Transcript social problem.

Welcome to
HN 300 Human Service & Social Policy
Professor Robin Cooper
Warm-up
 1. Where do you live?
 2. When do you graduate?
 3. What population do you want to work with?
 I know that many of you are feeling anxious, overwhelmed,
etc. right now and probably have a lot of questions and a lot
to do.
 I have quite a bit of material to go over. My suggestion is
that we get through it and then if you have any questions
you can ask them. My goal for our seminars is to stick to
the one hour as we are all busy and if we are not then it is
always good to take a little time for ourselves. 
 Did you read the syllabus and announcements?
 Have you reviewed the projects (Unit 3, Unit 6 and Final
Project/Unit 9)?
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If you haven’t, I encourage you to do so as soon as possible. The
material that we will be discussing in our seminars will be very
beneficial to you in regards to putting your projects together.
Understanding what is expected in the projects will also help you
connect everything together in this course. These projects are worth a
lot of points and can make or break your grade.
Other things to know and review…
 Grading Rubrics
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There is a grading rubric for the discussion board, seminars and the projects
posted in the syllabus. Be sure to note things like total replies to your peers,
expectations for participation during seminars, and even the little things like total
word count.
 Facebook Page
 Human Services Club
 Writing Center
 Notes about readings for each week
 APA Quick Reference Guide
 Did you receive your book??
 Kaplan’s week begins on Wednesday and ends Tuesday at midnight.
 ALL assignments must be turned in by Tuesday at midnight. I
completely understand that “life” happens so if an emergency comes
up and you need more time to finish an assignment or can’t attend
seminar, please let me know as soon as possible (via email or AIM)
and we will work it out. You will see that I am very flexible and I have
no problem working with students as long as you are doing your part.
 Kaplan does a GREAT job of clearly spelling out for you what
you need to do in each unit. If you read ALL of the material in
each unit and follow the instructions you should do just fine in
this class.
 There is an assignment “To Do” list posted for each unit. You can
find it in the tabs at the top of each unit homepage.
 Have you been able to look at the classroom yet? If not, please
do so as soon as you can. Become familiar with the layout and
the resources for each unit.
 If you have questions, please ask so that we can make sure that
you get off to a good start.
Flex Seminar
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HN300-04 Henderson, Michelle Wednesday 9:00 PM ET
HN300-02 Cooper, Robin Thursday 8:00 PM ET
HN300-01 Duncan, Nancy Monday 7:00 PM ET
HN300-03 Erwin, Catina Tuesday 9:45 PM ET
 Seminar for this class is not required but is strongly encouraged. It is
a great opportunity to reinforce the information for each unit, ask
questions, get clarifications, and engage with classmates.
 I usually show up for seminar about 30 minutes before it starts (about
7:30) so we can use that time to chat about questions, concerns, etc.
 Transcripts are usually available about 24 hours after the actual
Seminar. I recommend you review them if you are unable to attend
the “live” seminar as we discuss important information that will help
you with projects and assignments.
Discussion
 THE DISCUSSION QUESTION POSTS ARE DUE BY TUESDAY AT
MIDNIGHT. (If you have an emergency and do not think you’ll be
able to post, please contact me ASAP. However, please note you
have a FULL week to complete the DQ. I’m pretty strict with
discussion board deadlines and will deduct points for late posts.)
 The point of the these activities are to foster discussion about the
material we are covering in the current unit.
 Please always keep in mind that these are graded. Be sure to
answer the questions completely and be sure to use spelling and
grammar check.
 Make sure you are also making frequent and direct references to the
course materials or other resources or you will lose points.
Late Discussion Posts
 Again – I tend to be very strict with discussion post deadlines.
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However, in cases of unique circumstances, I will allow
discussion posts to be submitted late.
Discussion boards will be locked at midnight on each Tuesday
so any late post must be emailed to me directly.
I will ONLY accept initial posts late (i.e., no responses to
classmates will be accepted late so you will lose those points
automatically)
Late Discussion Board responses will also be penalized a
deduction of 10 points per unit with a maximum allowance of 3
units. After the end of the third unit past the original due date,
late discussion posts will not be accepted.
This should be an exception – not the rule.
Discussion Questions Grading Rubric
 Makes one primary post for each discussion thread (there may be more than
one thread) answering each of the questions correctly, and fully with substance
meeting length requirements (300-350 word minimum for each primary post).
0-25
 Makes two or more thoughtful responses to other students on each thread
contributing to the quality of the discussion and meets length requirements
(50-100 words for each peer response). 0 – 12
 Primary responses make at least 1 reference to the unit material, text, or other
academic source. 0 – 8
 Responses are clearly written and are original ideas rather than a recap of what
others contribute. 0-5
 TOTAL: 50
 Grades: Typically, I am able to grade assignments within a
few days of when they are submitted. However, it may take
up to 5 days so please be patient. If after 5 days from the
day you submitted the assignment you still don’t have a
grade please feel free to email me about it.
 Grade comments: Before you email me to ask why you
earned a certain grade please make sure you read the
COMMENTS section of the grade book as I will post an
explanation there. If after reading my explanation you still
have questions, please feel free to email or AIM me.
 If you have ANY technical issues, before you do this
PLEASE contact tech support
and make sure you
get a ticket number.
866.348.1196 (Toll Free)
[email protected]
 Please remember that I have little to no technical savvy so
please go to technical support if you have technical
questions. They are extremely efficient and helpful.
How To Contact Professor Cooper!
