Concepts

Social Policy
It refers to the practice of social intervention aimed at securing social change to promote the welfare and wellbeing of citizens. Social policies are pursued by government, and by NGOs, in order to improve individual life chances and social relations (free school, education, hospital treatment, public housing) Most public service professionals therefore need to study social policy.

Social Policy
A policy is typically described as a principle or rule to guide decisions and achieve rational outcome(s). A Policy can be considered as a "Statement of Intent" or a "Commitment" to people. Policies can be understood as political, management, financial, and administrative mechanisms arranged to reach explicit goals.

Social Policy
Social Policy is the study and appraisal of social milieu in of a society and the welfare state. In general terms, it looks at the idea of the welfare state, and its relationship to politics and society. More specifically, it also considers detailed issues in policy and administration of social sectors such as health care, housing, education, poverty, old age, and social exclusion.

Social Policy
In brief social policy primarily refers to guidelines, principles, legislation and activities that affect the living conditions conducive to human dignity. Thus, social policy is that part of public policy that has to do with social justice and the process of empowerment.

Social Planning
Social Planning is an organised process for investigating and responding to the needs and aspirations of people and communities. It is an interactional process combining investigation, discussion, and agreement by a number of people in the preparation and carrying out of a program to ameliorate conditions of need or social pathology in the community. It is founded on the principles of social justice such as equity, access, participation and rights and aims to enhance community well being and effectiveness

Social Planning
It involves planning for the needs and aspirations of people and communities through : strategic policy and action, integrated with urban, rural, regional and other planning activities and usually involves the action of a formal, political, legal, or recognized voluntary body.

Social Planning
In practice, it is based on: a set of values, techniques and skills that contribute to better communities and quality of life and plays a pivotal role in creating livable communities, vibrant economies, sustainable places, diverse cultural expression and social cohesion.

Social Welfare Policy

A subset of social policies, in particular programs/regulations designed to satisfy individual and familial needs inadequately met through the market system.

Social Welfare Policy is the study of social services and the welfare state. In general terms, it looks at the idea of social welfare, and its relationship to politics and society. More specifically, it also considers detailed issues in 1. Policy and administration of social services, including policies for health, housing, income maintenance, education and social work; 2. needs and issues affecting the users of services, including poverty, old age, health, disability, and family policy; and 3. the delivery of welfare.

PUBLIC POLICIES

SOCIAL POLICIES

SOCIAL WELFARE POLICIES

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Social Welfare Policies: Major Types

1. Contributory
About 50% of all social welfare expenditure fall into this category: they are designed to sustain income during unemployment or old age, and require contributions from employees and/or employers.

2. Means - tested

Eligibility established by demonstrating need, according to government mandated criteria.

3. Benefits tied to earnings or savings

These programs are Targeted at the working poor or elderly seeking Medicaid assistance for for long-term care.

Social Policy and development

Institutions of Social policy 1. State 2. Civil society 3. Business sector 4. International development/ financial agencies

Theoretical perspectives in Social Policy

1. Representational theory 2. Explanatory/ Analytical theory 3. Normative theory

Representational theory
Concerned with classification Seeks to reduce very complex Social policy phenomenon to more manageable categories/typologies/models Example of typology: Wilensky & Lebeauxs Residual- Institutional Model

Explanatory/ Analytical theory

Seeks to answer a variety of questions about the nature of Social Policy, its functions in society and the reasons social policies have evolved. This approach has generated a substantial body of knowledge that has given interesting answers to many questions.

Example
Social policies were expanded because governments genuinely wanted to improve social conditions and promote the welfare of their citizens Governments adopted social policies because they realized that social programmes could prevent political unrest and maintain order

Normative theory
To provide a value framework for social policy Help to identify desirable social policies in terms of different sets of values, ideologies and political objectives Play a vital role in social policy They influence the social policy decisions of political parties, govts., NGOs, popular social movements and official International bodies