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Family Policy: Bridging Theory and Practice

Course Description

Students will learn about the interdependence between family functioning and public policies at the local, state, and federal levels. The course will include theoretical frameworks for conceptualizing family policy, roles professionals can play in building family policy, and approaches professionals can use in implementing these roles.

Additional Requirements for Graduate Students:
Graduate students will complete a policy-related research proposal and one additional applied project (e.g., attend and report upon a local, state, or national policy meeting; identify and summarize one piece of federal legislation during the past 100 years that made a dramatic impact upon family lives; interview and report upon a policy player). Also, they must read and report on (written report or a mini-class lecture to undergraduates) an advanced policy book (a classic or a new book recognized by policy professionals as significant to field).

Athena Title

Family Policy

Equivalent Courses

Not open to students with credit in HDFS 4130E or HDFS 6130E

Prerequisite

(HDFS 2100 or HDFS 2100E or HDFS 2100H) and (HDFS 2200 or HDFS 2200E or HDFS 2200H or HDFS 2950 or HDFS 2950E)

Semester Course Offered

Offered spring

Grading System

A - F (Traditional)

Student Learning Outcomes

  • Students will understand family policy concepts.
  • Students will understand the challenges to developing and implementing family policies.
  • Students will understand family policy models and theoretical frameworks.
  • Students will understand strategies for analyzing family policies.
  • Students will understand how to track a family policy.
  • Students will understand how to examine the intended and unintended consequences of family policies.
  • Students will understand how to practice using appropriate resources to investigate family policy issues.

Topical Outline

  • I. Introductions and Overview
  • II. Foundations a. Importance of Policy b. Civic Engagement c. Branches of Government
  • III. Resources a. Reading Federal and State Bills b. Policy Journals c. Policy Reference Sources
  • IV. Family Policy a. Historical Overview of Family Policy b. Family Definitions/Themes/Functions c. Policy Definitions/Themes/Functions d. National and Global Family Policy e. Challenges to Family Policy making
  • V. Policy Analysis a. Policy Models b. Examination of Family Policy Issues
  • VI. Professional Issues a. Preparing for Policy Roles and Culture b. Communicating about Family Policy c. Policy Lobbying and Advocacy

Syllabus

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