Test Bank For Social Policy for Effective Practice A Strengths Approach, 6th Edition

Test Bank For Social Policy for Effective Practice A Strengths Approach, 6E

Chapter 1-12 Test Key Chapter 1: Social Work and Social Policy: A Strengths Perspective 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: A 2. The origins of the strengths perspective can best be understood as: a. Originating entirely from the minds of excellent social work scholars b. Borrowed from traditional cultures c. Developing through collaboration with clients and integration of empowerment approaches d. Unknown Answer: C 3. a. b. c.

Social problems are: Problems people have with their friends Problems about which there is unanimous agreement throughout society 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 d. Generally easier to resolve than economic problems Answer: C 4. 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. More important than environmental justice, since we care more about people d. People feeling empowered to pursue their dreams Answer: B ―Policy practice‖ refers to: Lobbying, but we seldom use that term since it sounds very political Social work practice that is in accordance with the worker’s agency policies Professional efforts to influence the development, enactment, implementation, modification, or assessment of social policies d. Social work done by those working for government agencies Answer: C 5. a. b. c.

6. a. b. c. d.

In policy practice, the strengths perspective requires that: Clients do all the work of policy change, so that they will feel empowered Policies avoid controversial areas that could divide communities Social workers have special training in strengths-based policy analysis Clients’ definitions of their problems, needs, strengths, and goals are part of the social construction for the policy development Answer: D 7. Taking a strengths, rather than a deficit, approach to policy practice means that: a. A social worker has different goals, but the same processes are used b. A social worker uses different processes to reach the same ends c. Both the process and product of policy practice change d. Success is far more likely Answer: C 8. 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 to not frame 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 meet the challenges Answer: D In policy practice, ―social welfare‖ refers to: Temporary Assistance to Needy Families Happiness and good health Community cohesion and well-being A nation’s system of programs, benefits, and services to help people meet core social, economic, educational, and health needs Answer: D 9. a. b. c. d.

10. 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. Old age, survivor, and disability insurance (OASDI) c. A state’s declaration of a ―social work week,‖ to recognize the profession’s significant contributions d. Speed limit laws Answer: B 11. 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 their goals c. The opposite of client strengths d. Social injustice Answer: A 12. Public social policies are those that:

a. Everyone agrees on b. Are free of charge c. Have been in existence for many years d. Are created by federal, state, and local governments Answer: D 13. 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 specializations c. Our professional reputation and identity d. The NASW Code of Ethics, including the preamble and Section 6 Answer: D 14. Using the social problem of child abuse, describe the connection between social policy and social work practice.

Social workers deliver many of the benefits and services provided, through social policy structures and investments, to help keep children safe from abuse, as well as to support resilience and recovery from the trauma of abuse. Additionally, this practice can inform policy change to reduce child maltreatment, as when social workers advocate for increased economic support and/or substance use disorder services for struggling families. Social workers’ ability to provide child welfare services depends largely on program eligibility rules, set in policy, and on the resources allocated to meet the needs of children at risk of abuse, which is also determined by policy.

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

I could examine the social policies that impact who my agency serves, how much funding we have, and the types of programs we offer. I might organize my clients to talk with policymakers about how the programs and services impact them as youth with mental illnesses. I could directly contact legislators with my concerns and encourage my colleagues to do the same. We could make learning about mental health policy and discussing the types of policy changes that would better meet clients’ needs part of our practice interventions. I could also examine the factors that are contributing to my clients’ challenges— such as discrimination they are experiencing or stresses affecting their families—as well as the conditions that help them to thrive.

16. 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.)

Working with families experiencing the problem of child neglect, a strengths-based policy practitioner would begin with the clients’ strengths and goals. This might mean talking with parents about their hopes for their children, the resources they need to reach those goals, and strategies their family has used to overcome challenges in the past. In the policy arena, a strengths-based practitioner would put clients’ voices and priorities at the forefront and push for approaches that equip families with tools and supports they see as imperative. Strengths-based policy practitioners would avoid labeling families as “neglectful,” instead centering families’ aspirations for their children’s well-being. Children’s needs and

priorities would be incorporated into the articulation of the policy objective—not just as passive beneficiaries, but people with dreams and goals, which supportive policy must facilitate.

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

Strengths-based social workers know that there is no policy practice without clients at the center. Clients will offer their perspective on the social problem, its causes, and its consequences for their lives. They will set the goals for how the policy is to address the social problem, define the need, and help policymakers understand the issue from their perspectives. Clients will define “success” of the policy practice.

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

From a strengths perspective, parents’ goals for their families would have been the policy’s goals and the measures by which “success” of the policy is judged. Work requirements would have been structured to allow for variation in clients’ abilities and capacities, facilitate attention to child-rearing, and support families’ achievement of their other aims (including for higher education, mental health care, and personal development). Parents’ concerns about availability of high-quality, affordable childcare would have been incorporated in the policy’s design, with more resources invested in these services. In sum, the emphasis would have been on removing barriers to achievement of clients’ goals, so that they can flourish.

19. 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.

Claimsmaking is the process of making a successful case for allocating resources to meet a specific recognized need. This is the process through which attention is given to certain needs over others; it influences policy development by elevating some issues on the public agenda. {Examples of effective claimsmaking will vary; for example, a student could say that a claim for student debt relief that centers the need to ensure that graduates have incentives to serve in underserved areas, to meet urgent needs postpandemic, is compelling, especially if a particular local community that has benefited from student debt forgiveness was highlighted. Or, the claim for greater investment in early childhood education as the foundation for later economic and social success could be effective with data about the return on this investment (quantified) and narrative about a family whose life was enhanced by this transformative early experience.} To make a successful claim for universal health care, advocates could combine stories of people who have suffered harms from falling through the cracks in existing health care coverage with analysis of the potential cost savings and productivity advances from instituting universal health care but using the recent evidence from the pandemic to underscore how a threat to the health of anyone is a threat to everyone’s health would likely make for the strongest case. A variety of strategies, including earned and opinion media, recruitment of champions to elevate the issue, and development of pilot innovations to test ideas, could help to maintain attention to the issue.

Chapter 2: The Historical Context: Basic Concepts and Early Influences 1. The origin of U.S. social welfare policy is best characterized as: a. An extension of the obligation to charity found within dominant religious traditions b. An ambivalent melding of charitable obligation and Protestant work ethic

c. A complex classification that divides those in need between the ―worthy‖ and ―unworthy‖ d. All the above Answer: D 2. What made being poor less stigmatizing at the beginning of Western society than it is in the United States today? a. People lacked communication and media, so no one found out that anyone was poor b. People were just more compassionate back then c. Only white people were poor, so racism did not amplify antipoor hostility d. Instability due to crop failures and illness, combined with the fact that most of the society lived at close to subsistence levels, created a context where everyone knew that they could become poor themselves Answer: D 3. Which of the following was NOT a central feature of the English Poor Law of 1601? a. Abolished the distinction between ―worthy‖ and ―unworthy‖ poor b. Provided outdoor relief in noninstitutional settings c. Created workhouses for unemployed laborers d. Embodied the principle of local responsibility for those in poverty Answer: A 4. The role of religious organizations/traditions in the history of social welfare in the United States can best be described as: a. A benevolent force that made up for the harms of capitalism b. Pure oppression c. Inconsequential, now that we are a largely secular nation d. Key to the damaging colonial legacy and, simultaneously, a charitable response to the needs of some vulnerable populations Answer: D 5. The provision in the 1996 Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act (PRWORA) that bars receipt of public assistance for an immigrant’s first five years as a Lawful Permanent Resident resembles which provision in colonial relief laws? a. Outdoor relief b. Almshouses c. English Act of Settlement d. Principle of least eligibility Answer: C 6. The provision of cash assistance in the Temporary Assistance to Needy Families program today parallels the concept of __________________ from the English Poor Law of 1601: a. Almshouses b. Workhouses c. Outdoor relief d. A sliding scale to index benefits to the cost of essential items, such as food Answer: C 7. An approach to social policy which asserts that government should assure basic needs as a right of citizenship in advanced economies is called: a. Residual

b. Localized c. Institutional d. Socialist Answer: C 8. Which of the following was NOT an original goal of the U.S. Constitution? a. Increase the power of the central government b. Protect state and individual rights c. Establish the framework of government for the new nation d. Extend voting rights beyond white men, in a rejection of the policies of the British colonial government Answer: D 9. A strengths perspective views which of the following as a legacy of slavery in Black communities? a. Fragmented Black families b. Lower levels of formal education c. A strong tradition of self-help organizations and mutual aid d. Fear of white people Answer: C 10. In response to claims of sovereignty by Native American tribes, in 1830 Congress: a. Granted reparations to Native people whose lands had been taken by white settlers b. Gave Native tribes more control over their child welfare systems c. Labeled the treatment of Native peoples in the new nation a ―genocide‖ d. Passed legislation forcing most tribes to abandon their lands and settle on reservations west of the Mississippi River Answer: D 11. Which group of immigrants has NOT faced discrimination and hostility upon settling in the United States? a. Irish b. Italian c. Mexican d. None of the above Answer: D 12. The period in U.S. history known as Reconstruction was: a. The end of legal discrimination of Black Americans b. The beginning of decades of constant struggle between a federal government committed to racial justice and Southern states opposed to equal rights c. A temporary improvement in the rights of Black Americans, followed by a long period of segregation, legalized oppression, and economic deprivation d. A complete failure, as no real assistance was afforded to former enslaved people Answer: C 13. Which of the following causes/issues is NOT strongly identified with the U.S. settlement house movement, itself part of the foundation of the social work profession? a. The origin of the juvenile court system b. Attention to the needs of Black Americans c. Abolition of child labor d. Emphasis on social reform rather than individual casework

Answer: B 14. The programs created out of society’s recognition of the normal risks of living and the need to pool money to help in the event of misfortune like unemployment or injury are called: a. Social insurance b. Social Darwinism c. Residual assistance d. Collective impact Answer: A 15. Mothers’ pensions were originally designed to aid primarily: a. Never-married women, because they were often the most disadvantaged b. African American women, because they were usually poorer than white women c. Women who were divorced, because the stigma associated with divorce at the time made it hard for these women to find work d. Widows, who met societal morals test Answer: D 16. Mothers’ pensions represent a ______________ approach to family support: a. Paternalistic b. Institutional c. Maternalistic d. Materialistic Answer: C 17. Some argue that, because the U.S. social welfare system originated in the context of localized support to the needy, provided through religious institutions, a private, faith-based approach would work best today.

What factors suggest that this may not, in fact, be the case? Use at least one reference to the NASW Code of Ethics in your response.

There are ethical and strategic reasons to conclude that faith-based social welfare is not ideally suited to meet needs in the United States today. First, our Code of Ethics elevates principles of self-determination and the dignity and worth of all people. That means that many people would be unlikely to feel that faith-based service delivery meets their needs if they do not share those religious beliefs. Further, U.S. society today is much more diverse than in the past, and research has found that people are often less motivated to contribute to those they perceive as very different than themselves. There are also important capacity concerns here, as social needs are such that few faith-based institutions have sufficient resources to address them. Even many religious institutions depend heavily on public dollars to provide for social needs. Equity, which is a core consideration of strengths-based policy practitioners, is another dimension to consider. People in need would receive very different supports, depending on where they lived and how affiliated they were with a particular religious group, if these were the only sources of support for those in poverty. Additionally, there are some populations whose challenges may be unrecognized or stigmatized by religious institutions, including in the areas of reproductive health, LGBTQ+ equality, and addictions. Social workers cannot meet the needs of the communities with which we work without broad-based public resources as tools.

18. Imagine that you are a social work advocate for individuals who are experiencing homelessness. You want to convince your state legislature to invest in transitional services for homeless families and to pass a Homeless Bill of Rights that prevents localities from criminalizing survival tactics used by those who are

homeless. You have a meeting with a state legislator who is known to be a devout Jew. How might you integrate what you know about the role of Judaism in the foundation of our social welfare tradition to frame your argument for their support?

First, the Jewish commitment to justice could form an appeal for the protection of the civil and human rights of homeless individuals. Additionally, Jewish teaching includes many mandates to provide for people living in poverty. The faith tradition’s strong emphasis on social justice centers the needs of the most vulnerable members of society, who adherents are directed to treat with compassion. In today’s context, people who are homeless are certainly among these most vulnerable people. Here, while the legislator’s policy preferences are likely informed by factors other than their religious beliefs, you might think about how forging alliances with Jewish organizations or leaders could help position your concerns as aligned with the policymaker’s faith tradition. There are likely Jewish organizations involved in local advocacy and/or acts of charitable compassion, to benefit people who are homeless, and your appeal to the policymaker could highlight those stances by other Jews.

19. Religious traditions are not the only historical value systems that influence social policy today. Explain how discussions of poverty and economic inequality evidence the influence of Social Darwinism, providing at least one concrete example. How do these beliefs contribute to the policy responses proposed, and what are the implications for people’s outcomes?

When policymakers and others talk about poverty as resulting from purely or primarily individual factors, such as academic success, work effort, or personal choices, these arguments reflect the Social Darwinist belief that people’s success—and its absence—both stem from natural consequences. For example, those who are wealthy are often framed as extraordinarily intelligent, hard-working, or forward-thinking, while those who are in poverty are often described as having made poor decisions and/or lacking valuable talents. By extension, those who believe that poverty is a natural and unavoidable result—the way things should be or always will be—are less supportive of interventions that would alter these outcomes. Similarly, people who see wealth and economic success as the natural result of individuals’ “fitness” usually oppose interventions that would redistribute wealth more equitably.

Indeed, people who have Social Darwinist beliefs usually support elevating rich people to positions of greater authority, since they are perceived to have “earned” such stature. When, predictably, the policies that result from these views lead to perpetuation of these outcomes, Social Darwinists and those who even vaguely adhere to those beliefs will take that as further evidence of the “natural order.”

20. Explain your understanding of Frederick Douglass’ critique of the new nation’s claims of equality and liberty and compare the excerpt in the chapter to recent protests against anti-Black injustice.

Douglass used the occasion of the Fourth of July to emphasize the extent to which the United States’ professed commitment to equality and freedom contrasted to the reality of slavery. Similarly, protests against racial inequality by activists like Black Lives Matter, Black professional athletes, and other prominent figures, often use the proclaimed values of the United States to remind policymakers and their fellow Americans of the ideals we say we cherish, and the policies required to live up to them. That is one of the reasons why the national anthem is a target of those protesting police violence, for example.

21. Apply what you learned in Chapter 2 of the text about historical policy approaches to identify at least three tangible examples of these same elements in modern programs such as Temporary Assistance to Needy Families.

TANF makes distinctions between the worthy (those with short-term needs that result from circumstances out of their control and/or those who are seen as dependent through no fault of their own, such as the very old and very young) and unworthy poor (those who are seen as capable but “unwilling” to work); it excludes most immigrants (as “strangers”); it encourages participation by faith-based entities, seeks to limit costs, and emphasizes work as the most important activity for parents in poverty.

People’s worth is primarily defined, in both cases, in terms of what they contribute to economic activity outside the home and to capitalism. Assistance is provided mostly as a last resort, and the principle of least eligibility directs that the amount received through public assistance should always be less generous than what people could earn through labor.

22. Why is it important for social workers practicing in child welfare to know the history of Native boarding/residential schools? How might you, as a social worker, educate yourself for this area of practice?

The practice of removing Native children from their homes to place them in institutions not only traumatized children and their families, but also caused intergenerational community harm. This statesanctioned and often government-perpetrated oppression contributed to Native communities’ mistrust of non-Native authorities. Institutional racism continues in child welfare and policies and practices aimed at Native communities; clearly, this is not just history. Social workers practicing in Native child welfare should ensure that their approaches center family and tribal strengths, position Native leaders as decision-makers, and honestly account for the legacy of accumulated traumas. To prepare for this practice, social workers should study the policies that facilitated removal of Native children and current policies and practices regarding Native child welfare, learn about the values and traditions of tribes with which they will be working, and orient their child welfare institutions to explicitly antiracist approaches.

