Strategic Perspectives on Social Policy

Book excerpt: Strategic Perspectives on Social Policy is a collection of readings that provide insights into social policy processes, analysis, and implication. The goal is to locate social policy within a context that suggests the possibility of a wider array of choices for the policymakers. The distinction between social policy and social program is given emphasis. This book has 14 chapters divided into four sections. The first section deals with the relation between politics and policy, with emphasis on the link between social science and social policy as well as on the influence of social values on the direction of policy. The next section illustrates some of the critical skills and technologies that may be used to facilitate the process of making choices and decisions. Topics covered include policy research and analysis; the development and structuring of policy; policy purveyance and implementation; and assessment and evaluation of policy. The chapters that follow explore some of the more important contexts of the ""loci"" of social change, along with the kinds of mechanisms that may be used to make choices operational. This monograph is intended for policymakers and others interested in the policy-making process, as well as for students and teachers in the areas of political science, sociology, social work, public policy, and social planning.