Social Welfare Policy

Essay by morganbabyUniversity, Bachelor's November 2004

download word file, 8 pages 4.2 1 reviews

Downloaded 167 times

Although at first, the concept of the dual targets of social welfare policy can seem confusing, it is actually quite simple. The dual targets of social welfare policy are individuals and institutions and the role failure that is associated with each. When an individual is having problems fulfilling a role, one of social workers' goals is to help that person meet their role expectations. This type of practice is considered micropractice because it deals with people, families, and small groups. Now, when institutions are failing in helping clients and individuals meet their role expectations, then the institution itself is not meeting their role expectations. Social workers' goals in this area are to change policies, make new policies, or get legislation passed that will enable the institution to do a better job of helping individuals and clients. This type of practice is macropractice because it deals with the law, policies, and things that have an impact on the larger population.

The micropractice level of social work implements policies and the macropractice level of social work deals with creating new policies as well as changing current policies and removing ones that are of no use to individuals. Social work is considered a policy-based profession because of the relationship between the policy, professional, and client. The client goes to the professional and asks for help. The professional turns to policies in order to help the clientele. And hopefully, the policy does help the clientele. In every level of social work, policy is involved.

The function of professionalism is to get the public aware that social work is a profession and not an occupation. According to an article written by Sheila Young of the Canadian Appraiser, "a professional is a skilled practitioner, an expert as opposed to an amateur. A professional has ethics, adheres...