23. Describe the influence of the origins of our profession on the profession’s modern identity.

Social work continues its dual emphases on individual help and societal reform, as begun with the evolution of the settlement house and Charity Organizations Societies. Today, our profession encompasses both the social reform/systems change aims of the settlement houses and the professional casework orientation of COS. Critical examination of our professional roots also reveals that, although the profession continues to seek to diversify our ranks and more adequately reflect the client populations we serve, the demographic makeup of both the settlement houses and the COS are perpetuated to some extent in today’s professional profile. So, too, is evidence of institutional and individual racism observed in our historical orientation and, unacceptably, still today.

24. What are three contributions of Black social workers to our profession/our society?

Confronting racism as a cause of many social problems, developing self-help organizations to equitably meet the needs of Black communities underserved by other organizations, investing in social work education and professional development to build up Black professionals, promoting civil rights (and insisting the profession also take on these social justice causes).

25. Name three accomplishments of the Progressive Era that are significant today.

Federal government responsibility for child protection, consumer protection as a legitimate government function, progressive taxation, labor laws that made workplaces safer and healthier, food safety regulations, women’s suffrage Chapter 3: The Historical Context: Development of our Current Welfare System

1. The Franklin D. Roosevelt administration’s economic policies were based on the theories of British economist John Maynard Keynes, who held that: a. Lower taxes stimulate investment b. Privatization encourages competition c. Increased government spending and manipulation of interest rates dampens inflation and manages recessions d. Cutting expenditures prevents economic collapse Answer: C 2. Informed by experiences of the Great Depression, future U.S. response to economic downturns is best characterized as: a. Always defaulting to Keynesian principles, including increased government spending b. Avoiding any increases in government spending, in favor of an emphasis on tax cuts c. Reinstitution of public job programs, given our emphasis on work effort d. Various policy tactics, including some Keynesian stimulus, as well as tax cuts and manipulation of interest rates, depending largely on prevailing political preferences Answer: D 3. The Townsend Movement was a grassroots campaign to: a. Provide more generous retirement benefits to older adults b. Increase the wages paid in Works Progress Administration (WPA) jobs c. Provide national health insurance d. Oppose U.S. entry into World War II Answer: A 4. In addition to establishing retirement benefits, the Social Security Act passed in 1935 also: a. Created the Food Stamp program b. Created Aid to Dependent Children c. Provided survivor benefits for family members of deceased workers d. Created the disability insurance program Answer: B 5. After entering the labor market in unprecedented numbers during World War II, women after the war: a. Were promoted to positions of greater prestige b. Enjoyed enhanced political power commensurate with their economic independence c. Were pressured to return to traditional gender roles in the home d. Flocked to military service Answer: C 6. An example of social policy legislation based on a strengths approach is: a. The GI Bill b. Aid to Dependent Children c. Jim Crow policies d. Medicaid Answer: A 7. As a strengths-based policy, the GI Bill: a. Accelerated desegregation in housing and education

b. Closed racial gaps in educational attainment c. Built the capacities of its beneficiaries, although veterans of color were treated inequitably d. Equipped people with skills but no actual tangible assets Answer: C 8. While an example of policy informed by attention to the strengths of the target population, the GI Bill’s impact on racial equality can best be characterized by: a. GI Bill benefits closed the racial wealth gap b. Policymakers were afraid to upset the Jim Crow status quo, so GI Bill benefits were only offered to white veterans c. Members of Congress wanted to impress foreign allies and opponents with their commitment to racial equality, so the GI Bill was primarily designed to help veterans of color d. Benefits were nominally available universally, regardless of race, but racial inequities in education and housing systems ensured that the legislation perpetuated racial injustice Answer: D 9. School desegregation was achieved by: a. The Supreme Court’s ruling in Brown v. Topeka Board of Education, which was immediately implemented and ensured that all classrooms are fully integrated b. The Supreme Court’s ruling in Plessy v. Ferguson c. Congressional legislation d. Schools are still largely segregated, despite legal prohibitions against de jure segregation Answer: D 10. Among the social policy achievements of the John F. Kennedy Administration were: a. An end to discrimination based on race b. The beginning of the deinstitutionalization movement for persons with mental illness c. Passage of the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964 d. Creation of Medicare Answer: B 11. Social workers’ support for the Social Service Amendments to the Social Security Act: a. Definitively proved that case management is essential in ending poverty b. Increased social workers’ power, after the Amendments dramatically decreased welfare participation c. Increased skepticism about social services, after the Amendments failed to substantially reduce poverty d. Taught the profession to never again engage in policy advocacy Answer: C 12. The Johnson Administration’s social policy efforts, including the creation of Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA), funding for Community Action Programs, the creation of Head Start, and the establishment of Medicare and Medicaid, was called: a. The New Deal b. The Assault on Inequality c. The Fair Deal d. The Great Society Answer: D 13. The Economic Opportunity Act embodied a strengths approach in that it: a. Refused to use the term ―poverty,‖ because it is stigmatizing

b. Reflected the belief that political power for those in poverty is key to providing the necessary education and employment opportunities c. Required recipients to work to earn their public benefits d. Relied on professional social workers to deliver all programs, rather than professions that use a deficit model Answer: B 14. The national health insurance program for people 65 years of age and older is: a. Medicaid b. CHIP c. Medicare d. Affordable Care Act Answer: C 15. Although largely remembered for the Watergate scandal that ended his presidency, Richard Nixon also: a. Championed housing desegregation b. Increased federal commitment to comprehensive mental health services c. Proposed the Family Assistance Plan or negative income tax d. Passed universal health care Answer: C 16. In addition to providing health care for poor families with children, Medicaid also: a. Pays more than half of nursing home costs nationally b. Pays health care expenses for anyone who has medical expenses that reach more than 10 percent of their income c. Provides home- and community-based services for anyone with a disability d. Pays for prescription drugs for anyone receiving Medicare Answer: A 17. The Indian Child Welfare Act was designed to address: a. The disproportionately high rates of child abuse within Native American families b. The loss of tribal sovereignty and culture when Native children are removed from their families and placed in non-Native homes c. The need for more Native child welfare workers d. Need for training for foster parents in how to work with Native children Answer: B 18. Affirmative action is best understood as: a. Reparations paid to descendants of enslaved people b. Assertive antidiscrimination training for employers c. Policies and programs designed to compensate for discrimination against marginalized groups d. Quotas that make it easier for women to get jobs than for men Answer: C 19. Which of the following was NOT part of the Reagan Administration’s social policy agenda? a. Supply-side economics, which included large tax cuts b. Devolution, to transfer responsibility for social welfare to the states c. Privatization of many social welfare functions d. Increases in the minimum wage, to encourage work rather than welfare dependency

Answer: D 20. Which of the following is NOT normally a feature of the transition from categorical grants to block grants? a. Increases in funding to compensate states for taking on more responsibility b. Enhanced flexibility for states to allocate social welfare dollars c. Reduction of the federal government role in social welfare d. Reshaping of the social contract between citizens and their government Answer: A 21. After the Reagan Administration introduction of block grants, what happened to this funding approach in social policy? a. States were unhappy with the reduced amounts they received, so the federal government discontinued them b. They were only used for Medicaid, since there is already a cost-share agreement there c. Having reshaped the federal/state distribution of fiscal responsibility, they still finance some social policies d. They have been definitively proven to increase inequity and inadequacy, so they have been phased out Answer: C 22. Poverty rates in the United States since 1959 can generally be characterized as: a. Steady declines for all subpopulations b. Increases and decreases with changes in economic cycles and social policy, but comparable figures for all races and ethnicities c. Relatively unchanged, despite dramatic shifts in women’s labor market participation d. Lower than it was when the Social Security Administration began to track it, despite substantial increases during and following the Great Recession and persistently higher rates for some groups Answer: D 23. TANF is a means-tested policy because it: a. Bases eligibility on financial need b. Uses eligibility criteria considered harsh or ―mean‖ c. Uses average (or ―mean‖) income calculations d. Is often portrayed negatively in the media, which many advocates consider ―mean‖ Answer: A 24. The social policy agenda of the ―New Democrats‖ did not include: a. Unpaid medical and family leave for many workers b. Legislation to help people with disabilities retain health care once employed c. Expansion of welfare benefits for low-income single mothers d. Balanced budgets to protect future fiscal solvency Answer: C 25. Today, the legacy of the Obama Administration can be seen in which aspects of social policy? a. None; President Trump erased all Obama-era initiatives b. The Affordable Care Act, some tighter environmental regulations, and the entrance of millions of young voters and voters of color into the political process c. Proof that the United States is finally a ―color-blind‖ society d. Substantially higher levels of taxation and spending, especially in antipoverty programming Answer: B 26. What explains Barack Obama’s electoral successes in 2008 and 2012?

a. Strong voter turnout from a coalition of diverse supporters b. Desire for new policy directions in the face of economic crisis c. Effective messaging and organizing by a charismatic and visionary leader d. All of the above Answer: D 27. What explains Obama’s limited progress on climate and environmental justice? a. His attention was largely occupied by the push for health care reform b. The environment stabilized, so it was no longer as important c. Obama was distracted by scandals in his administration d. The courts overturned all his efforts to protect the environment Answer: A 28. Which of the following were outcomes of the Trump presidency? a. Deportations skyrocketed after historically low levels under Obama b. Anti-immigrant rhetoric increased, but no actual policies were passed that affected immigrants c. Deregulation of civil rights imperiled progress for many groups d. Americans came together, united in opposition to the president’s extreme policy positions Answer: C 29. Which of the following are likely to be lasting legacies of the Trump Administration? a. It will be difficult to recruit talented professionals to government service, since there was so much turnover in the White House b. Future government announcements will mostly be made on social media c. Americans will no longer trust traditional news media to tell the truth about anything d. The federal judiciary will be considerably more conservative in the past Answer: D 30. Social workers practicing in immigrant communities likely consider policy actions of the Trump Administration as: a. Inconsequential, since many have been overturned by the courts b. Forever turning the tide of U.S. public opinion against immigrants c. Harmful, both in terms of their actual effects, particularly for would-be refugees and asylum-seekers, as well as rhetorically, because President Trump so often characterized immigrants as a threat to the nation d. Indistinguishable from Obama’s policies Answer: C 31. Which statement best characterizes the 2020 presidential election? a. National sentiment was overwhelmingly arrayed against Donald Trump, so Joe Biden won easily b. The COVID-19 pandemic dominated the election, likely reshaping the outcome c. There was substantial evidence of voter fraud in most states d. It was a landslide victory for Democrats in the U.S. Senate Answer: B 32. What were three programs within the New Deal?

Works Progress Administration (WPA), Civil Conservation Corps (CCC), Civil Works Administration (CWA)

33. How did the roles played by social workers within the Roosevelt administration impact the development of the policies within the New Deal?

Social workers in the FDR administration focused attention on people’s common human needs, helped to articulate a compassionate view of those who could not provide for themselves, and highlighted the need for policy reform at the state and national levels. The institutional responses forged in the New Deal reflect social workers’ attention to the context in which people experience social problems and the need for systemic intervention.

34. In addition to providing economic security for older adults, what are two less commonly stated original goals of Social Security, as advocated by the Townsend Movement?

(1) Stimulate the economy by providing additional money for consumption and (2) opening up jobs for younger workers by encouraging older people to retire 35. How do social workers understand the lasting effects of the Great Recession, from today’s perspective?

The Great Recession intensified inequality and contributed to the political climate, including the large numbers of Americans who feel “wronged” by existing institutional arrangements. Many households have not recovered their financial positions, even after years of official recovery. This inequality also contributed to disparate outcomes in the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly after many people lost benefits and assets in the economic collapse. Economic insecurity appears a permanent feature of American life. Households and neighborhoods of color suffered greater wealth losses than more privileged areas; in many of these communities, social workers continue to encounter people whose needs and experiences of social problems stem from or were exacerbated by the Great Recession.

36. Discuss how the ideas of ―worthy‖ vs. ―unworthy‖ poor are reflected in the differences between Social Security and Aid to Dependent Children.

Social Security is based on social insurance principles that prioritize ensuring that those who are working and contributing to the economy can pool their resources to provide for themselves in the event of injury, illness, or retirement. These payments are much more generous and less controversial than those for children whose parents are unable to provide adequately for their support; in the latter case, adults are deemed to be deficient/“unworthy” in some way.

37. Describe the meaning of ―termination‖ in the context of the struggle for Native American rights.

The U.S. Congress abolished the special status of tribes as wards of the federal government and authorized states to assume some of the functions of tribal governments. One of the objectives was to “cut off public aid to Indians and to get them to fend for themselves” (Patterson, 1996, p. 376)1. Native Americans militantly opposed this policy as another form of oppression. It was ended in 1969, after several dozen tribes had been terminated.

38. Drawing on at least one of the core values of the NASW Code of Ethics, how should social workers respond to the threats posed by the insurrection of January 6, 2021?

1

See: Patterson, J. T. (1996). Great expectations: The United States, 1945-1974. New York, NY: Oxford University Press.

{Multiple possible responses; the key is to look for reference to the Code.} The social work value of integrity requires truthful accounting of the responsibility for the violence at the U.S. Capitol. Our value of the dignity and worth of the person condemns the loss of life, particularly of those who were trying to save others’ lives during the violence. And our commitment to social justice raises alarms about the risk that people’s votes and voices will be silenced in the move to overturn election results and undermine democratic principles. Finally, our value of service compels us to actively engage to uphold institutions, advance justice, and leverage our time and talents to address the social problem of political violence.

39. Outline approaches that strengths-based social workers who are concerned about the corrosive effects of the 2000, 2016, and 2020 elections on Americans’ sense of political empowerment could use to engage client groups in the political process.

Strengths-based policy practice begins with an examination and articulation of clients’ goals and priorities. In this case, then, social workers could engage clients in thinking about the implications of elections on the issues they care about. They could organize with clients to secure media coverage about these issues and work to ensure that candidates are addressing client groups’ concerns. Social workers can also be leaders on issues related to voting rights, to increase the electoral system’s responsiveness to the concerns of disadvantaged groups. Specifically, social workers could work to remove barriers to clients’ electoral participation, including the restrictive voting rules passed by many states since 2020.

