Final Report and Presentation for Social Change Project Assignment

Graduate social work students strengthen professional advocacy skills and academic research abilities when they prepare a structured final report and presentation that documents real efforts to address food insecurity as a social change problem.

Over the past several weeks, you have analyzed a policy related to a social problem and have advocated for change. Professional social workers regularly evaluate how policies affect vulnerable populations. For this Assignment, you submit your final report and present on your experience and the outcomes of your Social Change Project. Careful reflection on each stage of the project will help demonstrate your growth as an emerging practitioner.

RESOURCES

Be sure to review the Learning Resources before completing this activity. Thoughtful use of course materials will strengthen the quality of your final submission. Click the weekly resources link to access the resources. Organized preparation supports confident academic writing.

WEEKLY RESOURCES

TO PREPARE:

• Read Chapter 13 of the Jansson text. Scholarly readings provide a strong foundation for effective policy advocacy.
• Review the feedback you received on the following Assignments: Constructive instructor feedback offers valuable direction for improvement.
  • Final Project Milestone 1: Identification of a Social Problem (Week 2)
  • Final Project Milestone 2: Issue Statement and Identification of a Policy (Week 4)
  • Final Project Milestone 3: Social Advocacy Proposal (Week 6)
  • Final Project Milestone 4: Policy Alternative (Week 8)
• Select at least five scholarly sources to support your final report. Credible academic evidence strengthens professional arguments. The sources can be from the Learning Resources throughout the course or from your own independent literature searches. Current peer reviewed research helps connect theory with real practice.

BY DAY 7

Submit a 2- to 3-page final report of your Social Change Project. Clear organization and concise writing will help you remain within the required page limit. The final report should include the following:

• Provide a brief synopsis of the social problem and policy you identified. Strong summaries help readers quickly understand the focus of your work.
• Describe the steps of your project: Logical descriptions of project steps demonstrate critical thinking.
  1. How did your experiences as a social work professional and your own goals for advocacy inform your selection of a social problem? Personal insight is an important element of professional growth.
  2. How did your knowledge of, or prior experiences with, the social problem inform your policy analyses? Practical experience often shapes the way social workers interpret policy information.
  3. What did you learn through each step, including your selection of a social problem, identification of a policy, proposal for advocacy, and recommendation for a policy alternative? Reflection on learning outcomes shows academic maturity.
• Reflecting on your experience, identify 2–3 opportunities for growth. Honest self-assessment strengthens professional competence. What would you do differently based on your recent learnings? Insightful evaluation improves future advocacy efforts.
  • For example, you might select a different policy alternative that would be better received by elected officials (or other decision makers in a position of power). Strategic thinking is essential when working with community leaders. Or you might use different strategies when speaking in front of a group to advocate for change. Communication skills are central to effective social work practice.
• Explain how policy relates to direct practice. Social workers connect policy decisions to everyday client experiences.
• Describe how you will apply advocacy skills as a social worker. Future planning demonstrates readiness for professional responsibilities.
• Be sure to incorporate at least five scholarly articles you found using standard APA format. Accurate citation practices uphold academic integrity.

Note my social change problem. Food insecurity.

Food insecurity remains a serious social problem that affects families, children, and older adults in many communities. Policy analysis reveals how federal nutrition programs and local assistance initiatives attempt to reduce hunger and promote health. Careful review of professional experiences helped shape the selection of this issue as the focus of the project. Advocacy planning required evaluation of community needs, available resources, and existing legislative barriers. Lessons learned during each milestone emphasized the importance of collaboration with stakeholders and service agencies. Opportunities for growth include developing stronger public speaking skills and building broader partnerships with policymakers. Research confirms that effective advocacy strategies improve access to food resources and reduce economic hardship for vulnerable groups (Gundersen & Ziliak, 2018, https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-resource-100517-023238). Professional social workers must continue applying these advocacy skills to promote meaningful and sustainable social change.

Scholarly References

Gundersen, C., & Ziliak, J. P. (2018). Food insecurity research in the United States: Where we have been and where we need to go. Annual Review of Resource Economics, 10, 355–374. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-resource-100517-023238

Loopstra, R. (2020). Interventions to address household food insecurity in high-income countries. Proceedings of the Nutrition Society, 79(3), 276–288. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0029665120000161

Bruening, M., Dinour, L., & Chavez, J. (2019). Food insecurity and emotional health in the USA: A systematic review. Public Health Nutrition, 22(3), 1–10. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1368980018002536

Berkowitz, S. A., Seligman, H. K., & Meigs, J. B. (2021). Food insecurity, healthcare utilization, and high cost. Health Affairs, 40(6), 910–918. https://doi.org/10.1377/hlthaff.2020.01739

Pooler, J. A., & Srinivasan, M. (2023). Social work roles in addressing food insecurity and hunger. Journal of Social Service Research, 49(2), 145–160. https://doi.org/10.1080/01488376.2022.2119804