Provide general background information about your agency

Part I: Agency Overview

1. Provide general background information about your agency (how did it originate, who started it, how did it get to where it is today, etc.).
2. What are all the various populations served? Provide information about their demographics. *If you have a specific subpopulation of interest identify that group here.
3. Describe why this population/subpopulation is of interest to you.
4. Integrate factual supporting information to include statistics about this population or subpopulation that paints me a picture as to what they “look like” nationwide and then narrow it down to the specifics of your agency.
5. What makes this population or subpopulation unique? What strengths exist?
6. What is this group’s relationship to the greater environment (in other words what aspects of their identity, not limited to race,

SES, class, gender, etc. impact and are impacted by greater social influences/perspectives) and why?

7. Discuss your reasons for focusing on this population/subpopulation and/or specific issue.

Part II: Literature Review (SLO: 1.6: Organize/integrate components of information together; EPAS Competency 4: Engage in

Practice-Informed Research and Research Informed-Practice)

1. Select one scholarly peer reviewed article that is related to some aspect of your sub-population of interest (you get to determine

what aspect you want to focus on). As applicable, feel free to tie in 1 or more of the previous articles you used for your

literature reviews.

2. Summarize what your primary peer reviewed article is about.
3. Establish links between the peer reviewed article and your population or subpopulation. *In other words, describe how this

article reflects your population/subpopulation.

4. Specifically address what you perceive to be the primary topic, theme, issue, problem, etc. in this article and why.
5. Describe the author’s methods for gathering information and/or conducting the study (this is for the primary article only).
6. What was the intervention/process? (Whether you discuss an intervention, or a process depends on the type of article you select)
7. What was the outcome/concluding thought? (Whether you discuss a concrete outcome or a concluding thought, depends on the type of article you select)

Part III: Theoretical Overview (SLO:1.4; Analyze information by describing its components; EPAS Competency 7: Assess Individuals, Families, Organizations, and Communities)

*This part of your paper is all theory description. You are not applying the theory to your population at this point. You are demonstrating here that you have a very good understanding of what each of your theories are about. The two theories for this assignment are to be selected from any chapter in your textbook and can have been previously used.

III(a): Explain how and why you decided on these two theories?

III(b): The questions below are a guide to help you think about and analyze what information you want to include in this section. At

minimum, you will discuss 5 out of 9 points. A minimum 5 out of 9-point discussion should be done for each theory separately.

1. According to this theory, what determines human behavior?
2. What are the major tenets of the theory? Which tenets do I accept and why? Which tenets don’t I accept and why?
3. Are assumptions clearly defined? Are assumptions reasonable? Are the theory’s assumptions ethically and socially consistent with my own and social work’s assumptions?
4. Can the principles of the theory be practically applied?
5. How applicable is the theory across settings, different clients, and problems?
6. Is the theory clear, easy to understand, and logical? Why do you believe this to be so?
7. Does the theory address cultural, ethnic, or racial issues? Is the theory culturally sensitive? Explain your answer.
8. What empirical support exists for this theory?
9. Is the theory ethically consistent with the social work profession’s values? How do you know this?

III(c): Identify and provide supporting statements about (at minimum) two strengths and two limitations of EACH of your selected theories.

Part IV: Theory Application

1. Explain how each of these theories might interpret, predict, clarify, and/or conclude about the population/behavior/issue under

review.

2. To what extent do these theories align with and depart from one another in its understanding of the population/behavior/issue

under review?

3. How well do your chosen theories fit the population/subpopulation of interest and why do you believe this to be so?

Part V: Conclusion

1. What are the main points you found most important? Explain your answer.
2. Why should the greater population care about this issue?
3. Ultimately, to what extent can the behavior be modified and/or the primary topic, theme, issue, problem, etc. be resolved and

why?

4. What recommendations might you make going forward and/or speculations on future trends do you anticipate? Support your

answers. ***No flowcharts required for the written paper***