Discussion post: Troubleshooting Policies

There are many factors that are starting points to policy implementation. This week you explore those factors. There are also many factors that lead to the failure of policy implementation. You will examine those factors as well. According to Jansson (2010), policy implementation is a “critically important part of policy advocacy because many meritorious policies are inadequately implemented” (6th ed., p. 485). Why might this be so?

This week, you are guided through the process of assessing policy advocacy strategies during the implementation phase, which is called troubleshooting. Troubleshooting is vital to ensuring a successful outcome for an implemented policy.

Learning Objectives

Students will:

• Analyze policy implementation challenges
• Analyze social workers’ ethical issues of policy implementation
• Apply policy implementation practices
• Analyze policy alternatives
• Analyze issues related to policy alternatives

Required Readings

SOCW 6361 Webliography
These websites will be required throughout the semester. Become familiar with these websites, especially when doing research for your assignments.

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 13, “Troubleshooting the Implementation of Policies in Task 7” (pp. 460-487)

Lane, S. R., & Humphreys, N. A. (2011). Social workers in politics: A national survey of social work candidates and elected officials. Journal of Policy Practice, 10(3), 225–244. doi:10.1080/15588742.2011.582809.
Note: Retrieved from Walden Library databases.

Optional Resources

MSW home page
Use this link to access the MSW home page, which provides resources for your social work program.

Discussion: Policy Implementation Challenges

Implementation never occurs in a vacuum.
—Bruce S. Jansson, Becoming an Effective Policy Advocate: From Policy Practice to Social Justice (8th ed.)

When a policy is launched, its success is dependent on a variety of stakeholders. As the politics of decision makers, executives, staff, clients, and social workers begin to influence the implementation process, their beliefs—and subsequent actions—determine the fate of the policy.

Often a social worker must step out of the comfort of his or her social service world and may find himself or herself making difficult decisions about ethical issues and/or may find himself or herself involved in implementing policies that he or she feels is against his or her social work values. How does a social worker handle the intricacies and challenges of policy implementation on both a personal and professional level?

In this Discussion, you explore policy implementation and the challenges faced by social workers during policy implementation.

By Day 3

Post your thoughts on whether social workers might try to undermine the implementation of specific policies. What ethical issues might they confront? Discuss how social workers can implement policies that they feel may be against their social work values. Discuss a specific policy’s impact that you would try to mitigate in the implementation phase. Provide an experience you have had with a policy you had difficulty implementing or a policy you are aware of that you would have serious qualms about implementing.