed and the outcome of the major agenda items.
Alternate Assignment for Students Unable to Attend Lead – The following two assignments are required for students who do not attend LEAD – each student will complete both assignments in lieu of attending LEAD.
Policy Summary and Paper.
Rationale: Teach students to locate credible Internet sites and research related to a social issue or policy. Students will begin the process of learning to analyze social policy and ask questions that could lead to further research. This assignment will also help students prepare to write their major research paper. Mini research papers may be on a federal, state, or international policy/social issue. Papers must be a minimum of four full pages, typed, double-spaced, APA style. Minimum page requirement does not include the cover page, reference page, or attachments.
Framework for Assignment
Students must use a minimum of three scholarly journal articles to complete this assignment. Each journal article must be at least four pages in length and all references must be attached to the paper. Students may use additional information, such as fact sheets, position briefs, or government reports. Students are encouraged to visit Internet sites (see a limited list of resources on reference page of the syllabus) to get additional information.
Cover page. The cover page must include the student’s name, assignment number, title of the paper and date. If this is a rewrite, students must type this on the title page.
Body of paper the body of the paper should be at least 5 full pages, typed, and follow APA standards.
I. Overview of the Policy, Program, or Social Issue
This section should briefly describe the policy or social issue that will be addressed in the paper. For example, if the policy is the Violence against Women Act of 1994 this section would include a brief overview of the intent or goals of the policy. Students must address if the policy follows the residual or institutional concept.
Residual Social Work – nature is reactive or gap-filling. This approach deals with needs as they come; it attends to visible needs that can’t be addressed by other societal means after all other efforts and measures have been depleted — support from family, market economy and religious institutions — before assistance is given. It is short-term – withdrawn when the person in need of aid becomes capable of independence.
Institutional Social Work – takes the approach that everyone deserves to be supported by the community and the government, even without an obvious and direct request for help, so each person can become self-sufficient. It’s also preventive in nature, because it anticipates problems that may arise and resolves them as early as possible.
II. Historical Overview of the Policy, Program, or Social Issue
This section will include an overview of the social issue that led to the need for a policy.
III. Implementation of Policy or Program
This section will address how this policy will be implemented. What agency or department has been given the authority to implement and evaluate the outcome of the policy? Identify the names of any programs that are a result of this policy.
IV. Economic Analysis
How is the program or policy funded? How much is the funding? Where does the funding come from? Is the policy universal or selective in terms of recipients? How is program or policy implemented?
Reference page: Must use at least 3 references from scholarly journals and all references must be attached. Other references may come from credible Internet sites and books. DO Not use newspaper articles or magazine articles.
Public Meeting Paper
Rationale: To obtain a better understanding of the local public policy making process, as well as policy issues which directly affect their community and clients.
Instructions: This paper must be a minimum of 3 pages, double spaced, one inch margins and 12 point font. It is a good idea to make plans to attend a public meeting at the beginning of the semester because meetings are sometimes rescheduled or canceled. Public meetings are announced in the local newspaper, online or by calling the appropriate department or agency for more details.
Listed below are questions that must be addressed; however, I strongly encourage you to include additional information your learned from the meeting. You must use full sentences and paragraphs; do not list or bullet what you are presenting. You must attend the meeting, not watch it on TV or hear about it from another person. No late papers will be accepted, although papers may be handed in early.
Parameters: Public meetings may be school board meetings, city or county commission meetings, or UWF Board of Trustees meetings. Students must receive prior approval for meetings other than these.
Assignment Framework:
Title page: Student name, assignment title, type of meeting, date and time of the meeting.
Meeting Agenda: Attach a copy of the agenda. You will usually find the agenda on a table in the back of the meeting room or you can go online.
The following questions and items must be addressed in the paper.
Did the committee follow Robert Rules of Order? Was the meeting conducted in a formal or informal manner?
What was your immediate impression of the meeting?
Briefly describe the agenda items that were addressed and the outcome of the major agenda items. Many times agendas are very long and difficult to follow so I suggest you watch some of a local public meeting on television prior to attending so you will have a better understanding of what to expect.
What did you take away from this meeting that helped you understand the policy making process?
What was your impression of speakers from the audience and how the members treated them?
How might the topics discussed at this meeting affect you, your clients, and/or your community?