Chapter 4: The Economic and Political Contexts 1. The United States’ economy can be characterized a ______________ economy: a. Marketplace b. Competitive c. Bartering d. Socialist Answer: A 2. A policy that treats all people with a particular need equally can be said to display ____________ equity. a. Vertical b. Horizontal c. Proportionate d. Residual Answer: B 3. Programs created by residual policies are: a. Universal b. Institutional c. Ineffective d. Selective Answer: D 4. Which of the following has NOT been given as an explanation for the development and maintenance of the welfare state? a. Industrialization undermines the traditional authority of the family and community to provide for their members b. Welfare encourages capitalism by suppressing dissent c. People are naturally altruistic and want to help others

d. Social workers’ political power protects welfare programs from cuts Answer: D 5. Which political group believes that government growth threatens individual freedoms? a. Neoliberals b. Libertarians c. Conservatives d. Democratic socialists Answer: B 6. Populism is: a. Any economic policy popular with a majority of Americans b. Any economic policy passed unanimously by Congress c. The idea that society is separated into the ―pure people‖ and ―corrupt elite,‖ whose interests are at odds d. A historical ideology that has largely disappeared from the political landscape Answer: C 7. Which policy is an example of economic nationalism? a. Use of tariffs to bolster the U.S. steel industry b. Rejection of international trade agreements deemed unfavorable to U.S. workers c. Proposals to limit immigration to reduce competition for native-born workers d. All the above Answer: D 8. The three branches of the federal government are: a. Legislative, executive, and judicial b. Legislative, Congress, and President c. Cabinet, President, and Congress d. Judicial, departmental, and executive Answer: A 9. An entitlement program is: a. Any program that provides cash assistance b. A program for which all who meet the eligibility requirements legally qualify c. Limited based on available funds, just like any other program d. A program for which U.S. citizens are automatically eligible from birth to death Answer: B 10. Taxes that require people with lower incomes to pay higher rates or proportions of their income are known as ________________ taxes: a. Progressive b. Proportional c. Restrictive d. Regressive Answer: D 11. Over the past several decades, the trend in mandatory spending is best characterized as: a. Sharp fluctuations in response to new proposals from Congress b. Significant growth, particularly during economic downturns

c. Flat, as policymakers have sought to reduce the federal deficit d. Almost steady decrease, since so many antipoverty programs have been cut Answer: B 12. The largest component of social welfare spending in the United States goes to: a. Cash payments to people in poverty b. Foreign aid c. Defense spending d. Social insurance programs Answer: D 13. A ―tax expenditure‖ is: a. A payment made to the state or federal government to meet your tax liability every year b. A purchase of equipment to help you file your taxes c. Tax deductions the government extends to targeted groups to meet a specific social policy goal d. Tax loopholes exploited by huge multinational corporations Answer: C 14. Compared to other developed nations, the United States: a. Has a much higher tax rate b. Spends far more on social welfare c. Spends less on social welfare, but still compares favorably on indicators such as infant mortality d. Historically, taxes and spends far less Answer: D 15. Which of the following is NOT a significant influence of globalization on social work today? a. There is increasing pressure on the United States to reduce social spending and hold down wages, in the pursuit of competitiveness b. Increases in immigration are related to economic and social integration and displacement c. U.S. economic conditions are increasingly tied to those of other countries, increasing volatility d. Social workers have greater global power, as word of our expertise travels around the world Answer: D 16. Concerns about the influence of globalization on U.S. quality of life can be accurately characterized as: a. Entirely xenophobic b. Purely informed by rigorous analysis of the influence of global commerce on working people in the United States c. Reflecting both legitimate concerns about power imbalances in global economic arrangements and discomfort with ―foreign‖ influence d. Only held by those who have never had the chance to travel internationally Answer: C 17. During the COVID-19 pandemic, regulatory policy: a. Was used to prevent evictions and slow transmission b. Allowed for greater flexibility in health care delivery c. Was inconsistent, particularly with the presidential election d. All the above D

18. Using current examples, provide at least one way the economic context shapes social welfare policy.

The expansions of safety net and social insurance programs during the pandemic emergency were facilitated by growing evidence of the effects of COVID-19 on economic indicators. It is difficult to imagine the expansion of the Child Tax Credit, Unemployment Assistance, and health coverage access, without the high rates of unemployment, food insecurity, and economic struggle witnessed during the pandemic. Now, the recovering economy and, especially, high inflation are putting pressures on social policy, as deficit reduction and inflation control outweigh other economic concerns.

19. Provide at least two limitations of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) as a measure of economic outcomes and progress.

While the GDP is useful for tracking economic changes over time and across different political jurisdictions, it fails to account for the environmental and human consequences of economic activity.

GDP cannot provide useful distinction between, for example, the economic activity of deforestation and of a program employing ex-offenders, even though they have obvious and sharp differences in their social utility and long-term effects. GDP also cannot tell us how equitably resources are distributed, such that it is quite possible (and, in the United States often the case) that overall robust GDP growth obscures continued and even growing deprivation in some populations.

20. In your understanding, what explains the lack of controversy/attention associated with large tax expenditures, compared to that which surrounds policies such as TANF and even OASDI? Administered through the tax code, tax expenditures are comparatively “invisible”; few people even recognize them as government expenses. Additionally, tax expenditures primarily benefit those already privileged economically, who prevailing values often consider “worthy” (and who have outsized influence on media discussions and issue framing). Finally, many recipients of tax expenditures have made successful claims for these items as investments in prosperity and worthwhile allocations that advance a larger aim (while minimizing the extent to which individuals are significantly and inequitably advantaged).

21. Explain at least two reasons why the racial wealth gap is larger than the income gap.

The racial wealth gap compounds across generations, so it is the accumulation of years of gaps in asset accumulation; while antidiscrimination policies have helped to open employment/earnings opportunities somewhat more equitably, policy still perpetuates substantial gaps in housing wealth, in particular; in some areas (such as higher education) policy can help close the income gap even while increasing wealth divides, due to differences in student borrowing; wealth divides overall are larger than income gaps, including not only based on race but also gender and geography.

22. Explain how the U.S. health care system is an example of a market failure.

Individuals who cannot afford to purchase health insurance and do not have it provided to them lack access to health care, which is best understood as a basic need/human right, rather than a market commodity. Health care resources are then allocated not on the basis of need but solely according to one’s ability to pay or eligibility-specific assistance programs. Also, markets assume people have perfect (or nearly perfect) information with which to make decisions, but health care decisions are seldom fully informed. There are also substantial externalities in health, as the COVID-19 pandemic has brutally illustrated; when people cannot access needed care in the health care marketplace, that failure often has important consequences for others—as in contagious disease..

23. Is a policy which provides larger housing subsidies to those with lower incomes an example of vertical or horizontal equity?

Vertical 24. Explain the rationale behind Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) from a ―maintenance of capitalism‖ hypothesis vs. a ―social conscience‖ hypothesis.

Maintenance of capitalism suggests that EITC helps to encourage participation in the low-wage work that proliferates in capitalism, thereby contributing to the functioning of capitalist systems, by supplying cheap labor and, at the same time, suppressing revolt against the capitalist system, because individuals are dependent upon the state for some measure of financial support. Indeed, the need for earned income in order to receive the EITC directly incentivizes employment, while the phasing out at higher wages makes lower paid employment more valuable. In contrast, a social conscience hypothesis suggests that people are inherently concerned with low-income families and the needs of their children. The EITC’s larger value for household with families gives some credence to this rationale. Because we cannot bear to see parents working but unable to provide for their children’s needs, we provide the EITC to make lowwage employment more profitable for these workers.

25. You are a social work advocate for low-income families with children. There is a proposal in your city to provide increased funding for housing assistance for your target population, to be funded through an increase in the sales tax. Should you support or oppose this proposal? Why? The proposed funding mechanism for this policy is regressive, meaning that its costs will be borne disproportionately by those who need the assistance (particularly if there are not exceptions built into the sales tax, such as exempting essentials like food and school supplies). Low-income families, then, would be paying more for needed goods, while only some of them would receive additional housing assistance. You should look for other revenue sources that are progressive to finance this intervention.

Further, a social work advocate should use this offer as an opportunity to connect social policy goals/measures and the revenue sources that finance them, for a more complete picture of the interventions that advance economic justice.

26. Using the explanations of Keynesian economics and supply-side economics in Chapter 4, identify two elements of the U.S. response to the pandemic that illustrate reliance on Keynesian thinking and at least two elements that reflect a supply-side approach.

Among the policy responses to the pandemic that illustrate Keynesian influences are the direct stimulus payments to households, which were designed to increase demand while people experienced income losses, and the infusion of infrastructure money (in 2021), as investments in public employment and local demand. More supply-side oriented were subsidies to employers who retained workers and direct subsidy for production of vaccines and personal protective equipment.

27. How would our understanding of the role of the federal government in social policy change if we considered tax expenditures alongside direct expenditures?

Since far more tax expenditures for social welfare go toward higher income households as compared to lower income households, the conception that social welfare spending disproportionately benefits the poor would shift. In addition, the overall dollar amount that goes toward social welfare would increase

under this accounting. Receiving social welfare assistance would be less stigmatizing if tax expenditures such as mortgage interest and retirement savings deductions were included in our definition of “social welfare policy.”

28. How should budget and tax policy change to account for the global climate crisis?

We need new measures that consider not only aims of economic growth, but also sustainability and the costs of climate impacts. We should incorporate projected future temperatures into our economic models and accurately price the effects particular goods and services have on the natural environment.

We need to account not only for the current cost of such expenses but also their future toll.

Chapter 5: Tools for Determining Need and Analyzing Social Policy 1. Which of the following is a social problem? a. many people dislike their bosses b. on average, men are physically stronger than women c. women are paid less than men, on average, to perform the same jobs d. people often wish they had more time to spend with friends Answer: C 2. A social problem becomes a societal concern when: a. The data make it obvious that a problem exists b. A sizeable segment of the public becomes convinced, often through collective action, that a problem exists c. The National Association of Social Workers (NASW) places it on their policy agenda d. There is a dramatic change in a social condition in a short period of time Answer: B 3. As an example of the social construction of social problems, domestic violence was once understood as: a. An expression of psychosis among abusive men b. An understandable response to internalized oppression resulting from our capitalist economic structure c. A man’s prerogative to keep order in his home d. Nonexistent Answer: C 4. What data might a social worker practicing with adolescent girls experiencing depression use to construct the influence of social media as a ―social problem‖ for this population? a. The percentage of teen girls who have smartphones b. Teen girls’ reports that their social media usage causes them mental distress c. Parents’ observations that their daughters’ well-being deteriorates after seeing particular social media messages d. B and C Answer: D 5. Which of the following best characterizes the role that values and self-interest play in social problem definition? a. They don’t; social problems are only defined based on documented evidence of objective need b. They inform the ideology behind the problem definition, comprising the ―should statement‖ c. They completely determine problem definition because facts are irrelevant in today’s polarized climate d. They only impact the strategies we use to advance a policy response to a problem

Answer: B 6. When evidence reveals that two conditions are linked, for example, illiteracy and teenage pregnancy, policy analysts can know: a. That the first condition causes the second, which is defined as the consequence b. That the second condition causes the first, which is defined as the consequence c. That the two conditions are linked in mutual causality d. Only that they occur together; more study is needed to determine whether causality, or mere correlation, exists Answer: D 7. The process of connecting the social problem and resulting social policy, through concerted action and the exertion of rights and/or an appeal to social justice and/or utility is called: a. Policy analysis b. Agenda-setting c. Claimsmaking d. Lobbying Answer: C 8. A statement of the desired human condition or social environment that is expected to result from implementation of the policy is: a. A mission statement b. An agenda c. A claim d. A policy goal Answer: D 9. Publicly stated goals are called: a. Latent goals b. Manifest goals c. Public goals d. Unanimous goals Answer: B 10. Which of the following could be understood as a latent goal of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)? a. Reduce hunger and malnutrition b. Assist families in poverty by reducing the amount of their budgets that needs to be spent on food c. Shore up the U.S. agricultural industry by subsidizing consumption of its goods d. Improve health by improving nutrition Answer: C 11. Which of the following most likely reflects a strengths perspective of incorporating client perspectives into the development of policy goals? a. TANF’s emphasis on promoting two-parent families b. Programs for people with disabilities that allow people to preserve their benefit eligibility with increasing levels of earned income c. Policy that makes households ineligible for housing subsidies if anyone in the family has a drug-related conviction

d. A program that requires parent education for mothers receiving Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) assistance Answer: B 12. Eligibility rules: a. Determine how much funding will be available for a given program b. Define the social problem to be addressed c. Stipulate who receives the benefit or service provided by the social policy d. Are inherently unfair Answer: C 13. Means tests: a. Judge whether a potential recipient is among the ―worthy‖ poor b. Determine whether someone meets the income and asset limits for a particular program c. Only measure income levels d. Are always stigmatizing and should, therefore, be eliminated B 14. The single most important question to ask when evaluating the effectiveness of a service delivery system is: a. Can this system deliver services to clients in a cost-effective manner that achieves the desired outcomes? b. Do clients have enough choices within this structure? c. Are social workers adequately represented among those who will be delivering services within this system? d. Does this system utilize indigenous workers to make sure that it is nonstigmatizing?

Answer: A 15. How would you explain the idea that problems are socially constructed to a colleague suspicious that this sounds like the concept of ―alternative facts‖?

Social construction does not deny the existence of objective reality; instead, it acknowledges that the way we see things—including social problems—is necessarily influenced by our own experiences. For example, those who grew up in a community with strong public schools and plentiful good job opportunities will likely see the social problem of unemployment differently than someone in a community that lacks these resources. In turn, these different lenses on the social problem will likely lead to preferences for different approaches to solving it. Recognizing social construction does not deny facts but acknowledges that people will see facts from a particular perspective.

16. Your social work values lead you to question the concept of the ―unworthy‖ poor—and to be suspicious of policies that rely on this framing. What would you look for in a proposal for a new child tax credit, to tell you if it is something consistent with your policy preferences?

A child tax credit that advances the idea of the “worthy” and “unworthy” poor would likely only provide assistance to those who are working. There might also be distinctions between those with disabilities and those deemed able to work, and/or sanctions that deny assistance to those with criminal histories. You would also analyze the language used to talk about participants and the credit itself, looking especially for words that denote some concept of individual failure or insufficient effort.

17. You are a social work policy practitioner looking for information about the goals of a policy that provides free college tuition to children aging out of the foster care system in your state. Where might you look to find this information?

Preamble of enabling legislation, legislative history, other documents found through the legislative library, media statements by the original supporters, conversations with supporters 18. What are the benefits/services provided in the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program?

Vouchers for nutritious food, nutrition counseling and education, and referrals to health care and social services 19. How would a strengths perspective view the decision of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to issue benefits through electronic benefit transfer rather than paper coupon?

Electronic benefit transfer (EBT) is less stigmatizing than paper coupons, since it looks more like a traditional credit transaction at the store. Policies that allow people to receive assistance without having to signal that they are doing so are less stigmatizing and more compatible with the strengths perspective.

Additionally, use of EBT reduces administrative costs of SNAP, an efficiency gain that increases the resources available for direct benefit provision to beneficiaries. However, where reliance on EBT reduces the options people have for spending their food benefits (as when some farmers’ markets and direct farm providers do not accept the EBT), this could reduce beneficiary choice, which runs counter to the strengths perspective.

20. The National Association of Social Workers (NASW)has focused much of its lobbying on licensure requirements that restrict certain social service jobs to only licensed social workers. How would a strengths perspective analysis of service delivery systems view this?

The strengths perspective encourages staffing programs with workers who reflect the diversity found within the target population, and many times professional social workers do not represent all the identities (especially by race, ethnicity, and sexual orientation) with which we work. However, client outcomes are also paramount, and there is considerable evidence that professional social workers possess skills and competencies consistent with promotion of superior client outcomes. This analysis suggests that clients’ needs are best met by active efforts by NASW to diversify the profession and remove barriers for those from historically under-represented constituencies to become social workers.

Even more than the decision reached, social workers considering these different delivery systems would want to institute a policy development process that puts clients’ preferences and priorities at the center, to ensure that their needs and goals are elevated.

21. When analyzed using a strengths perspective, how would one evaluate the trend toward devolution in social service delivery and financing?

Devolution could lead to increased flexibility in the provision of benefits, greater identification between workers and the target population, and more efficient achievement of policy goals. However, devolution usually means increasing reliance on state and local funding sources, as well as a greater likelihood of privatization, all elements which increase the risk of funding instability and inadequacy.

Chapter 6: Social Policy Development and Policy Practice 1. To get an issue on the policy agenda, social work advocates must: a. Attract enough attention to convince a policymaker to move on the item b. Call the committee secretary to request it

c. Get an article on the front page of a major newspaper d. Hold a large rally Answer: A 2. Those who likely will experience either substantial gain or loss as a result of the policy change are called: a. Stakeholders b. Clients c. Lobbyists d. Allies Answer: A 3. Who should be considered stakeholders in the debate about policy to provide a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants who came to the United States as children? a. Immigrant youth and their parents b. Teachers c. People committed to racial and economic justice d. All the above Answer: D 4. a. b. c.

An example of an unintended consequence of a social policy is: Medicare has been modified to include more services than originally conceived Life expectancy has increased dramatically compared to the 1930s, when Social Security was passed The construction of new federal highways in low-income areas isolated public housing high-rises, leading to higher unemployment for residents of these properties d. Not all people who are eligible for Medicaid apply for it, because of barriers Answer: C 5. a. b. c. d.

Which of the following is a potential unintended consequence of free college policies?

