Respond by Day 5 to a colleague with a discussion of why the evaluation of policies is often controversial and political and how the values of evaluation conflict adhere to social work values. What policy advocacy skills can social workers use to ensure that appropriate evaluations are being conducted on policies?

DB1

Laura—

The values of evaluation conflict adhere to social work values.

The values of evaluation can conflict with social work ethics if the person uses their personal values. People will naturally judge policies by their own values. Social workers should review policies based on their social work ethics. The social workers personal values should not be used in the evaluation. People may attempt to evaluate polices based on their values and not on effectiveness. Policy should be judged on effectiveness and being beneficial. Policies should be based on research. Social workers use evidenced based research for best practice (Jansson, 2018, p. 501).

Practices to defend the feasibility of and effectiveness of evidence-based policy.

Social workers should be guided by the code of ethics. According to the National Association of Social Workers Code of Ethics (2017), “Social workers should uphold and advance the values, ethics, knowledge, and mission of the profession. Social workers should protect, enhance, and improve the integrity of the profession through appropriate study and research, active discussion, and responsible criticism of the profession”. 5.01B. Social workers should use professional values to evaluate policy.

References

Jansson, B. S. (2018). Becoming an effective policy advocate: From policy practice to social justice (8th ed.). Pacific Grove, CA: Brooks/Cole Cengage Learning Series.

www.socialworkers.org/About/Ethics/Code-of-Ethics/Code-of-Ethics-English.

DB 2

Tangela—

How do the values of evaluation conflict adhere to social work values?

If a social worker own personal values does not aligns with the values of evaluation, then there would likely be a conflict. According to the literature “Evidence-based policy and policy evaluation need not be reserved for technical experts. All of us can make important contributions, and we can use many kinds of arguments to support or oppose policies.” (Jansson, B. S. (2018). A social worker must advocate for change in policies and when implementing different policies. Its important to push for change regardless of different values within the social work field.

What practices would you use to defend the feasibility of and effectiveness of your evidence-based policy? Social workers have access to the NASW Code of Ethics to use as a guide. According to the code of Ethics” Federal policymakers play critical roles in promoting policies that help individuals, families, and communities to fulfill their potential and to lead healthy, productive lives. NASW has developed a policy agenda, which asserts the association’s advocacy priorities for the legislative cycle. NASW’s policy agenda is consistent with the NASW policies in Social Work Speaks, which is developed by members of the association at Delegate Assembly.” (NASW 2021). Defending a policy will always increase certain risks. It’s important for social workers to thoroughly research policies that they are in favor of.

Reference

Jansson, B. S. (2018). Becoming an effective policy advocate: From policy practice to social justice (8th ed.). Pacific Grove, CA: Brooks/Cole Cengage Learning Series.

• Chapter 14, “Assessing Policy: Toward Evidence-Based Policy During Task 8” (pp. 488-503)

National Association of Social Workers (NASW). (n.d.). NASW – National Associacion of Social Workers. Retrieved 2021, from https://www.socialworkers.org/About/Ethics/Code-of…