To get this vision, higher-ed students must understand the role human services and social work play in creating a solid community and a strong nation. While it’s common for universities to mandate classes in the sciences, political science, history, or literature, it’s much less common to require students to understand social policy challenges in our country.

Americans are Misinformed About Social Issues

A lack of understanding of human services and social work has serious consequences. Without the ability to look at the world in a fully dimensional way, college graduates may instead rely on pundits, political parties, or intentional misinformation to form opinions. The resulting issues are easy to spot in almost every aspect of social work. For example:

• One in four Americans believes poverty is the result of laziness.
• Americans have widely varying views on prison sentencing that are often linked to political party affiliations.
• 59% of U.S. men say single women raising children harms society.
• 44% of Americans believe government aid to the poor does more harm than good. 
• 30% believe that a weak personality causes depression.
• Roughly 30% believe that recovery from either mental illness or drug addiction is impossible.
• Although people with disabilities represent 12.6% of the population, only 41% of doctors are very confident they can provide adequate care to this population, despite federal laws requiring the delivery of such care.

My point is not to criticize opinions on these issues but to give students the tools to seek out multiple sources of information on social issues to inform their points of view. Most social policy professionals agree that individuals in need of support face multiple issues which hold them back from achieving their life goals. Social policy education will help more people understand how small problems can cascade into larger, life-altering consequences quickly.

Mandated Classes in Social Policy Offer a Range of Benefits

Making social policy a college requirement could mitigate many of these misconceptions. By asking students to study the history of social issues in America, the successes and failures of past and current programs, and the benefits of addressing social issues, we arm our future leaders with foundational skills that improve their ability to assess social issues throughout their careers.

Presenting a series of case studies and exercises allows students to critically evaluate all the factors that contribute to the existence of a range of social issues. We can demonstrate that people from all walks of life might rise and fall within a lifetime and show how human services may help people rebound from challenging situations. We can also explain that while poverty can be a trap, it is not necessarily the result of a bad work ethic or a lack of determination. And finally, we can emphasize that how Americans approach poverty, crime, abuse, disabilities, and homelessness has an enormous impact on the scope of each issue.

Demonstrate the Benefits of Sound Social Policy

 As someone who has worked in social services and education with a doctorate in educational psychology, it’s easy for me to see how social policy affects society. I spent years studying social policy and a lifetime practicing it. So, it’s frustrating to encounter smart people from good colleges who are not only uninformed but uninterested in learning more.

If we can reach college students in their formative years when they’re willing and able to learn and absorb new information, we can teach them a range of valuable lessons, including;

• The ability of social policy to reduce crime and incarceration rates
• How vulnerable populations become homeless
• How the desperation of homelessness can accelerate crime, drug use, and abuse
• The societal effects of overcrowded prisons and the impact of sending more people to prison
• The ability of social work to support law enforcement by addressing mental health crises, allowing police departments to concentrate on other issues that can reduce crime
• The power of social policy to build a better workforce
• The positive impact of mental health assistance
• The role of mothers in our society and the importance of fostering stable environments for children
• The critical role of the social safety net for people with developmental disabilities

How Does Your University Handle Social Policy Requirements?

I’ve connected with hundreds of university educators in the past few months. I’m interested to learn what you think about making social policy classes a requirement for education. Is it possible to create a movement to add social policy education to university requirements? What are the barriers? Is any university currently doing this?

I’d love your feedback. Together, we can ensure our future leaders have the tools they need to make the best decisions.