Reduction in student debt Americans feel more optimistic about their children’s chances to get ahead More students earn postsecondary degrees Families who don’t have to pay for their children’s college transfer more wealth directly to the next generation Answer: D 6. The ecological perspective in social work: a. Focuses on the ways in which people and their environments influence, change, and shape each other b. Is the same as the strengths perspective c. Is a theory that applies only to clinical social work practice d. Tries to overcome social workers’ apathy about the natural environment Answer: A 7. A high-poverty neighborhood with few employment opportunities, underfunded public schools, and few social service agencies is an example of: a. An enabling niche b. A transporting niche c. An ecological perspective d. An entrapping niche Answer: D

8. From a strengths perspective, which of the following would be appropriate roles for social work clients in a policy change process? a. Sharing their stories of resilience and capacity, but only anonymously, so that they are not stigmatized b. Participating in research, but only as research subjects c. Writing a letter to an elected official, as long as a professional edits it d. Taking leadership, with the social worker serving as a resource Answer: D 9. When a social worker identifies a policy problem, their first step should be to: a. Lobby for a new law to address it b. Assess whether the problem stems from policy implementation, or whether there is a need for a new policy c. File a lawsuit to challenge the injustice d. Contact a reporter to publicize the problem Answer: B 10. A thorough cost-benefit analysis must include: a. The costs of implementing the legislation, including intangibles b. The expected outcomes of the policy c. The costs of not enacting the policy d. All the above Answer: D 11. Describe how, as a strengths-based policy practitioner, you might assess community strengths.

Note resources such as community associations, businesses, and agencies; talk with community leaders; collect stories from clients; observe community relationships 12. You are a social worker advocating for increased funding for childcare in reauthorization of Temporary Assistance to Needy Families. This proposal is expensive. How would you apply what you know about the elements of a ―workable‖ policy to increase the likelihood of its passage?

Because low-cost policy changes are more likely to succeed, I would need to not only emphasize the costs of inaction, particularly if parents are unable to work without childcare supports, but also make the claim for this policy change based on other criteria of workability. For example, I could highlight the relative ease of providing increased subsidies for childcare through the existing TANF grant process.

This policy is also easy to communicate, since most people are aware of the importance of childcare in facilitating parents’ employment. It could be relatively easily implemented and scaled, by altering the eligibility criteria and benefit amounts. However, if there is a shortage of childcare providers in my community, I must recognize this as another threat to workability; where families face childcare shortages, it is difficult to secure these resources even with subsidies.

13. You are a social worker providing case management to adults with disabilities. You support a policy to allow them to retain eligibility for Medicaid even after their incomes have increased, as they are transitioning back to paid employment, since they often need coverage for personal care attendants. As a case manager, how would you go about putting this issue on the agenda?

Work with advocacy organizations for people with disabilities; leverage the crisis of the pandemic to highlight the need to invest in home- and community-based services for adults with disabilities and in

policies to preserve people’s eligibility for this help; collect stories about your clients’ goals for employment and how they could contribute to the economy; research the potential cost savings if personal care attendant services are able to help clients remain safely in the community rather than needing institutionalization; research the positive health effects of employment; research states’ efforts to facilitate employment through a similar approach 14. What are baseline data? If you were advocating for funding for a suicide prevention program for adolescents of color, what baseline data might you collect at the beginning?

Baseline data describe the condition of the target group prior to the policy intervention. For the suicide prevention program, I would collect data about the number and rate of suicide by adolescents of color (with the target population clearly defined) in the previous several years, to then compare to the number and rates following the intervention. In recognition of the seismic shock of the pandemic, I may need to collect baseline data before COVID-19 contributed to increased mental health crises and since the pandemic began.

15. Before approaching a particular policymaker to support your policy initiative, what kind of research would you want to conduct on them?

Their political philosophies, priority issues, involvement with community groups, occupation/professional identity, personal experiences, prior votes, other policymaker relationships 16. Identify a social problem that is not on the policy agenda in your community or state, but which you think is important. What are two or three approaches you could use to try to elevate this social problem on the agenda? {Identified social problems not on the agenda will vary.} To get a social problem on the agenda, I could build coalitions with allies, including those that are less likely partners; identify policymaker champions who can advance the issue; secure media coverage that will press on policymakers in some way; and/or take advantage of windows of opportunity, such as critical events, elections, or funding cycles. Kingdon’s multiple streams theory suggests that I could also advance my issue by conducting and disseminating research about promising proposals by which to respond.

Chapter 7: Civil Rights 1. ―Structural discrimination‖ is: a. Entrenched societal practices that favor one group over another based on group characteristics such as skin color b. Not as damaging as personal, racist attacks c. A type of Affirmative Action program d. A type of hate crime Answer: A 2. Strengths-based social workers recognize that racism: a. Is unacceptably harmful to people of color b. Harms everyone in society, including people who identify as white c. Weakens our democracy d. All the above Answer: D

3. The key provisions of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 instituted: a. Immediate desegregation of public schools b. ―Equal pay for equal work‖ c. Prohibition of employment discrimination and elimination of unequal access to public accommodations d. The abolition of all state laws banning inter-racial marriage Answer: C 4. Advocates for those with disabilities have won many of their policy victories through the U.S. Supreme Court. Among these victories is: a. Olmstead v. L.C. b. Plessy v. Ferguson c. Romer v. Evans d. Brown v. Board of Education Answer: A 5. As amended in 1986, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act prohibits employment discrimination for those: a. Older than 65 b. Younger than 80 c. Ages 40 and older d. Of any age Answer: C 6. Title IX governs: a. Gender discrimination on campuses, but only related to equity in athletics b. Medicaid eligibility c. Gender discrimination, including regulations on gender-based violence d. Distribution of financial aid to female students Answer: C 7. The impact of antidiscrimination legislation has been muted by: a. The existence of ongoing occupational and residential segregation, which increase poverty among marginalized groups b. Institutional barriers to significant policy change c. Pervasive racism, sexism, ablism, and homophobia d. All the above Answer: D 8. a. b. c. d.

The NASW position on LGBTQ+ people is best characterized as: Uncertainty as to whether sexual orientation is a biologically determined fact or a lifestyle choice A commitment to full legal and social acceptance and societal recognition Belief that LGBTQ+ discrimination is a thing of the past A concern that social workers not be forced to work with people whose sexual orientation the social worker finds immoral Answer: B 9. Subsequent to the Olmstead decision, states are required to: a. Place individuals with disabilities in community settings rather than institutions, whenever possible b. Immediately deinstitutionalize all their residents with disabilities

c. Modify all public buildings to be wheelchair accessible d. Fully fund the waiting lists for Medicaid waiver services for individuals with disabilities Answer: A 10. The belief that all older adults are frail and incapacitated is: a. Accurate, with very few exceptions b. Compassionate ageism c. An example of the strengths perspective d. Not held by any social workers Answer: B 11. The principal goal of the Americans with Disabilities Act is: a. Ensure that wheelchair ramps are built in all public facilities b. Outlaw use of offensive language to describe people with disabilities c. Protect those with physical, but not mental, disabilities d. Remove barriers to full inclusion of people with disabilities Answer: D 12. Which of the following is an example of heterosexism? a. Adoption rules that give preference to mixed-gender couples b. A social worker’s refusal to work with a transgender client because of religious objections c. An agency policy that denies benefits to employees’ same-sex partners d. All the above Answer: D 13. In recent years, hate crimes have: a. Increased b. Been eliminated, thanks to decisive victories on marriage equality and racial justice c. Evolved to primarily target people based on religion, not race d. Ended after President Biden’s inauguration Answer: A 14. The Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act made what changes to federal hate crimes policy? a. Extended hate crimes laws to include crimes motivated by a victim’s gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability b. Required capital sentences for hate crimes cases c. Allowed hate crime prosecution for crimes perpetrated against people not engaged in protected activity, such as voting d. Both A and C Answer: D 15. Which of the following accurately describes the state of LGBTQ+ employment protections? a. State advocates are working hard to secure protection based on sexual orientation, but it is a tough battle in many states b. Only white LGBTQ+ people lack civil rights protections at work c. The Supreme Court ruling in 2020 extended sex discrimination protections to LGBTQ+ workers across the country d. State politics are so polarized that this is mostly a local issue now

Answer: C 16. Given the contested nature of civil rights in U.S. society today, it is important for social workers to know that: a. The Code of Ethics only concerns itself with social work practice and is silent on civil rights b. Social work values compel our support of civil rights policies that advance justice c. We must be careful not to engage in any advocacy that seems political d. Progress on civil rights is virtually guaranteed as our society continues to advance Answer: B 17. Which of the following policies to restrict voting rights are in place in at least some states today? a. Photo identification requirements b. Voter roll purges of infrequent voters c. Reduction in polling places and advance voting options d. All the above Answer: D 18. Which is the best statement of the current status of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA)? a. The policy was overturned by President Trump b. After years of advocacy by DREAMers, the policy was finally approved by Congress c. While hundreds of thousands of DREAMers have DACA, the policy’s future is uncertain after a federal court ruling in July d. The policy’s future is secure now that President Biden has signaled his support Answer: C 19. Voting rights are a priority for the social work profession and for advocates of social justice working on many fronts. What are two or three ways a social worker can integrate voting rights protections and advocacy into their practice, regardless of where and in what capacity they are employed?

Social workers can make sure their clients are registered to vote; advocate with their employers for paid time off to vote; contact their state legislators to urge expansion of voting rights; volunteer as an election worker or poll monitor; contribute financially to organizations working on voting rights 20. As a policy advocate working with LGBTQ+ communities, how might you construct a claim for inclusive policies on school facilities and activities?

As a strengths-based policy practitioner, I would construct these claims in partnership with the target population. LGBTQ+ youth are courageous and resourceful, and their stories and aspirations are the best arguments for fully including them in school policymaking. It is important to incorporate the voices, experiences, and goals of those directly affected by the policy in the advocacy. Among the claims we might advance together are those that center on the shared values of equality, opportunity, and dignity.

We could highlight the stories of LGBTQ+ youth in the local school/area and their call for a chance to participate in athletics and other activities equitably and to have access to the facilities (e.g., restrooms) that facilitate their dignity and safety. We could also use evidence about how antidiscrimination policies improve the educational environment for everyone and can improve academic achievement, which is a core objective of school policymakers.

21. Many opponents of Affirmative Action argue that it is no longer necessary because racism has decreased and there are no longer laws discriminating against people on the basis of race. Considering dynamics of structural discrimination, how would you respond to this argument?

Racism and sexism are entrenched parts of U.S. society. They affect outcomes for people of color and women—today, and through a legacy of differential opportunities and challenges. There is a need for policies that help to overcome these dynamics through changing institutions and how they operate.

While legal segregation and discrimination based on race and gender have been eliminated, practices that favor whites over people of color and men over women, continue in all parts of society, including in education and employment, where Affirmative Action policies have been successful in overcoming barriers to entry. Affirmative Action can also alter the landscape of power in these institutions, in ways that can ripple with improved outcomes for many groups. Analysis about the corrosive effects of racism on outcomes for all people, including in health and education, may also help to make the case for extending these more equitable chances.

22. Some argue that racism and sexism are ―dead‖ in today’s U.S. society. How does a focus on outcomes lead you to a different conclusion?

Differences in outcomes related to social justice for women and people of color suggest ongoing problems with racism and sexism. Examples include high poverty rates for women and people of color and trans individuals, persistent asset inequalities, discriminatory treatment in housing and criminal justice for people of color, and high rates of violence against women and those who are LGBTQ+. In a society where racism and sexism no longer distort outcomes, greater levels of equality would be expected on all these fronts.

23. What contributes to the growing problem of age-based employment discrimination?

Ageism increased alarmingly in the pandemic, exacerbated by media messaging and problem framing that sought to position older adults as uniformly vulnerable to COVID-19 and even uniquely culpable for the effects of the pandemic on the economy and mental health. This, combined with the need of many older adults to quit jobs that exposed them to unhealthy risk, have further intensified age discrimination in employment. Even beyond the pandemic, attitudes such as persistent negative beliefs about older adults and their abilities, perceived competition for scarce employment opportunities (especially in times of high unemployment), and stereotypical beliefs about older adults’ frailty, contribute to and help to legitimize public and corporate policies that inhibit older adults’ full participation in the economy.

24. Given an understanding of the role of the federal government in securing civil rights, what concerns might a social work policy practitioner have about the trend toward devolution?

The struggle for civil rights illustrates the potential for injustice within social policies based on local preferences. To the extent that prejudices against certain groups are stronger in some local contexts than in others, policymaking structures that devolve authority in these areas to local units of government may create the possibility of disparity and, ultimately, injustice. Additionally, the history of civil rights advances in the United States illustrates the need for ongoing enforcement attention. This is a resourceintensive commitment that is beyond the fiscal, administrative, and political capacities of many smaller jurisdictions. Even more fundamentally, ensuring that everyone has fair opportunities is a crucial national challenge that must be met with collective attention and resources.

25. How do the titles of education-related legislation for children with disabilities, passed in 1975 and 1990, respectively, illustrate changing attitudes about people with disabilities?

The 1990 legislation uses “people first” language—Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. Additionally, the 1975 legislation uses the phrase “handicapped,” now understood to have a stigmatizing origin. The 1990 legislation was passed during a period of active political participation and empowerment of people with disabilities; as a result, their goals, priorities, and values were given center stage in this policy development. Today, the language used to talk about disabilities is increasingly driven by the individuals most directly affected, with some preferring identity-first language that celebrates their community identification and others relegating their disability to the sidelines.

26. What can strengths-based policy practitioners learn from the advocacy of those with disabilities around the Americans with Disabilities Act and its enforcement?

The ADA illustrates valuable truths about strengths-based policymaking and advocacy. It is essential to engage the target population fully in the change process, localized control is not necessary for strengthsbased policy, and advocates must define the problem as located in the fit between the person and the environment, not individual pathology. These lessons translate to struggles for social justice in other arenas, as well.

27. How is the importance of defining the target population illustrated by the Americans with Disabilities Act? Anyone with a physical or mental impairment that limits one or more major life activities is eligible for accommodations under the ADA. Therefore, defining what “impairment,” “limits,” and “major life activities” mean is essential to determining who enjoys the protections of the ADA. This is an issue of negotiation today, as those grappling with the long-term consequences of COVID-19 infections organize for accommodations and supports to help them cope with these new challenges. This also illustrates the fact that, often, to receive benefits from legislation, individuals must meet eligibility criteria that are often largely deficit-based.

28. Imagine you are talking with a colleague who does not understand why asking people for proof of citizenship when registering to vote is problematic. After all, she says, ―They have to be citizens to vote.‖ How would you explain social workers’ concerns with these requirements?

Restrictive voting requirements such as proof of citizenship and photo identification create unfair burdens for segments of the voting public and have been found to depress voter turnout of voters who are older, low-income, and people of color. Voting rights laws should protect all citizens’ access to political participation; achieving this requires an intersectional analysis that considers how even laws that are neutral on their face—such as requiring proof of citizenship from everyone—can nonetheless have disparate impact on some groups. Further, the past few years have shown how voting rights can be eroded—even one provision at a time—in ways that fundamentally reshape the electoral landscape and threaten our overall democracy. Many of the states that were early adopters of photo identification requirements, for example, have also reduced the number of polling locations, removed mail vote options, and restricted voter registration.

29. How does the Lilly Ledbetter case illustrate the relationship among the three branches of government— legislative, judicial, and executive?

Lilly Ledbetter sued when her right to nondiscriminatory pay—as guaranteed by policy passed by Congress—was violated by her employer. When the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that she had not brought the suit in the time required, Congress passed a law—at the urging of then-President Obama—to clarify legislative intent to protect workers like Ms. Ledbetter. President Obama used his signing of the law to press the case for continued protection of women’s rights to equal pay. In the future, executive regulatory agencies and courts at all levels have a new tool with which to ensure implementation and enforcement of women’s rights as workers.

