. Describe the issue or social problem to be addressed. Identify the population-at-risk (i.e. target population; how marginalized or vulnerable are they? Do they have a voice?). Identify the specific piece of legislation, bill, proposal or executive order (ie. Where is the policy written down an made official?) designed to address this issue.
Begin your analysis by answering the following questions (refer to the Barusch chapter and Reisch, Ch. 1):
What kinds of benefits are offered? (cash, in-kind, services)
What are the bases of social allocation? (eligibility criteria universal, selective, categorical; means-tested, etc.)
How are the benefits to be delivered? (local, state, federal; who funds, who administers; form: cash, debit card; public sector, private non-profits, etc.; where do people go to apply and receive services/benefits)
How are the benefits financed? (local, state, federal revenues, cost share; taxes, fees, etc)
What is the historical context of the policy? How did the social issue come to the attention of policymakers? Who were/are the key actors who made the issue legitimate and mobilized support for or against the policy? Who has supported it? Who have been the opponents? Briefly describe previous policy attempts to address this issue.
What is the purpose/goal of the social policy? What assumptions about problem causation (theories of poverty, political philosophies, etc.) underlie the policys approach to the identified social issue? How are these assumptions reflected in the delivery of and/or access (think about institutional v. residual, v. developmental approaches) to social services?
If this policy has already been implemented, what are the effects/results of this social policy? Summarize any existing research or evaluation to identify to what extent the policy can be judged effective and efficient. (Remember to distinguish between effectiveness and efficiency.)
Other evaluative concepts: Assess the policy in terms of its (a) Horizontal and Vertical Adequacy; (b) Individual and Social Equity; (c) Inclusiveness of Coverage (see Reisch, Ch. 1).
What alternatives have been considered regarding this social policy? For example, have there been proposed changes to its scope, key components, means of implementation, cost, among others? This would include the position taken on this topic by the current presidential contenders. Briefly explain how these alternatives may reflect different assumptions about the social issue or change the effects on the population at risk.
Based on your analysis of this social policy, what are your recommendations? Do you recommend it as currently implemented? Would you suggest modifications, and if so which ones? How would you improve it? Be sure to support your recommendations with data and analysis from existing research evidence.
Conclude with your own determination of is it fair or just? and by what standard of fairness or justice.
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