 Email: [email protected]
 Aim: Robincooper6
 Phone: (941) 799-0559 (cell)
"Education is not the filling of a bucket, but the lighting of a fire."
- W B Yeats

Complete reading assignment: The course
syllabus under the Course Home. The final
project requirements on the Final Project
Information page. Part One, Chapter 1, in
your text, Social Policy and Social Programs: A
Method For The Practical Public Policy
Analyst.
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Attend weekly Seminar
Introduce Yourself discussion question
Respond to discussion question
Review final project
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Describe the focus of social policies
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Background and Analysis of Social Problems
On Tuesday morning, you walk into your office, and
Maribel and Gregory are impatiently waiting for you.
As they follow you into your office, Maribel bursts
into tears, saying that her five-year-old daughter’s
Medicaid was cut off. The child was ill, and they had
to go to the emergency room. They would not treat
the child because the Medicaid “card did not work.”
In this unit, you will learn more about the intent of
social policies and the pros and cons of how we
create our policies in the U.S
Not all “problems” are social problems and that
they are not all equally important. Some argue that
the “importance” of a social problem depends on
two things: (1) the power and social status of those
who are defining the problem and urging the
expenditure of resources toward a solution and (2)
the sheer number of people affected. Thus, the
more people affected and the greater the social
power and status of those urging a solution, the
more important the social problem.
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Unemployment
When someone loses a job, it is a personal problem only for
that individual and his or her immediate family; when a
machine operator loses a job because of modern standards of
worker safety or product quality, it is a technological
problem; when there is a declining market for the things the
machine produced, it is a business problem; when consumers
no longer have money to buy what the machine produces, it
is an economic problem. When, as a result of any or all of the
foregoing problems, many people lose jobs and are
unemployed, or when people of power, wealth, and social
status become concerned about the effects of these
problems, such concern becomes a social problem.
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In summary, social problems are those
concerns about the quality of life for large
groups of people where the concern is held
as a consensus population wide, and/or the
concern is voiced by the socially powerful or
the economically privileged. In general, it is
these types of problems that spawn social
policies and programs as corrective
measures.
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Understanding a social problem is not quite
the same thing as understanding the truth
of “how things really are.” It is not quite the
same thing as understanding how bridges
keep standing or trees grow. To understand a
social problem is to understand how and
what another person (or group) thinks and
believes about the social events being defined
as a problem.
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There are four dimensions to consider in doing a
social problem analysis:
1. Identify the way the problem is defined.
2. Identify the cause(s) to which the problem is
attributed (its antecedents) and its most serious
consequences.
3. Identify the ideology—the values, that is—that
makes the events of concern come to be defined as
a problem.
4. Identify who benefits (gains) and who suffers
(loses) from the existence of the problem.
TABLE 1.1 Each Social Problem Analysis Component Specifies an Aspect of a Social
Policy and Program Element
Problem Analysis Component
Policy and Program Basic Element
1. Problem definition (terms) Specifies the terms that must be used in the eligibility rules
determining who is/is not entitled to benefits or services and specifies the general goals to
be achieved.
Subtypes Specifies the specific target populations.
Quantifications Can specify the priorities on the basis of which one goal rather than
another is chosen when size of the problem is believed to be the determining issue. Helps
estimate financing needed.
2. Causal analysis Specifies the particular types of benefits and/or services that must be
delivered to address the problem. Specifies the type of personnel required to deliver the
services or benefits when causation implicates cultural factors or implies a particular
expertise and/or training or experience of the helper.
3. Ideology and values Can determine choice of type of eligibility rule (e.g., means test
rather than insurance principle). Can determine goals by establishing priorities to serve
preferred subcategories of the problem. Determines amount of financing made available.
4. Gainer and loser analysis Can specify method of financing in which dollar loss is clear,
ability to pay is obvious, and responsibility for loss can be assigned (e.g., workers’
compensation).
This week, we will discuss the nature of social problems. We will
focus on how social policies focus on the needs of groups rather
than individuals.
Respond to the topic. Your original response should be at least
300-350 words and should reflect the fact that you have
completed the assigned readings for the week. Use your words
wisely so that the posting has substance and includes examples
and explanations. Best practice is to include citations and a
reference list.
Take time to review the responses of your classmates and
respond specifically and substantially to at least two other
learner's postings.
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“In your readings this week, you learned that
social policies are not focused on the needs of
individuals but on the groups to which
individuals belong and the characteristics of that
group. Based on the readings, what are the pros
and cons of this approach to social policy, and
why do you feel this way?”
Final Project
Your final project will be a culmination of your knowledge regarding
social welfare and public policy. The topic for the project is "The
Welfare System".
For this project, you need to analyze the effects of public policy on
this issue, discuss the goals and objectives for creating the welfare
system, and address how services are distributed. Be sure to base
your analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of the influence of
social policy on the ethical implementation of services through the
welfare system in the 21st century.
Please conclude this project with your recommendations for
improvements to the welfare system based on the research you
have done and how you, as a human services professional, might
be part of this positive change.
Final Project cont….
Directions
Your project should be between 1500 and 2000 words in length.
Make sure that you follow APA format, use Standard American
English, and cite references within the text of your paper as well as
in the reference section. While the text is your main source for this
project, please use the Kaplan Library Academic Search Premier
database to find at least two articles from peer reviewed journals.
You should also use a minimum of two reliable websites. A good
starting point for reliable Internet sources is the government
website http/www.usa.gov.