Chapter 8: Income- and Asset-Based Social Policies and Programs 1. ―Absolute poverty‖ refers to: a. People who have been poor their entire lives b. People whose incomes fall below the federal poverty line c. People who are very poor d. People who consider themselves poor in both assets and income Answer: B 2. The ―feminization of poverty‖ refers to: a. The low wages earned by social workers, who are disproportionately female b. The loss of masculinity experienced by men who cannot provide financially for their families c. The disproportionately high number of women and their children who are living in poverty d. The emphasis on mothers’ pensions as the origin of public assistance Answer: C 3. ―Relative poverty‖ refers to: a. People whose incomes fall below what is generally considered to be an adequate standard of living in a society b. People whose incomes fall right at the poverty line c. People whose families are poor, even if they are not d. Immigrants who are poor in the United States but would not be poor in their countries of origin Answer: A 4. What happened to child poverty in the COVID-19 pandemic? a. It increased dramatically as people lost jobs b. Official poverty was unchanged, but child poverty increased as measured by the Supplemental Poverty Measure c. Increases in the Child Tax Credit and other benefits reduced child poverty d. It is too early to know Answer: C 5. How does rising inflation affect poverty rates? a. The poverty threshold increases to account for higher prices b. Poverty rates go up naturally because people have to spend more to buy essentials c. Inflation does not affect the poverty rate, since it only accounts for people’s earnings d. Wages may rise with inflationary pressures, but, mainly, even people not officially in poverty find it harder to buy what they need with inflation Answer: D 6. The methodology of establishing the poverty line assumes that:

a. White Americans earn more than people of color b. Poverty should be calculated differently based on the state in which the household resides c. One-third of an individual or household’s taxable income is spent on food d. People need different amounts of income based on their fixed expenses Answer: C 7. An example of a ―universal‖ social program is: a. Old Age, Survivors, Disability and Health Insurance b. SNAP c. Temporary Assistance to Needy Families d. Section 8 housing Answer: A 8. Which of the following is a difference between social insurance and social assistance programs? a. People always receive more generous benefits in social insurance programs b. Social insurance never runs out c. The eligibility criteria are different d. Social assistance programs are more popular because they help people Answer: C 9. Workers’ Compensation is funded by: a. Payroll deductions from workers b. State general funds c. The federal government d. Employers, who purchase policies from insurance companies Answer: D 10. Old Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance (OASDI) is commonly referred to as: a. Supplemental Security Income b. Social Security c. Medicaid d. Long-term care insurance Answer: B 11. Among the changes enacted to OASDI in recent years are: a. Reduction in benefit levels b. Increase in the retirement age c. Reduction in the cost-of-living adjustment d. Substantial reforms to eliminate the gender bias in Social Security Answer: B 12. The program that provides income to meet basic needs when workers have lost jobs is called: a. Unemployment Insurance b. General Assistance c. Workers’ Compensation d. Temporary Assistance to Needy Families Answer: C 13. In the COVID-19 pandemic, Unemployment Insurance:

a. Was replaced by a new federal program to help those who lost jobs b. Collapsed under the increased demand c. Was expanded to provide benefits to a larger group and for a longer period d. Was replaced by Universal Basic Income (UBI) Answer: C 14. Temporary Assistance to Needy Families is funded by: a. A block grant from the federal government to the states b. Categorical grants c. Payroll taxes on workers’ earnings d. Contributions from private employers Answer: A 15. Which of the following is NOT a stated goal of Temporary Assistance to Needy Families? a. End families’ dependence on government benefits by promoting job preparation and work b. Encourage formation and maintenance of two-parent families c. Prevent and reduce the incidence of out-of-wedlock pregnancies d. Reduce poverty to below the pre-1996 level Answer: D 16. To determine eligibility for public housing assistance, the Department of Housing and Urban Development relies on: a. Relative poverty measures b. Absolute incomes below the federal poverty line c. The aggregate need for housing in the specific area d. Eligibility for other means-tested programs Answer: A 17. Which of the following measures might a strengths-based social worker use to evaluate the adequacy of public housing policies? a. Quality of subsidized housing units b. Wait times for receiving rental subsidies c. Family homelessness rates d. All the above Answer: D 18. Supplemental Security Income provides income assistance to: a. Low-income families with children b. Single mothers c. Poor people who are elderly, blind, or have disabilities d. People who live in states with very high costs of living Answer: C 19. General Assistance is: a. A federally funded program to provide income support for those who lost TANF due to sanction b. A term used to describe all the government’s means-tested programs c. Restricted to individuals with disabilities d. Funded entirely by the few states, counties, and localities that still administer it Answer: D

20. Which of the following is included in the calculation of income according to the poverty threshold? a. The value of SNAP assistance received by the household b. The family’s asset holdings c. Expenses for essential items like childcare, health care, and food d. Supplemental Security Income Answer: D 21. Universal Basic Income policies: a. Would move the poverty line b. Provide job training to ensure that all Americans could qualify for jobs paying more than minimum wage c. Provide a uniform benefit to all individuals, regardless of income d. Are means-tested, to lift even the poorest Americans up to the poverty threshold Answer: C 22. Children’s Savings Accounts are: a. Special accounts set up for children in foster care, so they have some money before they age out b. Sometimes called Child Development Accounts c. Savings accounts set up early, seeded with public or private dollars, and progressively matched, to help families save for their children’s futures d. Both B and C Answer: D 23. Which of the following factors likely contributed to the change in the Thrifty Food Plan in 2021? a. Congressional will to tackle food insecurity b. School closures that contributed to greater family food insecurity c. Desire to wean American diets off climate-intensive meat d. Scheduled adjustment to the measure Answer: B 24. The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, tasked with studying ways to reduce child poverty in the United States, concluded that: a. It is impossible to reduce child poverty, since children cannot work, which is the only way to exit poverty b. A mix of policies tied to work, modifications to safety net programs, and other innovations could make substantial inroads in reducing child poverty in the United States c. Congress should immediately institute a Universal Basic Income d. No other countries have policy options that could inform approaches in the United States Answer: B 25. How might a strengths-based social worker use the lessons of antipoverty policy in the pandemic to advocate for investment in a universal child allowance in the United States, as exists in many other countries?

The expansion of the Child Tax Credit (CTC) extended this credit to almost all families with children during 2021; this experiment provides some precedent for a nearly universal child allowance. Evaluation of the CTC found that it reduced child poverty without significantly reducing parent labor force participation. A social worker could make a claim for a universal child allowance by collecting and communicating data about child well-being outcomes during the CTC expansion, particularly compared to the difficult situations of many families in 2020. They could collaborate with families that received the

CTC to help policymakers understand the difference the benefits made in their families’ finances and well-being, and to provide insights about the level of benefits required to stabilize their families.

26. Discuss at least two limitations of the current calculation of federal poverty thresholds.

Federal poverty thresholds do not consider the value of noncash benefits, although these obviously affect available income; they do not adjust for cost of living in the area; they do not include the value of assets that buffer economic shocks (or liabilities, which make them more vulnerable); they do not account for the fact that costs of nonfood items have risen much more quickly than the cost of food.

27. Given broad acknowledgement of imperfections of the current federal poverty measure, what explains why it has not been replaced with a different measure?

It is difficult to secure agreement about how the poverty line should be altered, and there are significant costs—particularly in the loss of comparable data over time—to making a change. Few elected officials want to preside over what could look like a dramatic increase in poverty, due to changes in the measure.

However, while it is not a redrawing of the eligibility line, the recent adjustments to the Thrifty Food Plan underscore the importance and possibility of adjusting our measures so they more accurately reflect people’s actual budgets.

28. Universal programs are more efficient to administer and less stigmatizing for recipients. What, then, explains why the United States still provides many of its social welfare benefits through residual programs?

Universal programs are expensive, since access cannot be limited. Also, the ideology of “worthy” vs. “unworthy” poor contributes to a desire to limit access to social welfare, control who is eligible, and place constraints on program growth. Specific to programs like Universal Basic Income, the needs of powerful employers for workers willing to accept low wages influences policymakers to limit access to some income supports.

29. From a social work perspective, what are some of the concerns associated with increasing the retirement age within Social Security?

People of color, individuals in poverty, and other marginalized populations have lower life expectancies and greater incidence of disabilities as they age. If they are unable to continue working until they reach the new, older retirement age, they will be ineligible for benefits and could face considerable economic hardships in the interim years. There are also concerns about the wisdom of increasing Social Security’s solvency through reforms that would primarily fall on the shoulders of those already disadvantaged, while program features that advantage those already privileged—such as only taxing income to a certain level—remain in place. Additionally, social workers are concerned about the rise in ageism in the pandemic and then cautious about enacting policies that do not center the priorities of older adults themselves.

30. Name at least two ways women are disadvantaged within the Social Security system, as compared to men.

In Social Security, people receive no credits for time spent outside the formal labor market, caring for children, aging parents, or others in need, and women are far more likely to have their employment interrupted in these ways. Women also earn less throughout their working lives than men, making them eligible for less in Social Security benefits. And, while women’s labor force participation is changing,

they are still more likely to hold informal and temporary jobs that are not covered by OASDI (and, then, for which they receive no credits).

31. What are two types of housing assistance provided through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development?

Subsidized public housing and tenant-based housing assistance program/Section 8 32. Briefly evaluate the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) from the strengths perspective.

EITC is relatively nonstigmatizing, since all that is required to apply is to file one’s tax return. It provides cash, which maximizes client choice as to how to spend the benefit and can be received in a lump sum or a monthly disbursement, which also maximizes choice. By decreasing the impact of payroll taxes on low-income families, EITC makes Social Security and Medicare more progressive. However, because EITC is often received after households have incurred necessary expenses, it is less valuable than would be optimal; further, it is insufficient to equalize the distribution of tax expenditures, the bulk of which still flow to high-earning households. It is also inequitably unavailable to low-wage workers without dependent children, as well as to anyone who does not meet the requirements for earned income.

33. Describe at least three TANF reforms from a strengths perspective.

Work requirements should be adjusted so single parents receiving TANF have the option to care for their children on a full-time basis; benefits need to provide working parents access to high-quality childcare, transportation, and job training (without reducing the investment for direct cash assistance); higher education should count as a “work activity” to facilitate TANF recipients meeting their goals; recipients should receive services that support their health and safety, including mental health and substance use disorder treatment, help to flee domestic violence, and other needs; the entitlement should be restored so that women have a true safety net (or, at minimum, sanctions must avoid unduly penalizing people for longer benefit receipt or minor rule violations); women’s autonomy and right to determine how and if to form a family, and to have children, must be protected (by lifting family caps entirely). TANF policies that seek to prevent families from making choices about how to spend benefits and that unduly punish parents for failing to meet burdensome paperwork and administrative requirements should be eliminated. TANF benefits should be calibrated to more fully meet families’ need for income support; at minimum, benefits should bring families to the federal poverty line. Finally, the process by which TANF is implemented, evaluated, and reformed should center the experiences of TANF recipients, who know best the kinds of policy changes that would help their families.

34. Name one advantage and one disadvantage of incorporating assets more fully in our thinking about poverty, from a social work/strengths perspective.

Advantage: assets maximize individual choice; assets can help people control their own destinies—in the future as well as today; assets help people to survive shocks; asset inequality is even greater than income inequality, indicating a need for change; assets confer greater power than income replacement does.

Disadvantage: assets cannot replace income-based supports; asset focus could shift our attention away from structural barriers that sustain poverty; funneling money away from income-based programs into asset ones could result in overall increases in poverty.

Chapter 9: Policies and Programs for Children and Families

1. The attitude of U.S. social policy regarding child maltreatment can be characterized by: a. Care and concern for this most valuable resource, from the beginning of the nation b. A reluctance to infringe on parents’ rights to discipline their children c. Desire to let the federal government take control d. Little action until the mid-nineteenth century and few formalized structures until the 1960s Answer: D 2. ―Child maltreatment‖ includes: a. Neglect b. Physical abuse c. Sexual abuse d. Any of the above Answer: D 3. The most common type of child maltreatment reported is: a. Neglect b. Physical abuse c. Childhood sexual abuse d. Domestic violence against both spouses and children Answer: A 4. Which of the following is a true characterization of the juvenile justice system? a. The juvenile justice system parallels the adult criminal justice system, with the only difference being that the offenders are younger b. Juvenile offenders are becoming progressively more violent, which requires programs to adopt new intervention methods c. Despite declining levels of youth crime, public sentiment continues to insist on harsh treatment of juvenile offenders d. To address the failure of incarceration in reducing juvenile crime, more states have increased their emphasis on rehabilitation; fewer now process juveniles in adult justice systems Answer: D 5. How might a strengths-based social worker make a claim for an emphasis on rehabilitation within the juvenile justice system? a. Youths’ continued development and special needs, as well as our societal interests in social justice, compel supportive response b. Youth are incapable of making decisions for themselves c. If youth are incarcerated, they will definitely end up in prison as adults d. Youth offenders are mentally ill, so any punishment is inhumane Answer: A 6. a. b. c. d.

Which of the following best characterizes child maltreatment trends in the COVID-19 pandemic?

Without the stress of schools, child abuse nearly stopped As parents lost jobs, child maltreatment skyrocketed Reports of child maltreatment increased, but remote child welfare systems could not respond Reports fell, but it is as yet unclear whether that reflects lower incidence or simply disconnection from systems and mandated reporters Answer: D

7. Among the reasons that the Adoption Assistance and Child Welfare Act of 1980 is considered a particularly important piece of federal legislation is its: a. Emphasis on family preservation as a major goal of the child welfare system b. Granting of authority over the disposition of Native children to tribal entities c. Radical restructuring of the financing of child welfare activities d. Redefinition of the standards for abuse and neglect Answer: A 8. The main impetus for the Indian Child Welfare Act was: a. Discovery of mass graves on the grounds of former residential schools b. Disproportionate out-of-home placements for Native children and their implications for loss of Native sovereignty c. High costs for foster care for Native children d. Need for greater incentives to recruit more foster care families to take custody of Native children Answer: B 9. a. b. c.

The Family First Prevention Services Act: Raised the standard social workers must meet before removing children from their birth parents Provided more money for states to train social workers in antiracist child welfare practices Allowed states and tribes to utilize Title IV-E funds for prevention services that allow at-risk children to remain with their parents or other relatives d. Ended the practice of using foster parents other than kinship placements Answer: C 10. Today, threats to the Indian Child Welfare Act include: a. Allegations that it discriminates based on race b. Insufficient funds to support tribes’ implementation efforts c. Continued high levels of need for child welfare services in many Native communities d. All the above Answer: D 11. Which of the following is NOT a component of the Child Support Enforcement program? a. Augmenting child support collections up to the federal poverty line b. Establishing paternity and locating noncustodial parents c. Establishing child support obligations where they are not already in place d. Collecting child support directly for families Answer: A 12. As reauthorized in 2004, the Individuals with Disabilities Act of 1990 requires states to: a. Mainstream all students with disabilities into ―regular‖ classrooms b. Exempt all students with disabilities from the requirements of the No Child Left Behind legislation c. Meet children’s educational needs in the ―least restrictive environment‖ d. Standardize services provided to students with disabilities, across the states Answer: C 13. Federal funding for IDEA: a. Fell from its historically high levels during the COVID-19 pandemic b. Increased in the pandemic to compensate schools for the costs of remote technology c. Has never been an issue, since schools are governed locally

d. Has never been sufficient to fully implement the policy’s requirements Answer: D 14. The policy stance of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) on child welfare workers can be characterized as: a. Given the constant cost pressures of child welfare agencies, they should utilize para-professionals and other indigenous workers whenever possible b. Child welfare workers should always be of the same race and ethnicity of the children with whom they are working c. An undergraduate or graduate degree in social work should be required for the administration of public child welfare services d. They should be paid more than other social workers, since they do more difficult work Answer: C 15. Which of the following could be an example of trauma-informed agency policy? a. Requiring a client to explain their story to all workers, so that everyone understands what they have gone through b. Keeping lights low so the environment looks calm c. Disclosing workers’ own experiences with trauma, to create common ground d. None of the above Answer: D 16. What contributed to the declaration of a ―crisis‖ in children’s mental health? a. Greater awareness of the risks of depression and anxiety in young people b. Isolation and uncertainty of the pandemic c. Inadequate supply and disruption of pediatric mental health providers d. All the above Answer: D 17. Which of the following is an urgent social problem related to childcare? a. Inadequate supply of providers in rural areas b. Insufficient options for those with irregular work schedules/needs c. Unaffordability d. All the above Answer: D 18. What changed in the 1960s that attracted more attention to the problem of child abuse?

In the 1960s, the issue of child abuse was presented as a medical syndrome, with medical evidence underscored by the involvement of medical professionals. This elevated the issue and compelled greater institutional resources to address it. It also shaped how the problem was understood and the interventions prioritized to address it.

