Special Health Resources for Texas
Prepare a typed, written response to the questions. Informationfrom
previous social work courses will be helpful in preparing your responses. Please answer all questions
completely and in a professionalmannerJSocial Work/WelfareHistoryA.Identify three major historical events
that have had a major impact on the services delivered by your agency. (At least one of these events must be
prior to 1950.) Explain why each event issignificant.B.What has been the historical function of social
work/social workersin the delivery of these types of services? What has been the historical function of social
workers within youragency?2.Structure of Services andlnstitutions
A.Under what auspices does your agencydeliver services? What body/bodies determine the mission and
policy of theorganization? What is/are the primary sources of funds for theagency?B.What is the governing
structure of your agency? How doesyour work unit fit within thisstructure?C.What types of services does your
agency deliver? What limitations does the agency place on the kinds of clients or the types ofservices
available to them? What is the general philosophy employed by the agency in deliveringservices?D.What
types of services shouldthe agency provide that is not currently providing? Why aren't these services
beingprovided?E.What is the relationship between your agency and otheragencies that deliver
similarservices?3.PolicyAnalysisA.Identify three theoretical models used in the policy selection process. Use
two of these models to explain how specific policies in youragency were adopted or changed. Include in the
discussion the identification and impact of economic, organizational and political pressures that influenced
the adoption orchange.B.Explain the process by which a new policy may be made or anold policy modified
within youragency.C.Identify any international federal or state laws that affect youragency. What are the
external regulatory agencies with whom your agency is involved? How do these laws and regulations affect
servicedelivery?4.Effects of Policy on Client Populations from diversebackgrounds.A.Identify the
characteristics of the client population served byyour agency. (Minority, gender, religious, sexual
preference,etc.)B.What groups are over represented in this population?Give at least two explanations for
thisover-representation.C.In what ways does agency policy either facilitate service deliveryor create a
significant barrier for these groups? Whatchangesin agency policy are needed?
5.How Social Workers Influence Social PolicyA.What is a social worker‘s responsibility in the
developmentand/or changing of social policy? Explain youranswer.B.What methods, strategies or
interventions are commonly used by social workers to influence socialpolicy?C.What is the function of
organizations such as NASW orNASW/TEXASin influencing social welfare policy? What have they done in