Family Impact Analysis and Social Work: It’s Time to Reconsider our Policy Analysis Strategy

Abstract

FIA is an assessment strategy based on the family impact lens. The family impact lens examines the impact of policy on family well-being, ways that families could be supported to fulfill functions that achieve the goals of public policy, and makes an effort to determine whether families should be included in the administration of policy benefits or goals (Bogenschneider et al. 2012b). Assessment of policies is based off five principles with subcomponent questions to guide analysis: family responsibility, family stability, family relationships, family diversity, and family engagement (Bogenschneider et al. 2012a). Multiple arguments can be made towards the need for FIA and this information will be woven into the context of this editorial. However, I would like to highlight two primary reasons. First, there is a strong need and a growing trend of evidence-based policymaking (Huston 2008). Second, economic issues often take center stage in making policy but little or no attention may be paid to the actual impact of policies on families. Policymakers are quick to consult with economic researchers for intended or unintended consequences, but perhaps, social work researchers and practitioners should be consulted with to the same degree to determine how families might be impacted by changes in policy (Bogenschneider et al. 2012a).