19. How would you analyze the effects of the Adoption and Safe Families Act from an intersectional perspective?

Some women face particular challenges in complying with the timelines imposed by ASFA, including those experiencing domestic violence, those struggling with addictions, and/or those incarcerated. These women may not be able to meet court requirements, particularly where they reflect gendered and/or

racially inequitable understandings about what “good parenting” entails. Additionally, parents of color may be more likely to come to the attention of child welfare agencies/workers, which may then endanger their parental rights. Differences in socioeconomic status and other dimensions may affect parents’ access to legal representation; in turn, this can influence their outcomes in child welfare proceedings.

Policies such as ASFA, while neutral on their face, should be carefully analyzed for these intersectional effects.

20. Describe at least two demographic changes related to the child population that will impact social policy for children.

The child population is more diverse than the overall U.S. population. The proportion of the population under age 18 has been decreasing even as the absolute size of the child population grows. These changes can contribute to intergenerational tensions and a contest for valuable resources. Due to family shifts, including the increased incidence of single-parent households, children have smaller kinship networks on which to rely, which puts more pressure on parents to meet children’s needs.

21. How do recent changes in juvenile justice policy illustrate the concept of ―policy windows of opportunity,‖ described in earlier chapters of the text?

The definition of the problem in juvenile justice shifted from one focused on perceived high rates of juvenile offense to an emphasis on ways the juvenile justice system is failing youth, families, and communities. At the same time, proposals for cost-efficient and demonstrably effective approaches to dealing with juvenile offenders emerged, which made the problem appear manageable, and champions emerged—including youth in the juvenile justice system themselves, as well as policymakers and service providers—who could make the case for reform. Claims could be advanced that centered both on values of opportunity and “second chances” for young people, as well as the potential for considerable cost savings. Even with coalitions between corporate and social justice advocates, however, it is unlikely that these changes could have been achieved without coincident decreases in the crime rate; this raises important questions about how to sustain these policies and continue to make progress on decarcerating youth, even as crime rates have increased in the pandemic.

22. What is one change a child welfare agency committed to antiracist practice might pursue?

Diversifying its workforce to more closely reflect the populations served; collecting and analyzing data disaggregated by race; engaging diverse communities in planning and evaluation of services; advocating for policies that advance racial justice in child welfare and in other policy sectors 23. From a strengths perspective, what policy changes would be most beneficial in preventing child maltreatment?     

Addressing addictions challenges to help parents achieve health and succeed in their goals to successfully care for their children Increasing time allowed for parents to resolve issues and regain custody Facilitating kinship caregiving, including informally Providing full complement of services to help parents meet their goals (including substance use disorder and mental health treatment) Reducing poverty, which is highly correlated with neglect



Strengthening the support systems in families’ environments that are critical to their success, such as churches, neighborhoods, and schools

24. You are a social work policy practitioner making an appeal to the state legislature for a policy that would increase funding for youth suicide prevention. What claims would you advance, in addition to your reliance on social work values?

There are effective and cost-efficient models for youth suicide prevention that can save lives. While the economic value of preventing a youth suicide is impossible to entirely quantify, we know that preventing the trauma of a suicide within a community has a tangible—and substantial—benefit. Even beyond preventing suicide, increasing awareness and reducing stigma about mental illness can increase adolescent health, which will pay dividends throughout people’s lives.

25. As a child welfare social worker, what would be two or three of your priorities for TANF reform?     

Increasing benefits to provide an adequate income level for all families, in order to prevent neglect Providing support to parents struggling with substance use disorders Providing high-quality early childcare and education to improve child well-being and prevent traumatic early experiences Eliminating the time limits so that children are never “kicked off” assistance Changing TANF’s goals to put emphasis on child well-being, as the measure of program “success”

Chapter 10: Health and Mental Health Policies and Programs 1. Which of the following accurately characterizes the U.S. health care system? a. The United States has historically rationed health care based on ability to pay b. Unlike countries with socialized medicine, the United States does not ration health care c. Health care is considered a human right d. No one in the United States has a guarantee of health care coverage Answer: B 2. The COVID-19 pandemic illustrated what about the U.S. health care system? a. Our prowess in scientific discovery, such as the rapid vaccine development b. Inequities in health outcomes, particularly by race c. Difficulties of health education and messaging, across ideological divides d. All the above Answer: D 3. The biggest difference between the health care system in the United States, compared to that of other nations, is that: a. The United States spends far less on health care than other countries b. Health outcomes in the U.S. are much better than in countries with socialized medicine c. We control costs through competition among private health care providers d. Many health outcomes compare poorly to peer nations’ outcomes, despite higher per capita costs Answer: D

4. In the United States, most people who are covered by health insurance receive it through: a. Medicaid b. Medicare c. Their state government d. Their employers Answer: D 5. In ―prospective payment systems‖: a. Health insurers reimburse health care providers for any expenditure for a covered individual b. Insurers only reimburse for items that were submitted in advance c. Insurers provide payments to health care providers up front, that the providers then use to cover costs d. Insurers determine in advance the average cost for a procedure and then set the amount they will reimburse Answer: D 6. a. b. c.

Which of the following is NOT a concern within managed care programs?

There is an inherent incentive for overservice Insurance companies prioritize cost savings over quality of care Patients have difficulty accessing specialists and providers outside of the network under contract with the managed care entity d. Increased bureaucracy limits providers’ authority and reduces costs savings Answer: A 7. The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 (―ACA‖) does NOT include: a. Requirements that insurance companies immediately stop denying coverage to children based on preexisting conditions b. Free preventive care for Medicare recipients c. Caps on out-of-pocket spending for health care d. Universal health coverage for all Americans Answer: D 8. The current status of the Affordable Care Act policy is best characterized as: a. Entirely intact, protected by popular uprising whenever Congress tries to change it b. Overturned by federal court rulings c. Bolstered by executive action in COVID-19 and affirmed in 2021 Supreme Court ruling d. Irrelevant, since health insurers have voluntarily made all the changes originally mandated Answer: C 9. Which of the following policy actions have contributed to widening differences in health care access by state, within the United States? a. State actions to expand (or not) Medicaid eligibility b. State abortion restrictions c. Differences in state health insurance exchanges d. All the above Answer: D 10. Medicaid is funded: a. Jointly, by the states and federal government b. By the Department of Health and Human Services c. Through employer contributions

d. Through a payroll tax on workers’ earnings Answer: A 11. How did President Biden leverage Medicaid in the COVID-19 pandemic? a. He did not, as it is an entitlement that cannot be changed b. He increased the federal share of costs to help state budgets c. He changed the rules to allow undocumented immigrants eligibility d. He required all states to provide abortion coverage through Medicaid Answer: B 12. During the COVID-19 pandemic, what happened with health insurance exchanges? a. Enrollment increased, facilitated by expanded periods and greater subsidies b. States took total control of the exchanges c. Legal immigrants gained full access to the exchanges d. A federal court ruled the exchanges are invalid after the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act removed the penalty for not having insurance Answer: A 13. The single largest funding source for nursing facility care for older adults is: a. Private long-term care insurance b. Medicare c. Medicaid d. CHIP Answer: C 14. Which of the following is NOT a valid critique of the Medicaid program? a. It fails to cover many people in poverty, despite a goal to provide that coverage b. It is stigmatizing to those who receive it c. Low reimbursement rates make it difficult for recipients to find health care providers d. It pays providers more than they make from other sources, creating an incentive to serve only Medicaid recipients Answer: D 15. Despite being a national program with significant federal funding, states retain considerable control over Medicaid policy, including which of the following? a. Whether or not to cover Supplemental Security Income recipients b. The rate of payment for services c. Whether or not to cover children under age six with incomes greater than poverty but less than 133 percent of the federal poverty level d. Whether or not to cover nursing home care for eligible recipients Answer: B 16. The federal matching rate for Medicaid (nonexpansion populations): a. Is 50 percent b. Varies based on the size of the federal deficit c. Is based on a formula inversely related to the state’s per capita income d. Is 83 percent Answer: C

17. Which of the following was NOT a change to Medicaid enacted in PWORA? a. States given more latitude to expand Medicaid assistance to people in poverty b. Eligibility was separated from eligibility for means-tested income support programs c. Lawful Permanent Residents (immigrants) who arrived after August 22, 1996 are ineligible for their first 5 years of Lawful Permanent Residency d. Illegal immigrants were barred from Medicaid for the first time Answer: D 18. Which of the following best describes eligibility criteria for Medicare? a. Any American older than age 65 is eligible b. Only people older than age 65 are eligible, and only if they have worked at least 40 credits c. Various populations are eligible, including those 65 years and older with 10 years of eligible employment, younger persons on SSDI for at least 2 years, and persons with specific disabling conditions d. At any age, individuals are only eligible for Medicare after they have developed a disability Answer: C 19. Medicare covers: a. Only some of recipients’ health care expenses, leaving recipients responsible for considerable out-of-pocket expenses b. Inpatient hospital care only c. Doctors’ visits and hospitalization, but not any prescription medication d. All health care costs for eligible beneficiaries Answer: A 20. The Medicare ―donut hole‖: a. Provides subsidies to encourage healthy eating by Medicare beneficiaries b. Refers to gaps in prescription drug coverage in Medicare c. Was closed in 2020 d. Both B and C Answer: D 21. Adults over age 18 who have been diagnosed with a major mental illness that results in functional impairment and substantially limits their ability to perform activities of daily living are designated as having: a. A personality disorder b. A need for institutional mental health treatment c. A serious mental illness d. A developmental disability Answer: C 22. Deinstitutionalization refers to: a. Efforts to make mental health institutions more ―homelike‖ b. The policy of providing community-based services for people with disabilities who were formerly served in institutions c. Strategies to include mental health consumers in agency policymaking d. Organizational development from a strengths perspective Answer: B 23. The Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP):

a. Provides universal health coverage for all Americans under age 18 b. Provides access to health care for immigrant children not eligible for Medicaid c. Is a federal block grant to states, to offer health insurance for children up to age 19 who are not already insured d. Is entirely state-funded, so only children in certain states benefit Answer: C 24. ―Co-occurring conditions‖ refer to: a. Individuals who are dually eligible for both Medicaid and Medicare b. Individuals with physical and mental illnesses c. Individuals who are elderly and have a mental illness d. Individuals who meet the criteria for mental disorders and substance use disorder Answer: D 25. Medicaid is a: a. Block grant b. Public-private partnership c. Entitlement program d. Pilot program Answer: C 26. ―Mental health parity‖ refers to: a. Simultaneously treating physical and mental diseases b. Addressing co-occurring disorders c. Providing equal insurance coverage for mental health care as for physical health care d. Standardizing mental health treatment across the country Answer: C 27. Which health condition increased most significantly during the COVID-19 pandemic? a. Breast cancer b. Anxiety c. Schizophrenia d. Asthma Answer: B 28. The legislation that provides that workers must be able to continue purchasing their health insurance if they lose their jobs or change jobs is called: a. Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act b. Retrospective payment approach c. Hill–Burton Act d. Title XIX Answer: A 29. In the current political environment, which of the following is NOT commonly considered as an option for containing the costs of Medicare: a. Limiting covered services b. Raising the age of eligibility c. Shifting costs to older adults d. Eliminating the involvement of private managed care companies

Answer: D 30. NASW’s recommendation for health care reform can best be characterized as: a. A piecemeal approach that expands Medicaid and encourages medical savings accounts b. Sanctions for companies that fail to offer employer-based health insurance c. Universal health care d. State-run health care pilot programs, funded with federal block grants Answer: C 31. Name at least one reason why health care costs in the United States are very difficult to control.

It is impossible to predict how much health care an individual will need; private providers deliver services with great variation in costs and efficiency; new medical technologies are unpredictable and often expensive; new medications are often very expensive and difficult to contain; emergent threats such as pandemics can dramatically increase the need for health care spending 32. How did Medicare contribute to the movement for racial justice in the United States?

Medicare regulations required that hospitals applying for Medicare certification prove that they were not engaged in racial discrimination. The desire to receive Medicare funds was strong enough to push hospitals to integrate. This demonstrates the power that central government action has to right localized wrongs.

33. What are two or three policy lessons social workers should take from the COVID-19 pandemic, to prepare in advance of the next global health crisis?

Health care alone cannot guarantee health outcomes; we must also attend to social determinants that influence health, such as housing conditions, occupational stresses, and health literacy. Health communication and leadership—and the public trust they can engender—are essential in influencing people to take action to protect their health and that of others. The public health system needs investment, even though it is largely invisible except during crises. Our collective health is connected to global health, so our health care resources should be shared beyond our borders, both to improve others’ outcomes and to prevent new threats from arriving here.

34. What are some of the concerns related to Medicaid recipients in managed care plans?   

Managed care plans seldom have much experience of dealing with high-risk clients.

Clients may have difficulty obtaining the information they need to choose their plans wisely or may not have good options in their areas.

Managed care plans contribute to the problems with low reimbursement rates, which reduce recipients’ access to medical care and can even lead providers to leave a given service area.

35. Name at least two barriers to adequate and appropriate mental health care for people of color. How would you reform policy to overcome these barriers? 

Barrier: large uninsured populations; Reform: universal health care and/or expanded eligibility for existing public health insurance

  

Barrier: treatment not tailored to people’s cultures or committed to antiracism; Reform: recruit and train more mental health care providers from these communities; provide increased training for all mental health care providers Barrier: lack of research specific to disadvantaged populations; Reform: increase investment in these research priorities and facilitate research leadership by those who come from these communities Barrier: lack of mental health services in isolated areas; Reform: loan forgiveness for targeted professionals and increased reimbursement rate in certain communities; regulations to facilitate telehealth options where desired/appropriate

36. How might a strengths-based social worker make the case for making regulations that allowed telehealth reimbursement during the pandemic permanent, following the end of the health emergency?

Arguments: Telehealth services have been proven effective and cost-efficient for some populations and some conditions; even where they may not be as desirable as in-person health care, they should be a part of the range of options provided, particularly to those in historically underserved regions. We now have evidence that telehealth can be leveraged to reduce barriers to care, facilitate monitoring of chronic conditions, and improve health outcomes in some cases. These services should be among the options available to consumers. Claimsmaking strategies: Collaborate with experienced telehealth providers; provide data that document outcomes and cost comparisons; demonstrate the telehealth experience for policymakers 37. What is an example of an unintended consequence of the policy of deinstitutionalization of those with mental illnesses?

Inadequate resources for housing and supportive services have resulted in an increase in the homeless population with mental illnesses. Some have then been reinstitutionalized in prisons or long-term care facilities because they lack other options. In other cases, families have been pressured to provide care beyond their means.

Chapter 11: Policies and Programs for Older Adults 1. Pension plans that pay a specific amount every month if the retired person worked the required number of years are called: a. Defined contribution plans b. Social insurance programs c. Public assistance d. Defined benefit plans Answer: D 2. Among services for older adults, Medicaid covers: a. Personal care services, but only within long-term care institutions b. Only medical services c. Home and community-based services, but subject to state variations in eligibility and offerings d. Nursing home stays, but only up to 90 days Answer: C 3. Demographics in the United States are generally characterized by: a. Growing population of older adults and steadily declining child population

b. Declining population of older adults c. Growing racial and ethnic diversity among younger people and older adults, although the youth population is more pluralistic d. Declining female population at all age groups Answer: C 4. a. b. c. d.

