Policy Analysis Paper: Helping Families in Mental Health Crisis Act of 2015

Can you do this policy: H.R.2826 - Stop Mental Health Stigma in Our Communities Act? or find a policy regarding mental health"?
Instruction:
For your final paper in this class, you will choose a health policy that is in consideration or that has been implemented. You will conduct an objective analysis of the piece of legislation and author a 10-12 page narrative presenting your analysis.
Health policy encompasses a wide range of topics, so you can choose legislation focused on mental health, addictions, population health, social determinants of health, aging, and disability to name a few. For example, you could explore the Elder Abuse Act, the New York Health Act or the 2018 New York City Opioid and Drug Treatment and Prevention Package.
You will explore concepts we have covered in class including, stakeholder opinions, social problem definitions, and analyzing the text of a law.
I have developed an assignment guidePreview the document and a FAQPreview the document for this assignment. Your paper should include 6 sections: an introduction, current social problem context, stakeholders and goals, a review of the law itself, a review of implementation, and an impact assessment. On the assignment guide, you will find a list of questions to guide your analysis of each of these sections. You do not need to answer every question from the assignment guide in your paper because they may not all be relevant to your topic. Rather, the points are provided to guide your thinking.
Your paper should be written in a manner consistent with APA style (7th ed), including a cover page, appropriate in-text citations, and a references page.
Assignment Guidance:
Introduction (2 points)
 What is the name of the policy and what does it propose to do?
 What perceived problem is the policy meant to address and how and by what level of government?
 Who are/were the champions and major opponents?
 Is it a proposal? Did it pass or fail? What is the current stage? Example: active in a particular committee? Died in a particular committee?
 Is it law? Any overarching sense of success or failure?
Current social problem context (5 points)
 What is the problem?
 What are the varying definitions of the problem and who holds these definitions?
 What are the conflicting social values and beliefs?
 Who is effected and how? Who are the stakeholders?
 What is the extent of the problem?
 What are the underlying causes or factors?
 Who gains and/or loses from the status quo?
 Who holds the power?
 Are there direct or indirect interactions with social institutions? Other social problems?
Stakeholders and Goals (5 points)
Public Reactions
 What do voters think? Non-voters?
 What do higher-income people think? Lower income?
 What do other demographic groups (explore race, gender, age, religion or other appropriate demographics) think?
 How is the media involved in this issue?
 What are the values and beliefs represented?
Goals
 What are the general goals of the policy?
 Are the goals consistent with the profession of social work? How?
 Are there any secondary goals (political trade-offs or conflicts?)
Policies, Public Laws, and Administrative Rules (6 points)
 How is the policy expected to work?
 What are other relevant public policies?
 If none exist, why?
 What is the consequence of doing nothing, if no policies exist?
 Are there hidden agendas?
 Who are the proponents/opponents? Who are the interest groups?
 Who is “At the Table”? Who is not?
 What institutions and individuals are effected by the policy?
 What are the costs or potential benefits to each? Who gains or loses?
 What was the decision on the policy? Next steps if failed?
Implementation (4 points)
 Which social programs were implemented because of the policy?
 Who has oversight and was responsible for implementation
 Conflicting values/ideologies?
 Are the programs effective?
 Who is served?
 What are the strengths/weaknesses?
 Who participates/benefits? Who doesn’t?
Impact Assessment (4 points)
 What are the costs/benefits?
 Has the social problem changed as intended (manifest consequences)? How?
 Are there unexpected consequences (latent)?
 How were things supposed to change? What was the intention of implementation? Who was supposed to be effected?
APA Style (4 points)
 Is the narrative consistent with APA style?
 Is the reference page consistent with APA style?
 Is the paper free of bias?
 Does the student communicate well in writing?
 Is the paper free of grammar errors and problems with style?