This assignment fulfills the competency 2.1.

8: Engage in policy practice to advance

social and economic well-being and to deliver effective social work services. For this
assignment I was required to analyze a social problem and the policies created to
combat the problem. The topic that I chose for this assignment was child welfare. I
gathered research related to the history of child welfare in the United States as well
as past and current policies for child maltreatment. Through this assignment I was
able to critically evaluate child welfare policies and the issue of child maltreatment.
This analysis allowed me to learn a great deal about the history of child welfare laws
as well as currently laws, thus preparing me for potential practice in the area of
child welfare. By having this knowledge of the problem, I will be more prepared to
advocate for further policy meant to protect and advance the well-being of this
young population as the practice behavior of this competency suggests. Overall, I
feel that I learned a great deal from this assignment and walked away with an
increased knowledge about child welfare and child maltreatment; a knowledge that
allowed me to analyze policy and prepare to advocate for further policy in my
career as a professional social worker.