Deck 1: Social Work and Social Policy: A Strengths Perspective

Question 1

The strengths perspective is an approach to social work that:

A) places the goals, strengths, and resources of people and their environment, rather than their problems, at the center of the helping process
B) denies the existence of social problems, because that's victim-blaming
C) focuses on the strengths that social workers bring to helping those in need
D) is the exact opposite of traditional social work approaches

Answer 1

A

Question 2

Social problems are:

A) problems people have with the friends in their social networks
B) concerns about the quality of life for large groups of people that are either held as a broad consensus among a population and/or voiced by elites
C) problems about which there is unanimous agreement throughout society
D) generally easier to resolve than economic problems

Answer 2

B

Question 3

In social work, social justice is:

A) people being treated fairly in social work agencies
B) equitable distribution of societal resources, including material goods and social benefits, rights, and protections; and procedural equity in the social, economic, and political spheres
C) the elimination of discrimination based on race, ethnicity, gender, and other characteristics
D) people feeling empowered to pursue their dreams

Answer 3

B

Question 4

"Policy practice" refers to:

A) social work students' practice in designing and analyzing policies
B) social work practice that is in accordance with the worker's agency policies
C) professional efforts to influence the development, enactment, implementation, modification, or assessment of social policies
D) social work done by those working for government agencies

Question 5

In policy practice, the strengths perspective requires that:

A) clients' definitions of their problems, needs, strengths, and goals are part of the social construction for the policy development
B) clients do all the work of policy change, so that they will feel empowered
C) policies avoid controversial areas that could divide communities
D) social workers have special training in strengths-based policy analysis

Question 6

Among the cautions in applying the strengths perspective to policy practice, social workers should:

A) avoid talking about client strengths in public, because this could lead to reduced funding for agency programs
B) be careful in not framing client strengths too emphatically, so that expectations will not be raised too high
C) never waiver in their application of the strengths perspective, which is the only analytical tool needed for policy analysis
D) maintain a sense of urgency and authenticity about clients' needs while highlighting their strengths as a tool with which to combat the apathy that sometimes surrounds entrenched problems

Question 7

Applying the strengths perspective to policy practice means a shift in:

A) policy product/outcome
B) policy development/analysis process
C) both a and b
D) neither; the strengths perspective is a different way of thinking about problems, but it doesn't change the practice of social work

Question 8

In policy practice, "social welfare" refers to:

A) Temporary Assistance to Needy Families
B) happiness and good health
C) community cohesion and well-being
D) a nation's system of programs, benefits, and services to help people meet core social, economic, educational, and health needs

Question 9

Which of the following is an example of a social policy?

A) an agency's expectation that workers give at least 30 days' notice when changing jobs, so clients won't feel abandoned
B) a state's declaration of a "Social Work Week", to recognize the profession's significant contributions
C) Old Age, Survivor, and Disability Insurance (OASDI)
D) speed limit laws

Question 10

Social workers define needs as:

A) the gaps between existing conditions and some societal standard or required condition
B) whatever the client wants to meet his/her goals
C) the opposite of client strengths
D) social injustice

Question 11

Public social policies are those that:

A) serve the public
B) are free of charge
C) address social problems
D) are created by federal, state, and local governments

Question 12

What dictates social workers' obligations to engage in policy practice?

A) state licensure laws, in particular states
B) graduation requirements, but only for MSWs in macro social work concentrations/tracks
C) our professional reputation and identity
D) the NASW Code of Ethics, including the preamble and Section 6

Question 13

Using the social problem of child hunger, describe the connection between social policy and social work practice:

Question 14

Describe how you, as a case manager for adolescents with mental illness, might integrate policy practice activities into your work.

Question 15

Explain the following principles of strengths-based policy practice and describe how you would approach policy practice engagement related to the issue of child neglect, guided by these principles. (Client strengths and goals are legitimate starting points for developing social policy; Clients' perspectives concerning their problems, strengths, and goals should inform the social construction of needs.)

Question 16

Describe the role that clients might play in policy practice from the strengths perspective.

Question 17

How might Temporary Assistance to Needy Families look different if it had been developed from a strengths perspective?

Question 18

Define 'claimsmaking' and describe what it means to social policy practice. Provide an example of claimsmaking you find effective or articulate an approach to claimsmaking you think would be valuable to make the case for universal health care.