The purpose of this assignment is to use a framework for engaging diverse population groups in a change episode. To complete this assignment, you will engage in a series of tasks designed to support you to “recognize the importance of hearing from persons whose lives will be affected by whatever policies, plans, programs, and practices will be developed” (Netting et al., 2023, p. 83).

All reference material must be from peer-reviewed scholarly journals, professional journals or texts, edited books, official government documents, or reliable agency and organizational reports and documents.

Note: You may use the course text as a resource, however, it will not count toward the eight required resources listed in the assignment instructions. Other textbooks are not allowed as reference material for this assignment. Additionally, newspapers, Internet sites such as Wikipedia, and other non-peer-reviewed reference materials are not acceptable as references for this assignment. Using these materials as references may result in failure of the assignment.

By successfully completing this assignment, you demonstrate your proficiency in the following EPAS and generalist behaviors:

• EPAS Competency 4: Engage in practice-informed research and research-informed practice.
  • C4.GP.A: Apply research findings to inform and improve practice, policy, and programs.
    • Related Assignment Criterion:
      • Apply research and concepts related to growth and development of the focal population.
  • C4.GP.B: Identify ethical, culturally informed, anti-racist, and anti-oppressive strategies that address inherent biases for use in quantitative and qualitative research methods to advance the purposes of social work.
    • Related Assignment Criteria:
      • Utilize research to assess positionality of self and population.
      • Demonstrate cultural humility by seeking the population’s perspective.
• EPAS Competency 5: Engage in policy practice.
  • C5.GP.A: Use social justice, anti-racist, and anti-oppressive lenses to assess how social welfare policies affect the delivery of and access to social services.
    • Related Assignment Criterion:
      • Assess discrimination and oppression for the focal populations.
  • C5.GP.B: Apply critical thinking to analyze, formulate, and advocate for policies that advance human rights and social, racial, economic, and environmental justice.
    • Related Assignment Criterion:
      • Assess implications of intersectionality for the focal population.
• EPAS Competency 6: Engage with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.
  • C6.GP.A: Apply knowledge of human behavior and person-in-environment, as well as interprofessional conceptual frameworks, to engage with clients and constituencies.
    • Related Assignment Criteria:
      • Assess impact of social relationships and structures.
      • Synthesize best practice strategies and skills into a holistic plan to effectively prepare for action with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.

Assignment Instructions

Create a 5–8 page paper that utilizes a framework for engaging a specific population group related to a macro-level social, economic, cultural, or environmental condition. Use the Capella library and other credible sources. Perform a search for relevant, peer-reviewed articles that have been published in the past five years. You must use a minimum of eight peer-reviewed references in your analysis. 

Complete each of the tasks associated with the framework for engaging diverse populations in a change episode. 

Task 1: Start Where the Population Is

Assess positionality of self and population by responding to the following:

• Identify the macro-level social, economic, cultural, or environmental condition and the focal population affected by it.
• Describe experiences you have had with members of this population group.
• Identify self-identities, attitudes, and biases you bring to this situation.
• Describe the strengths, vulnerabilities, and power imbalances faced by this population group.

Demonstrate cultural humility by seeking the populations’ perspectives by responding to the following:

• Identify at least three key informants from the population of interest.
• Discuss how you will include diverse voices and perspectives in clearly stating the issues faced by the population.

Task 2: Assess Impacts of Difference, Discrimination, and Oppression

Assess discrimination and oppression for the focal population by responding to the following:

• Identify some of the stereotypes or generalizations that confront this population group.
• Describe how this population group has been discriminated against or oppressed.
• Describe ideologies or value structures and institutional policies or practices that have, or have had, an impact on the population group.
• Discuss whether members of the population group feel marginalized and, if so, why. Be sure to include how you know.

Assess implications of intersectionality for the focal population by responding to the following:

• Discuss the dimensions of intersectionality within this population.
• Describe the issues of power, privilege, discrimination, and oppression identified by members of this population.
• Explain what frameworks are useful in understanding population dynamics.

Task 3: Search Professional Knowledge Base

Apply concepts and issues related to growth and development of the focal population by responding to the following:

• Provide references for at least eight academic and professional resources that support understanding of the focal population.
• Create an annotation for each reference that identifies:
  • The theoretical frameworks used.
  • Factors or characteristics presented that support greater understanding of the focal population, including human growth and development considerations.

Assess impact of social relationships and structures by responding to the following:

• Describe structural and environmental forces affecting this population group.
• Describe theoretical frameworks that will help in understanding the interactions between members of the population and the larger social environment.

Task 4: Develop Strategies for Authentic Engagement

Synthesize best practice strategies and skills into a holistic plan to effectively prepare for action with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities by responding to the following:

• Identify those who have been (or will be) involved in identifying the need for change.
• Discuss at least two principles you will use to guide meaningful participation in the process.
• Describe at least two methods you might use to engage diverse population groups.
• Identify at least four specific allies, advocates, and/or accomplices of the population group.

Note: Remember to be as detailed as possible in developing each section of your assignment. Be sure to include relevant academic and professional resources to support your narrative.

Additional Requirements

Your paper should meet the following requirements:

• Written communication: Written communication is free of errors that detract from the overall message.
• APA formatting: Resources and citations are formatted according to current APA style. See the Evidence and APALinks to an external site. section of the Writing Center for guidance.
• References: A minimum of eight professional and academic resources. All literature cited should be current, with publication dates within the past five years.
• Length of paper: 5–8 typed, double-spaced pages.

Reference

Netting, F. E., Kettner, P. M., McMurtry, S. L., & Thomas, M. L. (2023). Social work macro practice (7th ed.). Pearson.

Competencies Measured

By successfully completing this assignment, you will demonstrate your proficiency in the following course competencies and scoring guide criteria:

• Competency 1: Apply research findings to inform and improve practice, policy, and programs. (C4.GP.A)
  • Apply research and concepts related to growth and development of the focal population. (C4.GP.A)
• Competency 2: Identify ethical, culturally informed, anti-racist, and anti-oppressive strategies that address inherent biases for use in quantitative and qualitative research methods to advance the purposes of social work. (C4.GP.B)
  • Utilize research to assess positionality of self and population. (C4.GP.B)
  • Demonstrate cultural humility by seeking the population’s perspective. (C4.GP.B)
• Competency 3: Use social justice, anti-racist, and anti-oppressive lenses to assess how social welfare policies affect the delivery of and access to social services. (C5.GP.A)
  • Assess discrimination and oppression for the focal population. (C5.GP.A)
• Competency 4: Apply critical thinking to analyze, formulate, and advocate for policies that advance human rights and social, racial, economic, and environmental justice. (C5.GP.B)
  • Assess implications of intersectionality for the focal population. (C5.GP.B)
• Competency 5: Apply knowledge of human behavior and person-in-environment, as well as interprofessional conceptual frameworks, to engage with clients and constituencies. (C6.GP.A)
  • Assess impact of social relationships and structures. (C6.GP.A)
  • Synthesize best practice strategies and skills into a holistic plan to effectively prepare for action with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities. (C6.GP.A)
• Competency 6: Communicate in a manner that is scholarly, professional, and consistent with expectations for members of the social work profession.
  • Communicate in a manner that is scholarly, professional, and consistent with expectations for members of the social work profession.