"Social policy is a plan or action of government or institutional agencies which aim to improve or reform society."
Examination of the role of social policy in shaping political and social equality.
Welfare state: Understanding the different forms and models of welfare states, including the difference between liberal, conservative, and social democratic welfare states, and how they affect the provision of social services to citizens.
Poverty and inequality: Understanding the causes and consequences of poverty and inequality, and how social policy can ameliorate or exacerbate these conditions.
Education policy: Analyzing the role of education policy in promoting social mobility and reducing inequality, as well as the impact of education policy on economic growth and social cohesion.
Health policy: Exploring the various models for healthcare provision in different countries, as well as the relationship between health outcomes and social welfare policies.
Housing policy: Examining the different approaches to housing policy, including public and private housing, rent control, and social housing, and the consequences of these policies on urban development and social inequality.
Child welfare policy: Examining the ways in which social policy affects children, including issues such as child poverty, education, and health.
Gender and family policy: Analyzing the ways in which social policy affects gender relations and family structures, including policies related to reproductive rights, parental leave, and childcare.
Immigration policy: Analyzing the ways in which social policy affects immigration and the experience of immigrants, including policies related to citizenship, asylum, and refugee status.
Disability policy: Examining the ways in which social policy affects people with disabilities, including policies related to accessibility, employment, and healthcare.
Aging policy: Exploring the ways in which social policy affects aging populations, including policies related to retirement, pensions, and elder care services.
Welfare state policy: A welfare state policy is a government program that provides support, assistance, and financial or social services to citizens who need them, such as the unemployed, the elderly, the disabled or the vulnerable segments of society.
Housing policy: Housing policy refers to government policies that take steps to ensure that everyone has access to quality and affordable housing. The policy aims to increase the supply of affordable housing, protect renters, create affordable housing programs, and more.
Education policy: Education policy aims to ensure that all individuals have equal access to education opportunities irrespective of their class, social status, or financial resources.
Healthcare policy: Healthcare policy seeks to ensure that access and provision of healthcare services are available to all individuals, irrespective of their income levels or financial situation. The policy aims to increase access to healthcare, improve healthcare quality, and reduce healthcare costs.
Employment policy: Employment policy aims to support and promote job creation and the availability of decent and meaningful job opportunities for all individuals of working age. Employment policies include tackling unemployment, supporting workplace training, protections for job security, and more.
Environmental policy: Environmental policy refers to policies to protect the natural environment and regulate the impact of human activities on the environment. These policies aim to mitigate climate change, promote clean energy, and minimize pollution.
Family policy: Family policies aim to support families and promote positive family outcomes. These policies include family-friendly workplace policies like paternity and maternity leave, affordable childcare services, and more.
Immigration policy: Immigration policy refers to policies that regulate the movement of people in and out of a country. These policies include the criteria for allowing individuals to enter and stay in a country, the legalization of migrants, and refugee policies.
Social security policy: A social security policy is a government program that provides financial assistance and social protection to individuals who are unable to support themselves due to age, disability, or other challenges.
Poverty reduction policy: A poverty reduction policy aims to reduce the number of individuals or families living below the poverty line in a given area or country. These include policies that promote employment opportunities, educational opportunities, and access to public services.
"Some professionals and universities consider social policy a subset of public policy, while other practitioners characterize social policy and public policy to be two separate, competing approaches for the same public interest [...] with social policy deemed more holistic than public policy."
"Social policy begins with the study of the welfare state and social services."
"The Department of Social Policy at the London School of Economics defines social policy as 'an interdisciplinary and applied subject concerned with the analysis of societies' responses to social need', which seeks to foster in its students a capacity to understand theory and evidence drawn from a wide range of social science disciplines, including economics, sociology, psychology, geography, history, law, philosophy, and political science."
"The Malcolm Wiener Center for Social Policy at Harvard University describes social policy as 'public policy and practice in the areas of health care, human services, criminal justice, inequality, education, and labor'."
"Social policy might also be described as actions that affect the well-being of members of a society through shaping the distribution of and access to goods and resources in that society."
"Social policy often deals with wicked problems."
"The discussion of 'social policy' in the United States and Canada can also apply to governmental policy on social issues such as tackling racism, LGBT issues (such as same-sex marriage) and the legal status of abortion, guns, euthanasia, recreational drugs, and prostitution."
"The study of social policy can either be a stand-alone degree at providers such as the University of Birmingham, University of York, Oxford University, and the University of Pennsylvania."
"Social policy can be a specialization as part of a public policy degree program such as at McGill University, Balsillie School of International Affairs, Harris School of Public Policy, and the Hertie School of Governance."
"Social policy can be a joint degree along with a similar related degree in social work or public health such as at George Warren Brown School of Social Work at Washington University in St. Louis."
"In the Global South, social policy is offered along with public policy degree programs, as at the Institute of Public Policy, National Law School of India University, Bangalore, combined with development policy."
"...guidelines, principles, legislation, and associated activities that affect the living conditions conducive to human welfare, such as a person's quality of life."
"The Department of Social Policy at the London School of Economics defines social policy as 'an interdisciplinary and applied subject concerned with the analysis of societies' responses to social need'."
"The Malcolm Wiener Center for Social Policy at Harvard University describes social policy as 'public policy and practice in the areas of health care, human services, criminal justice, inequality, education, and labor'."
"Social policy [...] affect[s] the well-being of members of a society through shaping the distribution of and access to goods and resources in that society."
"The discussion of 'social policy' in the United States and Canada can also apply to governmental policy on social issues such as tackling racism, LGBT issues (such as same-sex marriage) and the legal status of abortion, guns, euthanasia, recreational drugs, and prostitution."
"The study of social policy can either be a stand-alone degree at providers such as the University of Birmingham, University of York, Oxford University, and the University of Pennsylvania."
"Social policy can be a specialization as part of a public policy degree program such as at McGill University, Balsillie School of International Affairs, Harris School of Public Policy, and the Hertie School of Governance."
"Social policy can be a joint degree along with a similar related degree in social work or public health such as at George Warren Brown School of Social Work at Washington University in St. Louis."