U.S. political culture in the policy classroom: social work teaching methods and activity

Abstract

ABSTRACT In the United States, social welfare policy skills are essential, considering that social workers are often embedded in institutions where policy regulates practice. As such, social policy instructors must engage students in the development of policy-related skills, including, development, implementation, and evaluation. Engaging students in policy skill develop presents challenges detailed within. In the United States, political culture theory (PCT) is a useful framework for educators to use for developing students understanding of federal social welfare policy implementation among the 50 states. Applications of PCT are not limited to the US however; as it has demonstrated to be adaptable to contexts social workers are engaged in across the globe. The PCT typology focuses on three types of political culture: individualistic, traditionalist and moralistic, and the implications of these frames on policy implementation. The political culture scavenger hunt, detailed within, is a classroom activity derived from PCT for instructors to use to explore the implementation of social welfare policy. Adaptions of the activity for use in international contexts are included, with recommendations and reflections on the social work pedagogy serving as the conclusion.