Changing the Heart of Social Policy-Making: A New Approach to Serve a Disappointed Public

by Catherine E. Johnson

Overview

Effective social policy-making has been debated for decades by policy-makers, scholars, and the general public. As elected officials have lost sight of their purpose in a climate of extreme polarization and partisan politics, disappointment and distrust of our government institutions have swelled. This book highlights the importance of a change in the hearts and minds of legislators and provides a new perspective on addressing the public's desire for more effective and humane social policies.

Covering the legislative and social policy making process from a historical and contemporary perspective, this book identifies powerful interest groups and corporate dollars which influence our legislative process and erode sound policy ideas and solutions. The book also explores a new generation of youth voters which can influence election and policy outcomes; the current mental health crisis; and the importance of evidence-based research in designing social policies. Several topics are illuminated by real-life experiences, case studies and practical guidelines.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781476655147
Publisher:	McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers
Publication date:	07/24/2025
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	230
File size:	3 MB
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

Catherine E. Johnson lives in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Throughout her professional life, she has functioned in various capacities, including as a mental health worker, social worker, research associate, program evaluator, public administrator, and adjunct professor at Temple University, New York University and Penn State (Abington).
Catherine E. Johnson lives in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Throughout her professional life, she has functioned in various professional capacities, including as a mental health worker, social worker, research associate, program evaluator, public administrator, and adjunct professor at Temple University, New York University and Penn State (Abington).

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments
Preface
Introduction
1. Historical Development of Social Policies
Overview
Industrialization and Urbanization
Civil War Pensions
Workmen’s Compensation and Mothers’ Pensions
Industrialization, National Values, and Social Policy
Logic of Industrialization
National Values
Federalism and Origins of Intergovernmental Relations
Models of Intergovernmental Relations
Federalism and Development of Intergovernmental Policies
Interest Groups, Lobbies, and Policy Demands
Conclusions
2. Development of Contemporary Social Policies
Overview
The Legislative Process (Ideas, Proposals, and Legislation)
Federal Bureaucracies and Oversight
Economic and Political Environment
2008 Fiscal Crisis
­­­COVID-19 Pandemic
Divided Government
External Influences
Interest Groups
Lobbying Activities
Publicity (Mass and Social Media)
Political Parties
Judicial System
Program Evaluation
Conclusions
3. Implementation of Social Policies
Overview
Governance and Intergovernmental Relations
Developmental and Redistributive Policies
Explanatory Theories of Implementation
Classical Theory
Theories of Circularity
Selected Case Studies
Characteristics of the Implementation Process
Political Environment
Governance and Policy Standards
Local Support
Administrative Capability
Frontline Bureaucrats and ­­­Decision-Making
Leadership and Communication
Fiscal Resources and Accountability
Securing Funding
Spending Patterns
Program Outputs and Outcomes
Funding Delays
Conclusions
4. Case Study: Job Training Partnership Act
Overview
Job Training Partnership Act (JTPA) Legislation
Governance and Policy Formation
The Philadelphia Story
Economy
Political Conditions
Organizational Structure and Governance
Local Opposition and Service Delivery
The New York Story
Economy
Political Conditions
Organizational Structure and Governance
Local Opposition and Service Delivery
Characteristics of the Implementation Process
Political Environment
City Administrators, LEOs, and PIC
­­­City-State Relationships
Administrative Conditions
Program ­­­Start-Up
Leadership Ability
Communications
Fiscal Conditions and Accountability
Accountability and Management
Financial Resources
Comparison of Performance Outcomes in Philadelphia and New York
Data from National Studies
Demographics of Program Participants
General Statewide Performance Data
Findings
Conclusions
5. Social Policies and Communities of Color
Historical Overview
Slavery and Black America
Civil War, Emancipation, and Social Policies
Early Civil Rights Movement: Freedmen’s Bureau and Reconstruction
Policies under the Freedmen’s Bureau
Effectiveness of Reconstruction
Contemporary Social Policies and African American Communities
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s Vision of Community Action
The Great Society and ­­­Anti-Poverty Movement
Systemic Inequities and Social Policies
The Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Communities of Color
Education and ­­­COVID-19
Conclusions
6. The Youth Vote and Civic Participation
Overview
The Electoral Process
Purpose and History of Elections and Voting
Elections and Voting Structure
Voter Participation Rates
Youth Civic Participation in the Nineteenth Century
Youth Civic Participation in the Twentieth and ­­­Twenty-First Centuries
Importance of the Youth Vote and Turnout
Parental Influence
Political Party Identification and Realignment
Political Party Identification
Party Deviation or Realignment
Party Identification During 2022 Elections
Voting and ­­­Policy-Making
Youth Movements (Nonpartisan, Conservative, and Liberal)
Conclusions
7. The Mental Health Crisis: Policies and Practices
Overview
History of Mental Health Policy: The 1960s and Beyond
Mental Health Policies and Practices in the ­­­Twenty-First Century
Social and Economic Costs: Strategies and Proposals
Federal Government Initiatives
State and Local Government Initiatives
North Carolina
Ohio
Maryland
Special Issues and Policy Considerations
Mental Health and Substance Use
Opioids and Fentanyl
The Coexistence of Mental Health Disorders and Substance Use
Mass Shootings and Mental Illness
Suicide and Mental Health
Current Suicide Policies and Programs
Social Media and Mental Health
Conclusions
8. Research and Evaluation
Overview
Qualitative versus Quantitative Research
Evaluation Methods and Approaches
Formative and Summative Evaluations
Evaluation Approaches
Development of Measurable Goals and Objectives
Sample Project Goals and Objectives
Measurable Goals
Success Criteria (Expected Outcomes)
Developing Evaluation Tools
Developing an Evaluation Matrix or Table
Implementation versus Outcomes and Impact
Research and Evaluation Constraints
­­­Evidence-Based Research and ­­­Policy-Making
­­­Evidence-Based Policymaking Commission Act of 2016
Successful ­­­Evidence-Based Programs
Methods and Approaches for Building Trust and Utilizing Evidence
Building Trust to Inform Policy Decisions
Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs): The Gold Standard
Ethics and Confidentiality
Research and Lobbying
Confidentiality/Reporting
Securing Participant Data
Conclusions
9. Final Thoughts and Conclusions
Chapter Notes
Bibliography
Index