HSL 4240 Family Advocacy and Policy Paper
HSL, 4240, Family, Advocacy, Policy, Paper
Family Impact Lens Public Policy Paper
As you have learned through our readings, The Family Impact Lens is a critical tool for examining policies and assessing their potential effect on family dynamics and functioning.
When reading the Family Impact Lens Handbook, you learned about the 5 Family Impact Principles. For this assignment you will apply one of the Family Impact Principles to a federal policy that you select.
Below, you will find a list of federal policies that can have a family impact. You may choose one of these or identify another federal policy you would like to use.
No Child Left Behind Act (2001)
Family Medical Leave Act (1993)
Child Abuse and Prevention Treatment Act (1974)
Credit Card Accountability Responsibility and Disclosure Act (2009)
Runaway and Homeless Youth Act (2008)
Identity Theft and Assumption Deterrence Act (1998)
National School Lunch Act (1946)
Civil Rights Act (1964)
Age Discrimination in Employment Act (1967)
Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act (1990)
Equal Pay Act (1963)
Pregnancy Discrimination Act (1978)
Home Owners’ Loan Act (1933)
Housing and Economic Recovery Act (2008)
Older Americans Act (1965)
Second Chance Act (2007)
Marriage Equality Act (2015)
Part I: Once you have selected a federal policy and carefully read it several times, you will use the FAMILY IMPACT DISCUSSION STARTERS from p. 8 of the Family Impact Lens Handbook to help you think about how the federal policy you selected addresses one or two of the Discussion Starters below:
How will the policy, program, or practice:
► support rather than substitute for family members’ responsibilities to one another?
► reinforce family members’ commitment to each other and to the stability of the family unit?
► recognize the power and persistence of family ties, and promote healthy couple, marital, and parental relationships?
► acknowledge and respect the diversity of family life (e.g., different cultural, ethnic, racial, and religious backgrounds; various geographic locations and socioeconomic statuses; families with members who have special needs; and families at different stages of the life cycle)?
► engage and work in partnership with families?
Part II: Following the Family Impact Lens Handbook (p. 15) you will now do the following:
Paper Structure:
-Your paper should be 4-5 pages long, double spaced (excluding your title page and reference page).
-You must use correct APA formatting
-Your paper CANNOT be written in a question/answer format. It must be written as a coherent essay.
-Your paper should begin with a 2-3 paragraph discussion of the federal policy. What is the name of the policy? When did it take effect? What is the purpose of the policy and its major goals?
-Include a one paragraph description of the Family Impact Lens — what it is and how it is useful for examining the policy you selected.
-Next move on to the analysis involving the items in the check list. This section will take up the bulk of your paper.
-Paper ends with a one paragraph discussion of what you have learned about the policy process.