This assignment requires that you identify, summarize, and analyze a contemporar

This assignment requires that you identify, summarize, and analyze a contemporary social issue and a corresponding social policy or program developed to address this social problem.
Your final paper should include the following:
Topic: School lunches in relation to child hunger and poverty- policies to waive school lunch fees
Policies to look up-
NSLP (national school lunch program)
School Pantry Program
BackPack Program
Website to look into for more info and use as a resource-
Feedingamerica.org
Kn-eat.org
Fns.usda.gov
Benefits.gov
An introduction that describes how the social problem is defined:
 What are the observable signs by which this problem can be known?
 What is the prevalence of the problem (locally, statewide, nationally)?
 Who is affected by the problem? What specific groups or individuals?
 Is the problem increasing or decreasing? Why?
 How does the problem obstruct social justice?
 Does this problem relate to your agency? If so, how?
An historical overview of the problem:
 How did it become a recognized social problem?
 What values or ideology led the issue to be defined as a problem?
Identify the purported causes of the social problem, and the most serious issues associated with it:
 How is the social problem identified and defined? By whom?
 Are there alternative ways to define this problem? Provide an example.
 Do different interest groups and stakeholders disagree over the causes and extent of the social problem, and
the best way to resolve this issue?
(Keep in mind that different groups/stakeholders may define the problem and its cause differently).
Identify the primary gainers and losers with respect to the problem:
 What kinds of gains and losses are involved?
 What is the amount or value of the gains and losses?
Discuss the strengths of the affected population (the persons who are experiencing the social problem) and what impact do these strengths have on the social problem.
 Do others acknowledge these strengths?
 How can these strengths be incorporated into problem-solving measures?
 What strengths of the social system exist that pertain to this social problem?
Identify a social policy or program developed to address the social problem and conduct an analysis on the policy or program including:
 Latent and manifest goals
 Benefits and services provided
 Eligibility rules; service delivery systems
 Financing; attention paid to social justice/equity issues
Provide evaluation and recommendations for policy modifications/changes.
 Be sure to include the degree to which the policy is strengths-based, and strategies or recommendations to
make it more reflective of the strengths approach.
8. Discuss specific steps you would bring about changes to identified policy or program.
 What would you focus on and why? What would be your initial activities?
 Where might you find human and monetary resources to help you?
 Who would be you political allies and from where would you expect opposition in this effort?
Your paper must follow APA format (12-point font, double-spaced, standard margins) and include proper references and a bibliography. The paper must be a minimum of 9 pages and a maximum of 11 pages long, not including references or the cover page.
REFERENCE REQUIREMENTS & RESOURCES:
Your final paper must cite as your primary resources at least five references, including at least one of each of the following: academic articles, books references, and websites dealing with social problems and social policy. One of these book references can be the textbook chapter related to your topic. You may also incorporate mainstream/popular media sources.
Because you are expected to summarize and analyze competing perspectives about the problem, finding ―conservative‖ and ―liberal‖ sources of information may help highlight the way different groups/stakeholders view the same issue.