Child Development and Social Policy: Engagement But No Marriage

This study contributes to research on policy practice by enriching our knowledge about the forms that the policy engagement of social work academics takes, the dynamics of this engagement, and the factors associated with it. The study is based on structured interviews with 24 faculty members from schools of social work in Israel, all of whom are actively involved in policy formulation. The findings of the study reveal that participants are motivated by ideology and values to engage in policy and that they do so despite their perception that there is a lack of institutional support for this type of activity. The participants report that they successfully manage to combine their policy-related activities with teaching and research. The study also indicates that the social policy formulation process in Israel offers specific opportunities for the policy engagement of social work faculty.

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Social work academia and policy in the United States

Where Academia and Policy Meet ◽

10.1332/policypress/9781447320197.003.0013 ◽

2017 ◽

Author(s):

Arati Maleku ◽

Richard Hoefer

Keyword(s):

United States ◽

Social Work ◽

Social Policy ◽

Welfare State ◽

Policy Process ◽

Institutional Support ◽

The United States ◽

The Social ◽

Work Education ◽

Policy Engagement

This chapter examines the engagement of social work academics in the policy process in the United States. It begins by presenting an overview of social policy and the welfare state in the United States and by discussing the emergence of the social work profession in that country. The development of social work education in the United States and its contemporary features are then depicted. Following these, the methodology and the findings of a study of the policy engagement of American social work academics are presented. The findings relate to the levels of engagement in policy and the forms that this takes. The study also offers insights into various factors that are associated with these, such as perceptions, capabilities, institutional support and the accessibility of the policy process. The chapter concludes with an analysis of the findings and their implications.

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Social work academia and policy in Sweden

Where Academia and Policy Meet ◽

10.1332/policypress/9781447320197.003.0011 ◽

2017 ◽

Author(s):

Katarina H. Thorén ◽

Pia Tham

Keyword(s):

Social Work ◽

Social Policy ◽

Welfare State ◽

Social Work Education ◽

Policy Process ◽

Institutional Support ◽

The Social ◽

Work Education ◽

Policy Engagement ◽

The Welfare State

This chapter examines the engagement of social work academics in the policy process in Sweden. It begins by presenting an overview of social policy and the welfare state in Sweden and by discussing the emergence of the social work profession in that country. The development of social work education in Sweden and its contemporary features are then depicted. Following these, the methodology and the findings of a study of the policy engagement of Swedish social work academics are presented. The findings relate to the levels of engagement in policy and the forms that this takes. The study also offers insights into various factors that are associated with these, such as perceptions, capabilities, institutional support and the accessibility of the policy process. The chapter concludes with an analysis of the findings and their implications.

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Social work academics and policy in Spain

Where Academia and Policy Meet ◽

10.1332/policypress/9781447320197.003.0010 ◽

2017 ◽

Author(s):

María Asunción Martínez-Román ◽

Miguel Ángel Mateo-Pérez

Keyword(s):

Social Work ◽

Social Policy ◽

Social Work Education ◽

Policy Process ◽

Institutional Support ◽

The Social ◽

Work Education ◽

Policy Engagement

This chapter examines the engagement of social work academics in the policy process in Spain. It begins by presenting an overview of social policy in Spain, particularly in the post-Franco era, and by discussing the emergence of the social work profession in that country. The development of social work education in Spain and its contemporary features are then depicted. Following these, the methodology and the findings of a study of the policy engagement of social work academics in Spain are presented. The findings relate to the levels of engagement in policy and the forms that this takes. The study also offers insights into various factors that are associated with these, such as perceptions, capabilities, institutional support and the accessibility of the policy process. The chapter concludes with an analysis of the findings and their implications.

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Social work academia and policy in South Africa

Where Academia and Policy Meet ◽

10.1332/policypress/9781447320197.003.0009 ◽

2017 ◽

Author(s):

Antoinette Lombard

Keyword(s):

South Africa ◽

Social Work ◽

Social Policy ◽

Social Work Education ◽

Policy Process ◽

Institutional Support ◽

The Social ◽

Work Education ◽

Policy Engagement

This chapter examines the engagement of social work academics in the policy process in South Africa. It begins by presenting an overview of social policy in South Africa, particularly in the post-Apartheid era, and by discussing the emergence of the social work profession in that country. The development of social work education in South Africa and its contemporary features are then depicted. Following these, the methodology and the findings of a study of the policy engagement of social work academics in South Africa are presented. The findings relate to the levels of engagement in policy and the forms that this takes. The study also offers insights into various factors that are associated with these, such as perceptions, capabilities, institutional support and the accessibility of the policy process. The chapter concludes with an analysis of the findings and their implications.

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Social work academia and policy in Germany

Where Academia and Policy Meet ◽

10.1332/policypress/9781447320197.003.0005 ◽

2017 ◽

Author(s):

Andreas Herz ◽

Stefan Köngeter

Keyword(s):

Social Work ◽

Social Policy ◽

Welfare State ◽

Social Work Education ◽

Policy Process ◽

Institutional Support ◽

The Social ◽

Work Education ◽

Policy Engagement ◽

The Welfare State

This chapter examines the engagement of social work academics in the policy process in Germany. It begins by presenting an overview of social policy and the welfare state in Germany and by discussing the emergence of the social work profession in that country. The unique features of social work education in Germany and the place of policy engagement in the social work discourse are depicted. Following these, the methodology and the findings of a study of the policy engagement of German social work academics are then presented. The findings relate to the levels of engagement in policy and the forms that this takes. The study also offers insights into various factors that are associated with these, such as perceptions, capabilities, institutional support and the accessibility of the policy process. The chapter concludes with an analysis of the findings and their implications.

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