THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHAPEL HILL SCHOOL OF SOCIAL WORK COURSE NUMBER: SOWO 607 (also DENT 607, FMME 435, HPAAA 607, MEDI 297, MEDI 435, NURS 607, HMSC 607, PHPR 607) COURSE TITLE: AGING AND PUBLIC POLICY SEMESTER: Spring 2013; Tuesdays 5:30 to 8:30 PM – Beard 102 INSTRUCTOR: Tiffany Washington, MSW School of Social Work, UNC Chapel Hill Office 424, Tate-Turner & Kuralt Building, 301 Pittsboro St., CB 3550 Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3550 Department Phone: 919-966-5157 Fax: 919-966-0510 Email: twashing@email.unc.edu (preferred contact method) OFFICE HOURS: Tuesdays 1:00-4:00 or by appointment COURSE DESCRIPTION: This course is an advanced policy curriculum. Students will analyze public policy issues resulting from the growth of the older adult population, including an in-depth analysis of emerging issues and controversies. COURSE OBJECTIVES: Upon completion of the course students will be able to demonstrate the following: 1. An understanding of policy-making processes at federal, state and community levels; 2. Application of a theoretical framework for analyzing public policy; 3. An understanding of the profile of the older populations at the national, state and community levels and an ability to identify the major social, economic, and health conditions facing the elderly; 4. An ability to review current policies and programs; assess assets and liabilities of current policies and note implications/issues for development of future policies; 5. Knowledge of aging and public policy issues as they pertain to diverse, special needs of marginalized populations; 6. An understanding of other national approaches to addressing public policy issues and aging. EXPANDED DESCRIPTION: The Aging and Public Policy course is designed to provide students in all disciplines, including graduate students and upper level undergraduates, with an understanding of the policy issues facing the nation, state and community levels of government brought about by the needs of the aged population. Students will learn how to critically examine public policy issues and the forces in play that effect policy development. The course’s content is relevant to students who plan to work with older adults and need an understanding of the basic policy underpinnings of the major programs effecting older persons. The course is cross-listed in a variety of departments and schools, including dentistry (DENT 607), family medicine (FMME 297, 497), medicine (MEDI 297, 497), nursing (NURS 607), pharmacy (PHPR 607), physical therapy (HMSC 607), and social work (SOWO 607). The prerequisite for social work students is SOWO 530. REQUIRED TEXTS: Hudson, Robert. (2010). The New Politics of Old Age Policy, 2nd ed. Baltimore, MD: Johns Hopkins University Press. Berkman, B. (2006). Handbook of Social Work in Health and Aging. Oxford: University Press. (NOTE: Readings from this text are available UNC Library Reserves) Additional weekly readings are available via UNC Library Reserves. To access reserved readings, visit http://www.lib.unc.edu/ and click on the Reserves tab. You can search by course number of instructor last name. Other additional weekly readings will be available on Sakai weekly. The following websites are good resources on policy Issues: The Century Foundation http://www.tcf.org The Kaiser Family Foundation http://www.kff.org The Commonwealth Fund http://www.cmwf.org The National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare http://www.ncpssm.org Families USA http://www.familiesusa.org AARP http://www.aarp.org North Carolina Division of Aging and Adult Services http://www.ncdhhs.gov/aging/ UNC Institute on Aging http://www.aging.unc.edu Social Security Administration http://www.ssa.gov The Urban Institute http://www.urban.org Center for Medicare and Medicaid http://www.medicare.gov NC General Assembly http://www.ncga.state.nc.us Community Transportation Association of America http://www.ctaa.org National Hospice and Palliative Care Assoc. http://www.nhpco.org North Carolina Center for Public Policy Research http://www.nccppr.org/drupal/ TEACHING METHODS The course will be conducted as a modified seminar, with some lecture material from the instructor and selected guest speakers. The remainder of each session is devoted to discussion of course materials and topics, in-class activities/exercises, and/or role plays. Students will participate with instructor in developing a supportive learning environment that fosters open communication and respectful listening to and reflection on the ideas, views and values of their classmates as they pertain to the readings and assignments. CLASS ASSIGNMENTS AND REQUIREMENTS: 1. Attendance and Participation. Students are required to attend each class having read the required material in advance and participate fully in the class discussion. 