D

Compared to the poverty threshold for younger adults, the poverty threshold for those over age 65 is: Higher; you can make more money as an older adult and still be considered ―poor‖ The same The same in high-cost states and lower in low-cost states Lower; you can make more money as a younger adult and still be considered poor

5. Which of the following was NOT part of the Older Americans Act? a. Creation of an employment program for older adults b. The creation of Medicare c. Grants to local communities for multipurpose senior centers d. Establishment of local Area Agencies on Aging Answer: B 6. Programs funded through the Older Americans Act are: a. Entitlements b. Funded by payroll taxes, similarly to Social Security c. Capped; when money runs out, eligible applicants are denied services d. Financed through a cost-sharing formula between the states and federal government Answer: C 7. The ―sandwich generation‖ refers to: a. Baby Boomers b. Family caregivers simultaneously caring for young children and aging parents c. Working mothers balancing a family and a career d. Two-earner families Answer: B 8. Which of the following most accurately characterizes the fiscal strains facing entitlement programs? a. Solvency of both Medicare and Social Security can be ensured into the future with careful and timely reforms b. Social Security is in a crisis; it will run out of money in the next couple of years c. Neither program has serious fiscal problems; the crisis has been invented for political purposes d. Social Security should be privatized to ensure solvency Answer: A 9. Addressing social policy for older adults requires: a. Deciding whether support for older adults or children is more important b. Strengthening Area Agencies On Aging, since they are the only entities equipped to deal with the changing demographics c. Supporting the intergenerational compact and interdependence d. Eliminating the use of terms like ―older adult,‖ since they really have no meaning in today’s dynamic society

Answer: C 10. Among older adults, labor force participation: a. Is almost nonexistent; older people are happy to be retired b. Is higher than ever, as older people fill labor shortages c. Is lower than prepandemic d. Is a social problem, since older people should not have to work Answer: C 11. Which of the following is an accurate and strengths-based message about social policy for aging populations? a. ―Aging Baby Boomers are going to bankrupt our society if we don’t do something!‖ b. ―Older adults have contributed a lot to our society. Now that they are old and incapable of taking care of themselves, we owe them our support.‖ c. ―Children are our future.‖ d. ―Policies that support healthy and engaged aging are good for everyone in society, and policies that support people throughout the lifespan help older adults, too.‖ Answer: D 12. Depression in older adults is best understood as: a. A mental health concern b. An inevitable part of aging, since older people suffer so many losses c. The result of pervasive ageism d. Unfortunate but impossible to treat successfully Answer: A 13. Hospice care is: a. Medical care provided in a hospital setting b. End-of-life care that focuses on alleviation of pain c. Another term for euthanasia d. Care provided by health care providers other than medical doctors Answer: B 14. The shifting of risks related to retirement financing, from public responsibility to individuals, is seen by many social workers as: a. A great idea, if only people would take retirement saving seriously b. Unfortunate but necessary, since the United States can’t afford social insurance anymore c. Inadequate and inequitable d. A big improvement, because now people are planning for their futures Answer: C 15. Comparisons of public spending on children and older adults must: a. Be avoided, because they are meaningless b. Include not only federal but also state and local spending, and calculate spending per capita c. Consider differences in the cohorts included in each group d. Both B and C Answer: D 16. American public opinion about OASDI largely holds that:

a. Social insurance is an outdated and unaffordable policy idea b. Americans of all ages support social insurance and prioritize reforms to strengthen its future c. Privatization is a better way to handle Social Security d. Older people support social security, but young people think it is a myth Answer: B 17. Name at least three political, economic, and social factors that came together to make passage of OASDI possible. What does this suggest for needed social reforms today?   

Other nations were creating pension programs for older adults There was growing public support for the idea of retirement The Great Depression made it hard for families to care for their older relatives, many of whom had lost all their resources  The Great Depression created surplus labor and a desire to move older adults out of paid employment to create opportunities for younger workers  The grassroots Townsend Movement mobilized older adults to press politicians for pension support Demographic and labor market changes today create an opportunity to push for greater public support for those whose careers are changing and who face retirement without an adequate employer-based safety net. We can look to examples in other nations as to how to deal with these labor market realignments, particularly in the context of changes to the family structure in the United States. Further, the pandemic underscored the risks people face and the need for structures that can help people navigate uncertainty. What we’re lacking is a strong enough social movement to push these forces onto the agenda and bring about the needed reforms. Greater support for economic security investments during the pandemic may help to catalyze such momentum, but continued and increased ageism present substantial hurdles for advocates.

18. With what you know about demographics, wages, and Social Security, why are women the majority of SSI beneficiaries?

Women have longer life expectancies than men, making them overrepresented among the older adult population. They earn less than men throughout their lives, which reduces their Social Security benefits and capacity to independently prepare financially for retirement, and Social Security policy is also biased against single and low-wage women compared to those with male partners. These dynamics are rooted in structural discrimination and the realities of sexism, particularly combined with racism and ageism; all speak to the need for structural reforms, as well.

19. There are economic and person-centered rationales for the expansion of Home- and Community-Based Services within Medicaid. Explain each of these: Economic: HCBS services are usually less expensive than institutional care. Providing HCBS is often an effective prevention of later institutionalization.

Person-Centered: People prefer to receive services in their homes if possible, yet they often lack the resources to do so. This is an example where the policies preferred by the target population are also those with the greatest cost-efficiency. Leveraged effectively, this should open valuable windows of political opportunity. There are particular claims to make here in the pandemic context, as older adults and their families look for alternatives to institutional care.

20. Describe at least two policies that would have to develop for the United States to pursue a policy of ―aging well.‖ Student responses should include the domains of social engagement, economic security, and health.  Address disparities in service delivery, especially to underserved rural communities and for communities of color and those in ethnic minority groups  Develop income support policies that take into account older adults’ actual expenses  Design communities, including with housing modifications and policies that provide housing options to people as they age, so that people can age in place if they prefer  Ensure that delivery systems facilitate community-based services  Develop public transportation policy that facilitates access to employment, services, and social integration opportunities  Constrain out-of-pocket health care expenditures  Guarantee health care that promotes prevention of illness and injury 21. What changes in policy that impact younger Americans would have a positive impact on the well-being of older adults? Name at least three connections in these policy arenas.

Policies that impact people living in poverty at any age will improve their well-being in later life. So, decreasing the wage gap for men and women, increasing incomes for people of color, equalizing educational opportunities, providing universal health care, enhancing environmental justice, supporting asset accumulation among low-income households, providing job training and assistance, and other strategies that improve the life chances of younger Americans will translate into gains for them as they age. These connections illustrate the extent to which positive outcomes for children and young people translate to improved outcomes for older adults, as well. Many policy interventions have effects that cross demographic boundaries, such as climate mitigation and pandemic preparedness, which promise dividends for both young and old.

22. Suggest two policy strategies for addressing insolvency of OASDI without unduly harming vulnerable beneficiaries.    

Raising taxes on retirement income for high-income older adults Requiring payroll taxes on all earned income (above the current cap) Raising payroll taxes on high-earning individuals (the rate) Encouraging older adults to continue working when possible

23. Briefly explain the importance of the concept of ―interdependence‖ for strengths-based policy development for older adults.

Strengths-based social workers need to promote the idea of interdependence, rather than independence, as strength. Older adults’ capacities to contribute reciprocally to their communities and to the lives of others should be emphasized, and we should construct a concept of interdependence that allows for selfdetermination. While older adults may not be able to do everything for themselves, neither are many other people in our society, and defining strength as such isolated action is an unnecessarily narrow and limiting view. The COVID-19 pandemic presents an opportunity to highlight the interdependence of all populations and communities, as a threat to the health of one resulted in tangible and even lethal threats to others’ well-being.

24. You are a social work policy practitioner who has been asked to provide recommendations to the state departments of Children and Families, Transportation, Housing, and Employment regarding how to modify their policies and practices to support the concept of healthy aging. Make one recommendation for each department from a strengths-based perspective.

Children and Families: invest in health care to create healthier populations throughout the lifespan; create opportunities for young people to interact with older adults; increase resources for grandparents raising grandchildren Transportation: invest in public transportation options, modify road signs to increase visibility Housing: provide grants to help older adult homeowners modify their houses to meet mobility restrictions; provide intergenerational housing options for low-income older adults raising grandchildren Employment: encourage the development of job-sharing and part-time options; provide retraining for older adults seeking to change careers; vigorously enforce age-related antidiscrimination policies Chapter 12: The Future 1. When considering forecasts, it is important to remember that: a. They are useless, because they are based on assumptions b. They can become self-fulfilling prophecies c. They should be taken as fact, because they’re all we have d. They will come true, unless dramatic, unforeseen changes intervene Answer: B 2. Which of the following is NOT a significant factor in U.S. population trends today? a. Net immigration b. Fertility rates of a larger foreign-born population c. Higher teen pregnancy rates d. Increases in life expectancy, facilitated by medical and technological advances Answer: C 3. In the coming years, the U.S. population is projected to: a. Rapidly decline b. Increase slowly in absolute terms, then plateau c. Rebound after the pandemic ends d. Continue to grow steadily Answer: B In the context of forecasting, what does ―social mobilization‖ mean?

The movement of people to other parts of the country The increasing popularity of social media Efforts to prepare people for the future and get them to take action The increased mobility of people in the future, which fragments families and increases the need for social work services Answer: C 4. a. b. c. d.

5. A population projection is: a. An estimate of the number of people expected to be in a given group in a specific year b. A ―trend’—something that is expected to be popular in the general population in the future

c. A tool used by marketing professionals to judge the popularity of a product today d. A psychological process whereby people compare themselves to others in the population Answer: A 6. Net migration refers to: a. The number of people migrating to the United States from specific target regions of the world b. The number of people migrating to ―high receiving‖ areas in the United States c. Births minus deaths d. The balance of people entering and leaving a population Answer: D 7. Which of the following is an example of a policy that creates a disproportionate impact of environmental degradation on a low-income population? a. Requiring people to pay extra fees if they do not recycle b. Only publishing climate science in peer-reviewed journals c. Locating a polluting factory in a disproportionately low-income neighborhood populated by people of color d. Funding environmental programs through regressive sales taxes Answer: C 8. a. b. c. d.

How are social workers to understand our professional obligations regarding climate change?

Our ethical obligation to work for environmental justice demands action to address climate change Social workers are not scientists; therefore, we can’t be expected to understand climate effects Social workers’ actions regarding climate change depend on our personal beliefs Climate change is only an issue for social workers in areas of the world or the country particularly affected by rising sea levels and/or temperatures Answer: A 9. To evaluate the likely accuracy of an advocacy group’s forecasts, a social worker would want to know: a. The extent to which surprise events have been considered b. The group’s purpose in making the forecast c. The credibility of source information on which the forecast is based d. All the above Answer: D 10. An example of a strengths-based use of forecasting is: a. Using the size of the 65+ population to predict long-term care costs b. Using growth in diverse populations to predict need for increased recruitment of diverse social work professionals c. Using rates of disability to predict health care strains d. Using rates of immigration to predict cultural collisions in communities Answer: B 11. How should strengths-based social workers think about increasing occupational automation? a. Robots will help deal with our labor shortage b. Automation will encourage people to get more education and increase their human capital c. Humans’ needs and goals should be incorporated into the development of rules regarding artificial intelligence and other automation d. NASW should prioritize ensuring automation does not compete with social workers’ jobs Answer: C

12. Which types of jobs are likely to see increased automation in the coming years? a. Manufacturing b. Transportation c. Data management d. All the above Answer: D 13. You are a social work practitioner working to plan a teen pregnancy prevention program for the next 10 years. What are some areas of future forecasting that you would want to consider in these plans?

Size of the adolescent population, composition of the adolescent population (gender and race/ethnicity), advances in birth control and access to medical care, predicted changes in family status, changes in education policy and delivery, changes in poverty and unemployment rates (since connected to pregnancy rates), changes in policy around reproductive rights 14. Which of the future trends discussed in the text could have the effect of increasing the status of the social work profession?

Aging of the population, because of the role of social work in providing services to some older adults; increasing diversity, if social work is able to diversify and demonstrate competency in working with diverse populations; growing population of children, because of the profession’s emphasis on child welfare; increasing salience of environmental issues, given the profession’s emphasis on environmental context in determining individuals’ outcomes; resistance of socially/emotionally focused occupations to the automation expected throughout much of the economy.

15. What are some of the risks in technological advancement, against which social workers should guard?

Describe at least one.

Compromise of privacy and confidentiality, especially as hackers gain access to unauthorized information; increasing intrusion into people’s privacy, including regarding reproductive choices; increasing blurring of work/life boundaries with rise of remote arrangements; use of algorithms to determine eligibility and govern interactions; growing mistrust of institutions, particularly with the rise of altered “news”; the digital divide, as low-income people lack equitable access to computers and related information.

16. How might strengths-based social work policy practitioners view the rise in automation?

Increasing automation presents both challenges and opportunities for individuals. The nature of work will change, as more job functions are automated; without careful attention to the distribution of gains and losses associated with these shifts, increased inequality is the likely result. Individuals’ capacity to grow and adapt, with necessary policy and institutional supports, should be emphasized, as should the need for a safety net that helps people navigate the new landscape. New technology should be considered neither a certain “good” nor an insurmountable threat.

17. How can a social worker engage in the climate crisis without abandoning a commitment to strengths?

The natural environment itself is the source of tremendous strength, as are the connections people have to the world around them (and the emotions these connections engender). Strengths-based social

workers can emphasize the resources that could be damaged or lost to rising temperatures, the potential of human will and ingenuity to surmount these considerable obstacles, and the promise of collective action to construct a more sustainable future. There are also inspiring examples of activism and innovation in the face of climate threats, and strengths-based social workers can use these to overcome hopelessness and catalyze resilience.

18. Describe at least two recommended future policy changes in the area of work and retirement.    

Creating a safety net independent of a single employer Improving the employment position of those currently disadvantaged Helping workers to transition between jobs and industries Providing alternatives to full-time work for those at or near retirement

19. What are two or three social work skills that would make a social worker an excellent elected official?

Social workers are great listeners. We are solution-focused, inclusive, and committed to positive outcomes. We collaborate and strategize, and we have a vision and values that emphasize justice, service, integrity, and competence.

20. Since participation in electoral politics is essential to build a vision of the future consistent with social work values, name at least three steps you can take to become more active in the electoral process.         

Register to vote Register clients and friends to vote Integrate voter education and engagement into agency procedures Connect client and agency concerns to electoral outcomes Give money to PACE-supported candidates Consider running for office yourself Volunteer for candidates who support social work priorities Take people to vote who lack transportation Advocate for voting rights protections

Midterm Examination Questions Test Key (Choose five; instructors could also select some of the items from the chapters, if not used previously.

Instructors will want to modify the allowable answers based on program level, material covered in class, and the instructor’s own preferences. These answers are not typically found in one place in the text but assume some synthesis of text content.)

1. Discuss how you would approach the issue of juvenile crime from a problem-centered vs. a strengths-based approach.

A problem-centered approach would focus on the criminality itself and the presumed pathology of those youth engaged in criminal activity. Youth criminal activity would be attributed largely to individual deficits—attributes of the youth and their families that make them particularly prone to engage—and the framing and definition of criminality would itself be accepted with little critical interrogation. To the extent to which environmental context is considered, a problem-centered analysis would largely locate

the causes of these problems in the lack of resources in the environments in which many youth grow up.

Goals would be developed to use policy to increase penalties for youth criminal activity—including, potentially, to attempt to predict a youth’s likelihood of engaging and take preemptive control measures.

This process would likely be led by police, “experts” in working with youth, and perhaps school personnel. A strengths-based approach, in contrast, would start with youth who have been part of the juvenile justice system, as well as those who have not committed crimes, to determine their needs and goals. It would highlight the capacities and resilience of youth today and elevate promising approaches that help them meet their goals. Advocates would base claimsmaking on the youths’ inherent rights to safety, opportunity, community, and justice. The process would involve the youth as central actors and incorporate the perspectives/goals of their families (however they are defined), community institutions, and other supports. The policies flowing from this process would seek to realize the youths’ goals while reducing criminality and increasing academic achievement and employment opportunities.

2. How has the history of income support for low-income people, both in the United States and in precolonial England, affected current programs? In what ways did these historical experiences influence the debate over TANF? Income support policies in the United States have, since their conception in Europe, incorporated the ideas of the distinction between the “worthy” and “unworthy” poor, an emphasis on work effort by those able to work, and the idea of least eligibility—that someone receiving public assistance should earn less than the lowest paid worker. These values are seen today in the differences in benefits between OASDI and TANF, for example; in the emphasis on work activity in TANF; and in the low value of benefits in means-tested programs. Many of these values were heightened and/or reemphasized in the debate over TANF. For example, the concept of local responsibility can be seen in the exclusion of Lawful Permanent Residents for their first five years as LPRs. More broadly, our social policies have, for the most part, followed a residual approach that only seeks to compensate for the most egregious of market failures, while the retrenchment of the past few decades has increased the demands on private resources, including families and faith-based organizations, to provide assistance.

