Social Policy MIdterm

Social Welfare Policy & Services II 2019 Spring – SWPS II

Mid-Term Exam

• This is an exam: YOU MAY NOT WORK TOGETHER; however, you MAY use whatever lectures, videos, notes, books, websites, articles, etc. that you wish to use

• Make sure to ANSWER ALL parts of each question, DO NOT ANSWER what was NOT asked

• USE YOUR OWN WORDS! o That means DO NOT COPY AND PASTE directly from other sources

• You DO NOT have to cite any sources (for exams ONLY)

• Exam consists of 10 Questions = 100 points ; All answers are found within the lectures, videos, readings, etc. – the course material.

• There are no specific requirements for the length of your answers. In general, I would advise that good answers will be about one half to one full page in length. You want to focus on accuracy of your answers and making sure you have explained your answer. Please use 12-point font, normal margins and single spaced format.

• Completed exams are due back by no later than Monday, July 8th 11:59pm.

Please complete the exam on this document and return this document.

Please include your name and remember to sign the academic integrity statement.

NAME:____________________________________________

 

 

1. Explain the political, social, economic and organizational factors that influence policy formulation and implementation. Define the three key values associated with distributive justice.

2. Ideology and values play an integral part in the social welfare policy conversation. What is ideology? Why does it matter? What are the two main ideologies and political perspectives, according to Gilbert and Terrell? What are the five ideological and political perspectives, according to Blau and Abromovitz. Explain them.

3. A. Benefits can be provided in the form of vouchers, cash, or in-kind (goods or services). Where would you place these three types of benefits on the personal freedom to social control continuum? Explain your answer.

B. Provide examples (TWO for each) of social welfare policy benefits provided in vouchers, in cash, and in-kind.

4. Explain the difference between a residual and institutional view of the role of social welfare policy. Which view is preferred by those with an individual vs. collectivist perspective on social welfare policy provision?

5. A. Explain the difference between universal and means-tested social welfare programs. Provide an example of each type of policy.

B. Provide TWO arguments for means-tested programs and TWO arguments for universal programs.

6. David Ellwood (1988, in Poor Support, Chapter 2) describes three “helping conundrums” that are inherent in all social policies that aim to help the poor: (a) the security-work conundrum, (b) assistance-family structure conundrum, and the (c) targeting-isolation conundrum. (1) Explain what he means by a conundrum

 

 

generally. (2) Select ONE of these conundrums and explain what he means and why it is a conundrum.

7. A. The Official Poverty Line Measure (OPM) is calculated as the cost of a

thrifty food basket multiplied by 3. (1) What was the rationale for this calculation when it was originally created? (2) Why might this calculation no longer be a valid measure of a family’s needs?

B. The Official Poverty Measure (OPM) only includes cash income in its measures of a family’s resources. (1) Why is this a problem for understanding the effects of anti-poverty programs?

8. What are FOUR important immigration trends over the last 40 years? How have these changes contributed to increasing anti-immigrant sentiment among some in the US?

9. The budget proposals (fiscal year 2017-2018) from the House and Senate Republicans included converting several entitlement programs, such as Medicaid and SNAP (food stamps), to block grants to the states. What is the difference between these two types of funding? [Entitlements and Block grants]. What is one argument in favor of block grants? What is an argument against?

10. Social welfare policy is complicated, macro and often times uncomfortable for practitioners to relate to. But it is very clear that policy and practice are intertwined, connected, “married” and relevant to the social work field.

a. List two significant lessons learned from the course thus far. b. What do you understand differently about these two lessons/topics/facts? c. Have they influenced your practice or your interest in advocacy? How? d. Of the topic covered thus far in the course/syllabus which one would you be

interested in learning more about?

 

 

Academic Integrity Statement

On my honor, I have neither received nor given any unauthorized assistance on

this assignment.

Name:__________________________________________________

Date: ___________________________________________________