Policy Analysis Outline

Purpose

In this assignment, youll build on your previous experience with policy analysis to create a more practical and condensed versionsomething that can easily be used in real-world social work practice. You’ll apply your research and policy knowledge to a specific social welfare policy area youve studied this semester.

This is both an academic exercise and a professional tool, preparing you to integrate policy analysis into your future advocacy efforts.

Skills: What You’ll Gain

By completing this assignment, you will:

• Apply a modified Popple & Leighninger (2015) policy analysis framework
• Evaluate policies through historical, social, economic, and political lenses
• Identify opportunities for policy change from a social work perspective
• Strengthen your ability to create concise, evidence-based policy tools
• Practice using diverse and credible sources in your analysis

Task

You are not writing a formal paper. Instead, submit a concise, organized outline or sketch that answers the prompts below. You may use:

• Bullet points
• Lists
• Short paragraphs
• A mix of formats that work for your learning style

Use clear headings for each section.

You will analyze your chosen policy using a modified

. You may also draw from other frameworks like Segals or the 5-E approach if helpful.Analysis Sections to Complete

I. Policy Overview

• What specific policy or policy area are you analyzing?
• What problem does the policy address?
• What is the context (local, state, federal)?

II. Historical Analysis

• What has been done in the past to address this issue?
• How did the current policy develop?
• What worked or failed historically?
• Does the current policy reflect historical lessons?

III. Social Analysis

• Describe the nature of the problem.
• What values or ideologies shape how the problem is defined?
• Are there important current contextual notes that will impact how you look at this problem?

IV. Economic Analysis (address at least one)

• Macroeconomics: How does the policy affect the economy (e.g., income, unemployment)?
• Microeconomics: How does it affect individuals, organizations, or markets?
• Include: Opportunity costs and cost-benefit considerations

V. Political Analysis

• Who are the key stakeholders?
• How was the policy legitimized? Is this still relevant?
• Was it shaped by rational planning, incrementalism, or political conflict?
• What political dynamics influence how the policy is implemented?

VI. Policy/Program Evaluation

• Are the outcomes aligned with the original goals?
• Are there any unintended consequences?
• Is the policy cost-effective?

VII. Areas for Change

• From a social work lens, what needs to change? Link this to Social Work Speaks or other relevant professional policy sources.
• What changes are supported by your research (lit review, etc.).
• Note initial ideas here to support your upcoming assignments.

Formatting & Submission Guidelines

• Submit your work as a Word or PDF document
• Use APA formatting for:
• Title page
• Reference list
• Include at least 8 credible references:
• You may reuse sources from previous assignments
• Must include both peer-reviewed and grey literature
• For each source, include either:
• A working link, or
• A PDF copy of the source
• This helps verify your sources and ensures you’re using high-quality, non-AI-generated materials.

Task Evaluation Criteria: What Success Looks Like

• Thoughtful and complete responses to each analysis section
• Integration of relevant research and credible sources
• Clear structure and writing quality
• APA formatting and accurate reference documentation