Its a combination of a annotated bibliography and a narrative. About 3 pages.
Annotated Policy Source List
PART 1
In this first part of the assignment, you will identify and annotate 6 sources that you plan to use to research the issue you identified. This first should clearly demonstrate your aptitude for critical thought and reflection at a graduate level.
Please note, the sources that you identify for this assignment will be the sources you reference and draw from for Part 2. Specifically, these sources should be cited in Part 2 in the background data section, and drawn upon to inform your thinking and analysis in Part 2 below.
Identify 6 sources you plan to use to research the following topic:
The ultimate goal of child welfare, and more specifically foster care is providing a safe living arrangement for the underserved when searching for permanency such as reunification with birth parents, permanent adoption, or kinship care. Research the social concern of finding foster home permanency for at-risk youth such as youth with behavioral or mental health struggles. Is this underserved population protected by policies that set them up for success or are these youth falling through the cracks of a broken system?
Keep your focus on the population ie: youth in the foster system with behavioral health issues and the aspect you indicate, ie: the effect on permanency in foster care. Although this may be complicated by substance abuse keep your focus on mental/behavioral health.
Utilize only peer-reviewed journal articles for your sources.
Follow APA formatting for annotated bibliographies (see Purdue University Writing Lab)
Annotate each of your sources. For each source entry:
include all access information about each source (eg. web address, library location)
each annotation should include:
a) a brief summary of ONLY the research findings that are relevant to your policy topic and state EXPLICITLY why these research findings are relevant/what these findings contribute to your work.
PART 2
Policy briefs are common tools used by policy-makers to learn about an issue. Often policymakers have limited time and have to deal with numerous issues simultaneously. This means that a compact format with the most important information delivered in a clear and concise way is most likely going to be read. Long and detailed reports often get passed along to the staff, rarely read by the policy-maker. Thus, learning how to concisely make a point is very important when engaging in policy practice.
Objective Alignment: Part 2 aligns to the following objective: “Demonstrate an understanding of the forms and mechanisms of oppression and discrimination.”
Look at the sources you collected in Part 1 to determine which might be appropriate for this.
This part of the assignment is based on the model of a policy brief. It differs a bit in that it is not a one-sided advocacy tool, but rather a full teaching tool that presents both sides of an issue and your recommendation based on the debate between pros and cons. In this brief, you are to:
– Describe the issue.
– Provide factual background.
– Cite the pros and cons of the issue or possible responses to the issue.
– Close with a clear, logical, and convincing recommendation based on your research.
Part 2 length must be 2 pages. It should be a combination of outline and narrative.
Please note, citations are only permitted in the background data section and should draw directly from the sources you identified in PART 1. You are required to conduct an analysis of social concern (youth in the foster system with behavioral health issues and the aspect you indicate, ie: the effect on permanency in foster care) and present, in your own words, a policy brief that clearly demonstrates your ability to analyze and think critically about a social welfare issue. This analysis should also be informed by the sources you identified and utilized in Part 1.
REQUIRED template for format and content (click link and download):
Policy Brief template (e) (ATTACHED BELOW)