Assignment: Final Project Milestone 4: Policy Alternative As an astute social worker and professional policy advocate, once you have selected

and identified a social problem, you begin the process of creating and implementing a policy that addresses that social problem.

One of the first things you do in the implementation process is an analysis of the social policy you identified.

There is always the possibility that the policy

created and implemented to address the social problem you identified is not viable for a variety of reasons.  

In this case, you must explore a policy alternative.  In Part 4 of your ongoing Social Change Project assignment, you will identify a policy alternative to better alleviate the social

problem you identified.  To Prepare: · Review the article by McNutt in the Learning Resources this week.  ·

Review your previous Final Project Milestone Assignments and your Instructor feedback. Consider the following:  ·

Identification of a Social Problem (Week 2)  · Issue Statement (Week 4)  · Identification of a Policy (Week 4)  · Social Advocacy Proposal (Week 6)  · Based on your work to date, including your insights into the selected social problem, careful analysis of a policy, and goals for advocac

y, identify a policy alternative that would work to better alleviate the social problem while mitigating adverse impacts for the relevant populations.  · Search for and select at least five scholarly articles to support your selection and review of a policy alternative.  By Day 7 Submit a 3- to 4-page paper that addresses the following:  · What is the policy alternative?  · What, if any, change(s) in the policy alternative are necessary, and where will they need to occur (local or state)?  · Is this policy alternative congruent with social work values?

Explain.  · What is the feasibility of the alternative policy (political, economic, and administrative)? 

· Does the policy alternative meet the policy goals (e.g., social equality, redistribution of resources, social work values, and ethics)? 

· What are the forces that are for the policy? 

What are the forces that are against the policy? 

· What policy advocacy skills can be used to support the policy alternative? 

· How does the policy alternative affect clinical social work practice with clients? 

· What changes could be made in the policy to support the needs of clients seeking clinical services?

  Resources to use: · Chapter 10, “Developing and Using Power in the Policy-Enacting Task” (pp. 328–371) login in : password: Landon2019! Remember we are building on

the first paper about Social Reintegration is one of the biggest social problems in the United States. More than 500,000 individuals are freed from prison every year, with three-quarters of those released being apprehended again within five years of their release

SOLUTIONS

 

The policy alternative being considered is the implementation of a comprehensive mental health care policy that provides accessible and affordable mental health services to all citizens, particularly those in low-income households. The policy would include the provision of counseling services, psychotherapy, medication management, and crisis intervention for individuals with mental health conditions.

To ensure the success of the policy, changes will need to occur at both the local and state levels. Local health care facilities will need to expand their mental health services, while state governments will need to allocate funding to support the implementation and maintenance of these services.

This policy alternative is congruent with social work values, particularly those related to promoting social equality, improving access to resources, and upholding ethical principles. Mental health is a critical component of overall health and wellbeing, and ensuring that all individuals have access to affordable and effective mental health care is essential to promoting social justice and equal opportunity.

The feasibility of the policy alternative will depend on political, economic, and administrative factors. Political support will be necessary to secure funding and enact legislative changes, while economic considerations will impact the availability of resources to implement and sustain the policy. Administrative factors, such as the availability of qualified mental health professionals, will also impact the feasibility of the policy.

The policy alternative aligns with policy goals related to social equality, redistribution of resources, and social work values and ethics. Forces that are for the policy include mental health professionals, advocacy organizations, and individuals who have experienced the benefits of mental health care.