"Social policy is a plan or action of government or institutional agencies which aim to improve or reform society."
The examination of policies related to social welfare, including topics such as poverty, inequality, and social justice.
Social welfare programs: This includes government programs designed to provide support and assistance to citizens who are struggling financially, such as Medicaid, food stamps, and subsidized housing.
Social inequality: This topic deals with the disparities that exist between different segments of society in terms of income, resources, and opportunities.
Public health policy: This includes measures taken by governments to promote healthier lifestyles and prevent the spread of diseases, including vaccination programs, smoking bans, and drug regulations.
Education policy: This topic covers the policies and programs implemented by governments to improve access to education, ensure quality of educational institutions, and boost academic performance.
Family policy: This topic deals with policies related to family dynamics, such as child care, family care, parental leave, and adoption.
Aging policy: This area of Social Policy pertains to policies aimed at the elderly, including retirement benefits and nursing home care.
Disability policy: This topic covers policies that aim to improve the lives of people with disabilities, including accessibility regulations and social security benefits.
Criminal justice policy: This pertains to policies related to crime prevention and punishment, including prison reform, policing procedures, and sentencing guidelines.
Immigration policy: This topic encompasses policies related to migration, such as border control, refugee resettlement, and visa regulations.
Environmental policy: This includes measures taken by governments to address environmental degradation and climate change, such as pollution control and carbon emissions reduction.
"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."