Open AccessPolicymaking Opportunities for Direct Practice Social Workers in Mental Health and Addiction Services
Author(s) -
Thomas Powell,
Eve E. Garrow,
Michael R. Woodford,
Brian E. Perron
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
advances in social work
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2331-4125
pISSN - 1527-8565
DOI - 10.18060/2227
Subject(s) - discretion , social work , addiction , power (physics) , mental health , public relations , project commissioning , social policy , business , public administration , political science , publishing , psychology , psychiatry , law , physics , quantum mechanics
Direct practice social workers have potentially significant policymaking opportunities as mediators of top-down policy and as creators of policy where none exists. The power they possess stems from their ‘on the ground’ expertise and the discretion available to them in making practice decisions. By understanding their power as “street-level bureaucrats” they can significantly improve policy. Drawing on policy issues in mental health and addictions services, this article illustrates how social workers can use their power in an ethically sensitive manner to enhance policy outcomes for clients.