For this Social Problem Overview & Social Policy Identification assignment

• discuss a specific topic within the social problem that you have chosen to focus on;
• conduct research on the identified social problem using recent news articles, government documents, policy briefs, etc.;
• select a social policy that addresses the identified social issue.

  The social policy could be at the federal, state or local level and the policy could be current, recently passed or recently proposed.
  Because the assignment requires you to assess the impact on employers and employees the policy you select must have relevance to workplaces. (i.e. minimal wage laws will require businesses to increase minimum wage).
  For this assignment you are only identifying policy and noting the objectives of the policy; a brief on this policy will done in the next assignment.

• prepare a 6-8 page double-spaced paper that uses the outline below to
•  1) describe and discuss the overall social problem and 2) identify one public policy that addresses the issue.

The social problem overview and policy identification paper will have two parts:

1. Social problem overview:

• Identify the social problem

  discuss: what is the problem?
  explain: how is the social problem defined?
  describe: what is the scope of the problem?
  discuss: who defines the problem?
  discuss: what underlying causes or factors contribute to the social problem?
  describe: how does this problem affect working age adults and/or working families?

• Identify the Goal:

  What is the general goal? (how is progress made to address this social problem?)
  Are their sub-goals? (consider sub goals or mini goals that need to be met in order to reach the general goal)
  Do sub-goals conflict? (what challenges come up in meeting the goals?)

2. Policy Identification:

• Identify one public policy that address your identified social problem. Your policy may be existing legislation, a recently introduced bill that addresses the problem, or pending legislation.

  Briefly, what are the objectives of the policies?

The goal of this assignment is:

· to identify and discuss a social problem that affects workers and/or working families,

· to identify a current, pending or newly introduced policy (federal, state or local) that addresses the social problem, and

· to consider how the legislation might affect the workplace and the delivery of human services within the workplace.

During the first few weeks in class, you will need to identify a social problem that affects workers and/or working families. This social problem will be the focus of three policy related assignments and will narrow to a specific topic throughout the semester: 1) Social Problem Overview Paper; 2) Policy Research Brief; 3) Individual “Executive Briefing” Presentation with Handout. It is hopeful that each student will be able to find a topic that is of genuine interest.

After you have selected a social problem from the list provided in class, you will select a specific social issue that within the broader social problem to examine throughout the semester.

For this Social Problem Overview & Social Policy Identification assignment, each student will:

· discuss a specific topic within the social problem that you have chosen to focus on;

· conduct research on the identified social problem using recent news articles, government documents, policy briefs, etc.;

· select a social policy that addresses the identified social issue.

· The social policy could be at the federal, state or local level and the policy could be current, recently passed or recently proposed.

· Because the assignment requires you to assess the impact on employers and employees the policy you select must have relevance to workplaces. (i.e. minimal wage laws will require businesses to increase minimum wage).

· For this assignment you are only identifying policy and noting the objectives of the policy; a brief on this policy will done in the next assignment.

· Prepare a 6-8 page double-spaced paper that uses the outline below to 1) describe and discuss the overall social problem and 2) identify one public policy that addresses the issue.

The social problem overview and policy identification paper will have two parts:

1. Social problem overview:

· Identify the social problem

· Discuss: what is the problem?

· Explain: how is the social problem defined?

· Describe: what is the scope of the problem?

· Discuss: who defines the problem?

· Discuss: what underlying causes or factors contribute to the social problem?

· Describe: how does this problem affect working age adults and/or working families?

· Identify the Goal:

· What is the general goal? (how is progress made to address this social problem?)

· Are their sub-goals? (consider sub goals or mini goals that need to be met in order to reach the general goal)

· Do sub-goals conflict? (what challenges come up in meeting the goals?)

2. Policy Identification:

· Identify one public policy that address your identified social problem. Your policy may be existing legislation, a recently introduced bill that addresses the problem, or pending legislation.

· Briefly, what are the objectives of the policies?

Format:

This is an academic paper, not an opinion paper.  Your comments should be based on facts and evidence and properly cited. I would expect a minimum of ten (10) references to support your work. Papers should be organized according to the outline above and should use sub-headings that match your discussion.

This paper should be approximately 6-8 pages in length (double-spaced, not including a separate reference page).  Please keep in mind that this assignment will inform your final two assignments—the social policy research brief and individual presentation.