New Directions for Social Policy and Practice in Social Work: Integrating Science, Strategy, and Technology to Achieve Equal Opportunity, Equity, and Justice

Policy formulation and implementation are primary mechanisms for driving community-based programs and services. Methodologies and strategic planning are critical processes that not only underpin these mechanisms, but drive decision making and ensure efficient outcomes. Recent shifts in federal, state, and local policies have changed program criteria and funding formulas that have traditionally supported the work of researchers and practitioners. There is rising concern on how these shifts will adversely affect access to resources that support research and programs for vulnerable populations. This workshop will describe legislative priorities, and examine new strategies for integrating science, strategic planning and technology tools to create policies that address this shifting criteria; in addition, participants will understand how to use these tools to inform decision-making at the program level. This workshop will be led by two policy experts who have developed, managed, and implemented legislation, policies, programs and services at the White House Administration, congressional, state, and local levels of government. Their substantive areas of expertise include: public affairs, lobbying, criminal law, mental health, workforce development, poverty reduction, economic development, program evaluation, strategic planning, and building public\private partnerships.

The workshop will include a presentation, group discussion, and two problem-based group exercises. It will comprise three focus areas: 1) Legislative update: The participants will receive an overview of the legislative and funding priorities of the White House Administration and federal agencies. Trends in research and technology that support these priorities will also be discussed. They will also examine how federal priorities will correspond to opportunities at the state and local levels. 2) Science informing legislation: The participants will learn how to integrate the profession's empirical knowledge base into drafting legislation and formulating policies that will garner favorable support in the new policy environment. Methodological considerations for enhancing the context of legislation and policy will also be discussed. 3) Use technology-based strategic planning tools to drive policy development and decision-making: The participants will examine strategic planning tools and technology that will track and manage performance of federally-funded social programs. 4) Case studies: Participants will be divided into teams, and each team will receive a policy formulation case study and a strategic planning case study. In the first case study, the facilitators will help teams complete a draft policy by integrating the findings from a selected research article. In the second case study, participants will utilize data from a social service organization's performance report and corresponding environmental scan to make a programmatic decision.

During the ninety-minute session, the presenters will take audience questions and conclude with a discussion summarizing key points of the workshop.