Who Makes Public Policy?

In Chapter 1 of the Simon Public Policy text, we see that in a governing entity (whether a government, for-profit, or non-profit organization), values are fundamental to the understanding public policy. Since Simon mainly focuses on the U.S. federal or state government as the principal actor in the making of public policy, we should note that the governing bodies of for-profit and non-profit organizations are influenced by the same ideas and practices. In other words, governance by any organization may serve to implement public policy. But, in these different governing bodies, who are the actors actually making public policy? Can we say it is people in a community, officials in program agencies, or governing officials? Can we envision a role for human services professionals? 

Drawing on Internet sources, identify one example of social change initiative promoting progress and one example of degeneration that can occur. Note in your discussion who the principal actors are in developing public policy in response to either progressive social change or degenerative social change.

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Community Assessment

For your first project assignment, you will be conducting a community assessment.

Begin by providing an overview of the community in which you live (large or small, urban or rural).  Then, complete the following:

1. Identify community demographics, including social, ethnic, and cultural diversity.
2. Use local papers and other media to identify and describe two social change concerns appropriate to the community.
3. Identify the main actors (different ones for each concern) who may be involved in participating in a policy development process to address the concerns. 
4. Identify the potential implementing actor (for-profit organization, non-profit, or government) or the combination of actors for each concern.
5. Draft a statement of public policy for each of the two social change concerns you have identified for the community, taking into consideration public policy elements. Refer to the resources in your Social Policy Toolbox for developing these statements.

Assignment Requirements

• Page Length: 3–5 double-spaced pages.
• Font and font size: Times New Roman, 12 point.
• Formatting: Present your paper in APA format. 
• Written communication: Written communication must reflect graduate-level writing skills and successfully convey the message.

Reference the resources provided in your Social Policy Toolbox as well as the assignment scoring guide to help you complete this assignment.

Submit your Community Assessment assignment in the assignment area.

Resources

• Community Assessment Scoring Guide.
• APA Style and Format.

 

Agenda Setting

Identifying a social change problem is the first task in policy development. Agenda setting is the next step. The agenda setting process is to establish one or more problems, and then consider several policy solutions to the identified problem.

Based on your reading of Simon’s Public Policy text, Chapter 5, discuss how the process works to transform a social change problem into a proposed policy solution. In particular, emphasize the following:

1. Explain how issues are framed.
2. Identify who might be the major policy actor, given Simon’s Chapter 5 examples (choose one).
3. Choose and discuss the policy theory most relevant to the issue framed.

Response Guidelines

 

Community Policy Proposals

You will be using the results of your Unit 3 Community Assessment assignment as the basis for this assignment. You have examined the social change and public policy environment of your home community by surveying the population demographics (taking into account gender, race, and sexual orientation, as well as varied nationalities and their social and economic status) and explored public sources of information in order to identify demands for social changes in businesses, non-profits, and government. These demands reflect the possible need for public policy development. 

• Draft and present two possible policy proposals that respond to the specific public demands you identified in your community in the previous assignment. 
  • These demands may apply to businesses, non-profit organizations, or government.
  • Utilize the document entitled, “Elements of a Standard Policy Statement,” which is located in your Social Policy Toolbox, to guide your development of these proposals.
  • Include a title for each proposal.
• Write a 750-word summary of your two possible policy proposals, emphasizing these elements:
  • State the proposed policy on which you have decided, with the following:
    • A descriptive title.
    • A statement of the public entity for which the policy is intended.
    • The beneficiaries of the policy.
    • The human service outcome for social change.
  • State which actors in the home community may play a constructive and active role to advance the policy process, and identify the actors or factors that may pose as obstacles to your proposed policy.
  • State the key discussion points raised by your peers in support of or in opposition to your proposed policy.
  • State your rationale for choosing the policy proposal.

Assignment Requirements

• Summary Length: 750 words.
• Font and font size: Times New Roman, 12 point.
• Formatting: Present your paper in APA format. 
• Written communication: Written communication must reflect graduate-level writing skills and successfully convey the message.

Reference the assignment scoring guide to help you complete this assignment.

Submit your Community Policy Proposals summary in the assignment area.

Resources

• Community Policy Proposals Scoring Guide.
• APA Style and Format.