World Change

Final Paper Instructions

You will be asked to choose an area of social work that interests you.  As part of this project you will do a “needs assessment”, interview social workers and/or community leaders currently working in the field of interest, and to propose a pilot program that meets a gap in current services. This paper should be 3-5 pages, double spaces, 12 font Times Roman and should cover the areas highlighted below.  The paper is worth up to 25 points of your grade and should cover the following.  Your proposal is worth up to 5 points of your final paper grade.  Please see syllabus for proposal and final paper due dates.

Part I (Research)

1. State or define the problem. What is the problem you are working on?  What is the history of the problem over time?

2. Are there any policies or laws that have been passed to alleviate the problem?  If not, what are the barriers to change?

3. How bad or widespread is the problem? Provide some statistics/data/research.

4. What are the negative effects of this problem on individuals and society?

5. What would be some benefits if the problem was reduced?  What are some risks if the problem continues?

6. What are some current interventions/programs?  How effective have they been in improving the problem?  What work still needs to be done?

Part II (Interviews)

Interview 1-2 community leaders or Social Workers in the field.  You will find a list of nonprofits and national organization on Blackboard.  Do not hesitate to call NASW and ask for member contacts as well.  Most professionals are more than happy to speak with eager to learn students.  Under normal circumstances, it would preferable that you meet with your interviewee  in person face to face.  However, during this covid-19 pandemic you may interview your interviewee by phone, Skype, or FaceTime.  Please do not to email your interviewees a list of questions to answer.  You will get much more meaningful information during a discussion, even if it is via Face Time or phone.  However, I also understand that many non profits may be not be operational at this time.  I will ask that you at least research and document at least 1-2 agencies and their programs that work with the population/area you are interested in.  Please discuss the services they offer in the body of your paper.  Remember, these may be potential agencies that you may want to volunteer or work at in the future.

Here are some questions to guide you:

1. Ask your interviewee to talk about their organization, how they came to work there, and what personally makes them passionate about this work.

2. What current services are being offered to resolve this problem? (This could include within their agency, city, state-wide, or nationwide).

3. What are the barriers to the current services/programs being offered within their agency, city, or state wide?

4. What are the gaps in services as they perceive it? 

5. If anything was possible, what programs/improvement to services would they create/make?

Part III (Your brainstorming)

*Before brainstorming revisit the biopsychosocial model and family ecosystems map assignment you created earlier in the semester.  Rather than you being in the middle of the map, now imagine the client population there.  I want you to think systematically.  What resources could you connect this population with that would change the quality of life?  If it helps you draw it out, by all means draw out a ecosystems map. This may help you generate ideas.  After doing so, please address the following questions:

1. After thinking about your research and conducting your interviews, what are your creative ideas for how to reduce the problem?  Where are there programmatic gaps in services that need to be filled? 

2. What would be some potential barriers and solutions to implementing your ideas for change, and how might you overcome them?

3. How do you hope to be part of the solution in the future?

4. Parting thoughts and conclusions.

Part IV (References/Resources page)

Keep a list of references (e.g., research articles, website addresses, contact names, bios, and/or addresses) and to attach to the back of your paper. These references are the sources you used for your research/paper.  Research articles and websites must be cited using APA format.  Interviews must be documented with full name and title, time and date of meeting, and location/place of meeting.

APA formatting guides:

For assistance with APA formatting, see the helpful following websites:

https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/apa_style/apa_formatting_and_style_guide/reference_list_books.html

https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/apa_style/apa_formatting_and_style_guide/reference_list_basic_rules.html

*Under most library database searches, you will see the MLA or APA reference already populated for you.