What Options Do We Have? Exploring Routes for Social Workers` Policy Engagement. Issue 3 (3rd July 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Weiss-Gal, Idit
• Is Part Of: Journal of policy practice. Volume 16:Issue 3(2017)
• Page Start: 247
• Page End: 260
• Publication Date: 2017-07-03
• Subjects: Policy -- political participation -- professional associations -- social workers; Social policy -- Periodicals; United States -- Social policy -- Periodicals; 361
• DOI: 10.1080/15588742.2016.1234955
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1558-8742

Abstract

ABSTRACT: For social workers, engagement in policy processes aimed at furthering social justice is a professional obligation. Nonetheless, the literature on social workers' policy engagement has yet to clearly explicate the range of options open to social workers seeking to realize this obligation. This article discusses six policy routes through which social workers in democratic societies can affect the policy process: voluntary political participation, holding elected office, policy practice, policy involvement by and through professional organizations, academic policy involvement, and street-level policy involvement. This conceptualization of policy routes can serve as map of options for social workers and as a heuristic tool for students.