Purpose:The purpose of this assignment is to provide students the opportunity to review the use of theory in guiding policy change or clinical evaluation change.

Background:As social workers, it is our ethical obligation to work toward social change.Social work aims to be practiced with sensitivity and be anti-oppressive. Policiesareimportanttosocial workersbecause they help our clients live better lives.Policieshelp to protect our clients from discrimination, racism, or social injustices.Policieshelp our clients live more productive lives by supplementing their income, providing healthcare, or by obtaining needed medical and mental health treatments to enhance their quality of life. Policy is grounded in theoretical frameworks as it assists us in understanding the vulnerable populations that we work with, as well as human behavior and the social environment.

• Section 1:Identify one social work theory that has impacted policy in some way to advocate for vulnerable populations (for example, Feminist theory has impacted women's rights to do many things through the women's suffrage movement and policies). Provide specific examples of how the theory has been utilized to advance social justice. You may also think of specific services that are provided due to policy and theory such as TANF, etc.
• Section 2:Discuss how the application of theory promotes best practice interventions for at least one vulnerable population and supports or affects policy change. Use specific examples.