Other books by
Thomas M. Meenaghan

"This is one of the best presentations of the process of policy analysis across government and organizational levels within the context of professional practice that I have seen. Ethical issues related to policy practice, including policy implementation, program evaluation and cost benefit analysis are presented in a way that makes this material readily accessible. The interaction of societal context, politics, and social work is easily grasped and provides content mandated by CSW accreditation standards. This would be a useful text for policy and macropractice classes as well as for capstone courses."

— Peggy Pittman Munke, Murray State University

"Clearly illustrates the interrelationship between the technology (program evaluation and needs assessment), the broad context of policy formulation, and the impact of values, ideologies, and political realities."

— George Magner, University of Houston

SOCIAL POLICY ANALYSIS
AND PRACTICE

Thomas M. Meenaghan, New York University
Keith M. Kilty, Ohio State University
John G. McNutt, University of South Carolina

Social work is a profession grounded in ethics. In most cases social workers are obligated to engage the world, understand selective aspects of it, and attempt to change features or facets of that world. This is often at odds with science and current policy. In their book Thomas Meenaghan, Keith Kilty, and John McNutt focus on the interaction between applied research methods and various social, scientific, and technological factors. Written from both the rational and political perspective the book describes the key role of social work and how it has been shaped by science and politics. A variety of methodological approaches are discussed including program evaluation, needs assessment, and cost benefit analysis. Ethical and political forces are identified as they may relate to populations and groups at risk as well as to the steps taken to address problems.

While many other books of this nature stress a historical and cultural evolution of policy and the helping professions Social Policy Analysis is presented with a contemporary context of reason, politics, and ethics. Content includes the evolutions in the welfare administration under the Clinton administration, cost benefit analysis, and linking to operational and organizational levels.

FEATURES

	Discussion of methodologies is interwoven with context.
	The authors understand that policy and policy analysis never stays just at the national level and they have included a critical discussion on operating policy within an organizational and practice context.
	There is a discussion of risk, need, levels of intervention strategies, and populations at risk.
	The critical thinking material contained in the text will serve as a precursor for volitional responses for the profession and practitioner.

Table of Contents
Preface
Part I	The Helping Professions: Inquiry and Political Influences
Chapter 1	The Helping Professions and the Convergence of Politics and Science
Part II	Inquiry, Policy, and Politics
Chapter 2	Science, Knowledge, and Inquiry
Chapter 3	Applying Scientific Inquiry in the Social and Political World
Chapter 4	Policy, Politics, Reason, and Inquiry
Chapter 5	Operationalizing Policy: Organizational Forces and Analysis
Part III	Need, Risk, and Social Groups
Chapter 6	Crucial Concepts of Human Needs
Chapter 7	Understanding Populations at Risk
Part IV	Pursuing Policy Analysis: Selected Methods, Decision Making, and Human Services
Chapter 8	Needs Assessment Methods
Chapter 9	Crucial Issues in Needs Assessment
Chapter 10	Program Evaluation Methods
Chapter 11	Crucial Issues in Program Evaluation
Part V	Conclusion
Chapter 12	Context and Choices
Index

(This book was previously published as Policy Analysis and Research Technology)

2004, Paper, 280 Pages, ISBN 978-0-925065-75-9, Price $41.95