3. How should social policy account for the risks associated with climate change, both to plan for more resilience and to underscore the need for decisive climate action? Identify a consideration in at least two of these areas: homelessness, mental health, aging, and services for people with disabilities Homelessness: People experiencing homelessness are more exposed to the health threats of extreme heat; housing prices will likely rise as more (coastal) land becomes uninhabitable; transportation options that could reduce carbon dependence would also facilitate mobility by those who are homeless Mental Health: rising temperatures are associated with increased rates of mental distress, including anxiety and depression; climate grief can be clinically debilitating Aging: older adults are vulnerable in natural disasters and particularly at risk in extreme heat; older people with fixed incomes may be particularly unable to make climate mitigation investments and/or relocate to escape climate impacts Services for people with disabilities: communities need to have specific policies to ensure safety for people with disabilities in natural disasters; efforts to reduce plastic and other waste should not compromise self-determination and options for those with disabilities (as with bans on plastic straws) 4. Discuss the debate over Affirmative Action, paying particular attention to its costs and benefits, and its analysis from the perspective of social work values. What are alternative ways to achieve racial equity in the United States, and how do their costs and benefits compare?

Affirmative Action has demonstrated its effectiveness in increasing access to employment and higher education for women and people of color. Its benefits are in the form of preferred status and/or removal of discrimination, and it also offers considerable benefits to society, in the form of more representation of talented people who would otherwise be restricted from positions of power. While some have allocated its costs primarily to those who have enjoyed significant privilege throughout our nation’s history, a fuller accounting of the losses of structural racism reveals ways we all benefit when a broader population has access to equitable opportunities. Some argue that Affirmative Action is an inefficient tool, since it awards benefits to those who may not have directly experienced the social problem, but this requires suspending belief in the pervasiveness of structural discrimination in the United States, a belief that social work values uphold. Social work values almost assuredly conclude that Affirmative Action (in some form) is a necessary mechanism for advancing social justice for marginalized groups, a core requirement of our profession. Alternative approaches include equalizing educational opportunities, increasing enforcement of antidiscrimination laws, and even exploring reparations for the practices of slavery, forced deportation, and Native American relocation and land theft. In the case of the former strategies, these are valuable complements, not replacements, for Affirmative Action; in the case of the latter, it would be even more vulnerable to charges of inefficiency than Affirmative Action but nonetheless warrants serious consideration by advocates of racial justice.

5. Recall the Maintenance of Capitalism Hypothesis in Chapter 4, which highlights the role of the welfare state in encouraging capitalism. How would a social worker who believed in this hypothesis look at the Affordable Care Act? Through this lens, what beliefs and values does the Act seem to reflect?

The Affordable Care Act primarily works through existing, largely employer-based health insurance plans, to expand access to health care, by imposing requirements to provide coverage to employees and imposing rules about what that coverage must entail. This perpetuates the linkage between employment and health care coverage, which can serve to keep workers tied to their jobs and allow employers to keep compensation relatively lower, because workers have few alternatives for health care. Through this lens, the ACA reflects the values of work as a legitimate basis for benefit eligibility and of market-based solutions as viable strategies for meeting human needs.

6. The sales tax system is considered regressive in that it requires poorer people to pay a higher proportion of their income in taxes. If you were charged with designing a sales tax system that reflected social work values, what changes might you make?

A sales tax system that reflects social work values would need to carefully consider the goods and services taxed and the purposes to which the sales tax revenues would be put. While any sales tax system would be regressive to some extent, sales taxes on nonessential items, such as “luxury” goods, rather than on essential items such as food would be more equitable than those that tax items low-income people need to survive. Further, a sales tax system that finances investments valuable to low-income populations would be potentially more progressive than one which finances benefits that primarily flow to those already advantaged, e.g., those in postsecondary education. Sales taxes that redistribute the costs of climate change could also have more progressive value, such as substantial taxes on carbonintensive, long-distance flights and/or large vehicles, both of which are disproportionately consumed by the wealthiest households.

7. In Chapter 4 we learned about institutional and residual approaches to social welfare. Imagine that you are tasked with designing a program to address food insecurity among older adults in your community. What would the difference be between designing a universal program and a selective program? What would be the advantages and disadvantages of each?

A universal program to reduce food insecurity would extend nutrition assistance to all older adults, while a selective program would target those who are experiencing hunger. As an example of the former, you could develop a free meal program available to all older adults and also provide food that people could take home with them for future meals, without any requirement of income or functional ability.

For the latter, you could provide supplemental nutrition assistance, in the form of additional cash grants or food supplies, to those older adults who are low-income, receiving SNAP, or experiencing the problem of hunger. The advantages of universal programs are that they are nonstigmatizing (it could even be appealing to older adults to gather for a meal), while selective programs are often more cost-efficient, as you are delivering the targeted investment only to those who are experiencing the social problem.

8. Discuss at least three opportunities and three concerns related to the increasing privatization of social services.

Opportunities:  creates opportunities for innovation  can sometimes bring solutions closer to those affected by the social problem, creating a space for empowerment  creates employment opportunities for social workers in community-based organizations contracted to provide government functions  can bring efficiencies which free up additional dollars for investment elsewhere Concerns:  often lacks due process and other protections  erosion of transparency and accountability  increased layers of administrative bureaucracy  possibility of “creaming,” which makes those with relatively greater problems more vulnerable 9. Describe two different causal theories of the social problem of poverty AND at least one policy approach that would flow from that understanding of the problem’s causation.

Poverty can be understood as stemming from lack of human capital on the part of individuals in poverty, which would lead to policy approaches that emphasize education and job training. An approach that places causation for poverty in the existence of the dual labor market would seek living wage ordinances, organize unions, and support more progressive taxation policies. Those who see poverty as an unavoidable consequence of a capitalist economy would prioritize structural reforms that reallocate political and economic power.

Final Examination Questions Test Key (Choose five; the instructor could also use some of the items from the midterm exam if not used previously) 1. Choose one of these areas of practice to identify a policy innovation that should emerge from the COVID19 pandemic: aging, children’s mental health, family economic support. {Specific answers will depend on the area of practice selected.} Aging service providers innovated greater use of virtual service delivery, including to connect with those aging at home and to facilitate interactions for those in LTC facilities. While most, if not all, service arenas employed increased use of

virtual technologies in the pandemic, the efficacy of doing so with older adults was less tested and should now be considered a best practice to reach those otherwise isolated or underserved. The pandemic underscored the importance of school systems and connection to institutional routines and supports in securing and advancing children’s mental well-being (as well as the limitations of using remote technologies to provide therapeutic services to young people). Future policy should universalize children’s mental health services, in recognition of the nearly universal risks young people face and the importance of taking a public health approach to meet these needs. In family economic support, policy demonstrations, such as with the expanded Child Tax Credit, showed how changes in timing and distribution of benefits can influence the impact of such benefits, and introducing ways of making it possible for parents to more selectively engage in paid work can improve child well-being.

2. The rights of transgender Americans are an increasingly urgent frontier in civil rights. What policy practice activities should strengths-based social workers pursue to ensure that their agencies advance the cause of transgender rights? Identify at least three.      

Ensure all agency documents use nonbinary language Normalize the use of pronoun designations by staff, Board, and clients Change intake forms to be inclusive of all gender expressions Create space for bathroom and other facility access without regard to gender Examine leave, benefit, and other family policies to ensure inclusiveness Take a public stand on policies affecting transgender individuals, as an agency

3. What policy lessons can we take from Social Security’s success in combating poverty among older adults, to apply to antipoverty policy with other populations?

Policy approaches that are universal achieve far greater coverage and, thus, are more effective in combating poverty. Universal benefits also enjoy greater political support, which can sustain them even when fiscal realities threaten their continuation (indeed, many believe that the CTC expansion failed to gain as much broad support as anticipated in part because of perceptions that it was not serving all eligible populations effectively or equitably). Universal policies are also more efficient to administer because they do not require extensive eligibility screening. Popular universal programs can effectively assist those who enjoy less political power (in the example of Social Security, those with disabilities and children) without sacrificing their overall support. To improve on Social Security’s experience, policy practitioners could look to increased progressivity of benefits and financing, efforts to eliminate gender bias, and provisions to protect during major demographic shifts.

4. What parallels do you see between the Civil Rights Movement for full participation and justice for Black Americans and today’s struggle for transgender rights? What are the limitations of these comparisons?

Black champions of civil rights in the mid-twentieth century used direct action to elevate their concerns to media consciousness and attract the attention of other Americans. So, too, have trans activists used social media to take their causes directly to a broader public, although there is evidence that social media is more fragmented than more traditional outlets were. The movement for Black civil rights leveraged alliances with coalition partners, including people of faith and young people of all races; trans activists have similarly allied with students and others who prioritize inclusion, as well as with entertainers and cultural elites. Court victories have secured advances in civil rights in both cases— school desegregation and sex discrimination protections, specifically. And both movements have relied on courageous “firsts” to pave the way, often at considerable risk (and cost) to themselves. There are

substantial differences in the support each has secured from faith institutions, certainly, as well as differences in the role that Congress has played in advancing policy aims, and of course the communications landscape and the tactics used are significantly different, but the overlaps underscore important common threads in struggles for human and civil rights, including the long timeline on which change unfolds, the centrality of appeals to core values, and the need for a combination of strategies, including protest, coalition-building, litigation, media advocacy, and regulatory influence.

5. What is the significance of the way in which poverty is measured? What are alternative ways of measuring poverty, and what are their advantages over the current indicator?

The fact that poverty is based on income, not assets, distorts the insecurity that stems from not having any secure asset base from which to plan for the future. This also obscures the tremendous differences between someone with a low income who owns their own home and someone with an equal income who is precariously housed, for example. Our poverty line’s exclusion of in-kind benefits prevents us from measuring the full impact of our efforts to address material deprivation and ignores the very real impact that programs such as SNAP have on people’s well-being and economic capacity (although the Supplemental Poverty Measure helps to counter that deficiency). Conversely, the poverty line fails to account for significant, rising, and non-negotiable expenses, such as childcare, health care, and jobrelated transportation costs, which, again, confuse our efforts to compare people in different situations and complicate any determination of a person’s actual available income. We could reform our poverty indicator by making these adjustments: including a measure of asset poverty, accounting for extraordinary expenses, and adding in the value of in-kind benefits; these modifications would give us a more valid measure of absolute poverty. Alternatively, we could rely more on relative measures of poverty, given that an individual’s actual well-being is likely more connected to their position within the immediate community than an absolute measure. This would have the impact of increasing poverty dramatically in some parts of the country—suburban areas, large metropolitan communities with some very high earners—and reducing it in others. This would, of course, also be a distortion, which would require the layering of absolute measures to gain the fullest understanding of what poverty looks like.

And, the poverty line should more accurately account for people’s actual needs, including in ways that incorporate the goals and priorities of people in poverty themselves, so that they “see” themselves and their experiences more completely in the official numbers. These measures are critical to facilitate design of effective antipoverty policies.

6. What would child welfare policy look like if it reflected a more holistic approach rather than narrowly focusing on addressing abuse and neglect?

Addressing child welfare holistically would require primary prevention efforts that aim to provide all families with the resources they need to care for their children. This would require reducing poverty, so that all families have the housing, nutrition, and other necessities their children need. It would also require the creation of a childcare infrastructure to not only facilitate parents’ work but also provide emergency/respite care, supportive services for new parents, and parent training/mentoring at all stages of a child’s development. In recognition of the inevitable crises that can befall a family, we need a rapid response system that can deliver housing, recovery, and mental health services when parents need them—not only after children have been exposed to trauma. Looking holistically at child welfare would also mean requiring that what happens outside the family—in school, in health care, in neighborhoods, in faith communities, and in mental health—supports children’s healthy and safe development.

Essentially, providing fully for child welfare means creating a healthy, fair, and prosperous society for all, a much larger mission than intervening retroactively in cases of suspected maltreatment.

7. Analyze the policy of child support enforcement from the strengths perspective.

Child support enforcement is strengths-based in that it provides additional resources to custodial parents, is based on a justice/rights orientation rather than a charitable one, and is provided (in most states) to anyone who requests support, without a means test. However, child support enforcement requires establishment of paternity, which may be against the wishes of some custodial mothers, and, where it is required as a condition of participation in means-tested benefits, can be disempowering and, even, in some cases, place mothers and their children in danger. It is particularly problematic when these efforts are required and then the money collected is used to reimburse the state for benefits, rather than solely to improve the child’s financial security. CSE is, then, an example of a policy which has some elements of the strengths perspective in its origins but needs modification to be strengths-based in its implementation.

8. Given that relatively few social work clients today are receiving TANF, why is the issue such an important one in social work literature? What is the significance of the welfare reform debate for all social workers and their clients?

We (the social work profession) have allied ourselves with those disadvantaged in society, and today Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) embodies many of the ways our policy systems fail to meet the needs and advance the goals of these individuals and families. Some of the most crucial values of social work—self-determination, service, and justice—are challenged by TANF policies such as strict time limits and work requirements, sanctions, racial inequities and pervasive inadequacies in benefit amounts, and barriers to access. In addition to the importance of TANF itself to the low-income families who depend on this sole remaining source of cash assistance for most of them, there are also ripple effects that give TANF outsized impact, as policies such as work requirements and exclusion of Lawful Permanent Residents are today found not only in TANF but in other programs. The history of TANF also provides a wealth of lessons for social work policy practitioners, including its origins as designed for a specific, “worthy” population, its evolution through demographic and social changes and concerted advocacy actions, and its ultimate dismantling as part of the retrenchment in our social contract. Finally, if social work turns its professional back on TANF and its recipients, it abdicates some of the distinctive character of the profession and a core part of our original identity as focused primarily on the poor.

9. How can social policy support ―aging well‖ without stigmatizing disability and dependence in later life?

We need to conceptualize “aging well” broadly, as including not absence of disease or disability but rather encompassing strong social support networks, interdependence among generations, and a sense of security and community. Policies which minimize the stigma associated with disability, such as universal design, vigorous enforcement of the Americans with Disabilities Act, and antidiscrimination legislation, will also help to disconnect “disability” from “dysfunction.” Policy and societal changes that shift the discourse about “self-sufficiency” or “productivity” to promoting community connections and mutual aid will also change the discussion about age as pathological and normalize shifts in type and amount of engagement at various points throughout the lifespan. Policies can support this more fluid understanding by, for example, creating opportunities for job sharing and phased retirement, promoting intergenerational transfers of capacity, and institutionalizing the supports that some older adults need in later life.

10. Discuss at least three implications of each of the following trends for social work as a profession: increasing population diversity, aging demographics, the existential threat of climate change.

Increasing diversity will require more recruitment and training of social workers representative of those diverse communities within society. All social workers will need to increase their training to work across lines of difference, including language and cultural barriers, and be prepared to practice alongside those who hold different identities. Social work policy practice must elevate disaggregated examination of racial impact and incorporate analysis of the intersectional implications of different policy responses.

The aging of the United States will require more social work commitment to aging, including not only long-term care but also concepts related to aging well. We need to recruit and educate more social workers headed to these fields and ensure that these professionals represent the diversity of the older adult population. In addition to social workers specializing in aging services, social workers in all practice arenas—health care, mental health, occupational social work, antipoverty—need a commitment to antiageist practice and authentic collaboration toward the aim of aging well, however clients define that. Finally, social work’s own ranks are aging, especially in social administration, and the profession needs to continually think about rejuvenating its professional base.

Social workers must be aware of our own impact, and that of our organizations, on the environment, taking steps to reduce our waste, curtail energy consumption, and promote efficiencies. This likely means reducing our air travel to only essential trips, divesting from fossil extraction, and moving away from resource-intensive food consumption. Sometimes, this will not be the least expensive route, which means that we need to budget for environmentally friendly practices. Also, social workers must be prepared to intervene effectively and rapidly in the event of climate-related emergencies, which will become more frequent in the coming years. And, finally, social workers need to work collaboratively with advocates for the environment to avoid unnecessarily pitting people against the planet.