Policy Basics
This is a government action, law, or program designed to address a social issue.
What is policy?
This program provides health coverage for many low-income individuals and families.
What is Medicaid?
This policy area addresses where people live, rent burden, homelessness, and housing instability.
What is housing policy?
Social workers often engage policy at this level by connecting clients to resources.
What is micro practice?
This means giving everyone the exact same thing.
What is equality?
This term refers to the rules for who qualifies for a program or service.
What is eligibility?
This federal program primarily provides health insurance for older adults.
What is Medicare?
This social issue is often linked to unemployment, low wages, and structural inequality.
What is Poverty?
Social workers engage policy at this level by working with groups, schools, and small communities.
What is mezzo Practice?
This means responding to different needs and barriers so outcomes can become fairer.
What is equity?
This means changing an existing law or system to improve outcomes.
What is reform?
This program provides income support for retired workers and some disabled individuals.
What is Social Security?
These differences in outcomes often reflect unequal treatment, unequal access, and structural barriers.
What are disparities?
Social workers engage policy at this level through legislation, systems reform, and large-scale advocacy.
What is macro practice?
This concept points to the way systems can unfairly disadvantage certain groups over time.
What is structural inequality?
This term refers to the money used to support public programs.
What is funding?
This program helps low-income households buy food.
What is the SNAP
This system often affects access to services through diagnosis, medical necessity, and insurance rules.
What is the healthcare system?
This social work value emphasizes helping people access what they need with dignity and fairness.
What is social justice?
This term describes unfair treatment based on race, class, gender, disability, immigration status, or other identities.
What is discrimination?
This term describes the organized effort to influence policy decisions.
What is advocacy?
This program provides temporary cash assistance to some low-income families with children.
What is TANF?
This policy area addresses legal status, borders, deportation, and pathways to citizenship.
This skill involves speaking up for clients, communities, and policy change.
What is advocacy?
This is the broad goal of transforming systems so people can live with dignity, access, and power.
What is justice?