1. Welcome to HN 300 Human Service & Social Policy Professor Robin Cooper

2. Warm-up 1. Where do you live? 2. When do you graduate? 3. What population do you want to work with?

3. 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.

4. Did you read the syllabus and announcements? Have you reviewed the projects (Unit 3, Unit 6 and Final Project/Unit 9)? 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.

5. Other things to know and review… Grading Rubrics 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??

6. 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.

7. 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.

8. 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. Flex Seminar

9. 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. Discussion

10. Late Discussion Posts Again – I tend to be very strict with discussion post deadlines. 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.

11. 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

12. 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.

13. 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.

14. 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) TechSupport@Kaplan.edu TechSupport@Kaplan.edu 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.

15. How To Contact Professor Cooper! Email: RCooper3@kaplan.edu Aim: Robincooper6 Phone: (941) 799-0559 (cell) "Education is not the filling of a bucket, but the lighting of a fire." - W B Yeats

17.  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.  Attend weekly Seminar  Introduce Yourself discussion question  Respond to discussion question  Review final project

18. Unit Outcomes:  Describe the focus of social policies

19. Unit 1- Overview  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

20. 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.

21.  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.

22.  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.

23.  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.

24.  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.

25. 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).

26. 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.

27. “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?” DB Question: 

28. 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.

29. 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.