"Social policy is a plan or action of government or institutional agencies which aim to improve or reform society."
The laws, regulations, and institutional practices that shape the distribution of power and resources in society, and often have significant social and economic implications.
Social justice: This refers to the fair and equitable distribution of resources, rights, and opportunities in a society regardless of one's social background, including race, gender, age, economic status, ability, and sexual orientation.
Human rights: This involves the legal and moral principles that guarantee the dignity, freedom, and equality of all individuals, including their civil, political, social, economic, and cultural rights.
Discrimination: This pertains to the unjust treatment or differentiation of individuals or groups based on their social identity, such as their race, gender, religion, or sexual orientation.
Inequality: This refers to the unequal distribution of power, resources, and opportunities in society that result in some individuals or groups being advantaged while others are disadvantaged.
Poverty: This involves the lack of resources, such as food, shelter, and healthcare, necessary for basic human survival and development.
Welfare state: This refers to a system of government policies and programs designed to provide social services and support to citizens, particularly those facing economic or social difficulties.
Social services: This encompasses a range of programs and resources aimed at meeting the social, emotional, and practical needs of individuals, such as education, childcare, healthcare, and housing.
Healthcare policy: This involves the development and implementation of policies and programs to promote and improve the access, quality, and affordability of healthcare services.
Immigration policy: This pertains to the rules and regulations governing the movement of individuals across national borders, including issues related to asylum seekers, refugees, and undocumented immigrants.
Child welfare policy: This involves the development and implementation of policies and programs aimed at protecting the well-being of children and families, particularly those facing abuse or neglect.
Disability policy: This pertains to the laws and programs designed to support individuals with disabilities, including access to education, healthcare, and employment.
Environmental justice: This concerns the fair and equitable distribution of environmental risks and benefits, particularly in disadvantaged communities that are disproportionately impacted by pollution, toxic waste, and climate change.
Criminal justice policy: This involves the laws and practices governing the criminal justice system, including issues related to policing, sentencing, and incarceration.
LGBTQ+ rights: This pertains to the legal and social protections guaranteed to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer individuals, including issues related to marriage equality, workplace discrimination, and hate crimes.
Social work ethics: This involves the professional standards and values that guide ethical decision-making and behavior in the field of social work, including issues related to confidentiality, boundaries, and social justice advocacy.
Social Security Policy: This policy is aimed at providing financial assistance in the form of pensions, disability payments, and other benefits to vulnerable individuals and families.
Health Policy: Focuses on ensuring equitable access to quality healthcare services to all, regardless of income, social status, or race.
Education Policy: This policy aims to address educational disparities and ensure equitable access to quality education opportunities for all.
Housing Policy: Addressing issues related to affordable, safe, and decent housing for families and individuals particularly those experiencing homelessness.
Anti-discrimination Policy: Legislation and actions taken to address and eliminate forms of discrimination relating to race, religion, gender, and other characteristics.
Criminal Justice Policy: Policies that aim to ensure fairness in the criminal justice system, with emphasis on the humane treatment of offenders within the context of civil liberties and human rights.
Child Welfare Policy: This policy is concerned with ensuring the safety and well-being of children in situations of abuse, neglect, or abandonment.
Immigration Policy: Regulating the movement of people across borders, and ensuring that the rights of immigrants and refugees are protected.
Environmental Policy: Aimed at conserving the earth's natural resources, preventing environmental degradation, and addressing the social injustices that arise from environmental imbalances.
Economic Policy: Policies that work to promote economic growth, job creation and financial stability for individuals and communities.
"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."