2. Write three opinion/editorial pieces as a 500 word response to a current social issue, program, or policy designed to be submitted to a newspaper or other publication. The submission should address a problem on the local, state, or national level relevant to aging. The submission should catch the attention of the reader using relevant data or a case example. The submission should provide background on the issue and propose a solution. 3. Write a 2-page letter to your United States Congressional Representative. Visit http://www.house.gov/representatives/find/ to locate the name and contact information of your Representative. The purpose of your letter is to increase your Representative’s knowledge about a current social issue affecting the aging population, and encourage your Representative to support a policy or program designed to address that issue. 4. The final project is a policy analysis presentation, following the Gilbert/Terrell framework, of an issue of your choosing and approved by the instructor. You will be provided a grading rubric in advance. Presentations will be scheduled in the final class session. All students are required to attend the final class. 5. Participate in the Policy Day visit to the North Carolina State Legislative Building. The visit will include a tour of the building and a meeting with your Representative. GRADING DISTRIBUTION The proportionate value of each requirement is shown below: Class Participation/Attendance 10% Op-Ed Assignments 30% (10% each) Letter to Representative 15% Final Presentations 25 % Policy Day 20% GRADING SYSTEM Numeric scores will be combined in their proportionate value and converted for the assignment of a final grade, using the following scale. Letter Grade Numeric Grade H 94-100 P 80-93 L 70-79 F 69 and below POLICY ON ATTENDANCE, INCOMPLETES AND LATE ASSIGNMENTS If you cannot attend a class due to illness or family emergency, please email me before missing the class. Students who need to be absent for religious reasons, family emergencies, or illness should inform the instructor in advance. In the event that you do have an excused absence, you are still responsible for the assigned readings and submitting any assignments due the day you missed. Late assignments will be accepted and/or incomplete grades assigned in special situations, with prior approval by the instructor. Without prior arrangements with the instructor, late assignments will be reduced by 2 points for each day they are late (including weekend days). Please talk to me in person if serious conflicts arise, preventing attendance or completion of assignments. POLICY ON ACADEMIC DISHONESTY Please refer to the APA Style Guide, The SSW Manual, and the SSW Writing Guide for information on attribution of quotes, plagiarism and appropriate use of assistance in preparing assignments. All written assignments should contain a signed pledge from you stating, "I have not given or received unauthorized aid in preparing this written work.” In keeping with the UNC Honor Code, if reason exists to believe that academic dishonesty has occurred, a referral will be made to the Office of the Student Attorney General for investigation and further action as required. POLICY ON ACCOMMODATIONS FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES Students with disabilities which affect their participation in the course should obtain certification from the Office of Disability Services and notify the instructor on the first day of class if they require special accommodations. OTHER POLICIES/GENERAL INFORMATION I request electronic copies of all assignments by 5pm on the day they are due. Assignments should be submitted using the Dropbox feature on Sakai. Unless prior arrangements have been made with the instructor, papers will be marked late if they are not submitted on the due date. Date Topic January 15, 2013 Course Introduction January 22, 2013 Aging & Public Policy – History, Key Developments, and Current Trends Readings: Hudson Chapter 1 “Contemporary Challenges to Aging Policy” Framework for Social Welfare Policy Analysis (Gilbert & Terrell Framework) Guest Speaker: Dan Hudgins, MSW, ACSW UNC-CH School of Social Work January 29, 2013 Planning State Policy, Aging Friendly Communities, State Aging Plan, & Demographics of Aging Readings: A Profile of Older Americans (Sakai) Review: NC Division on Aging and Adult Services http://www.ncdhhs.gov/aging/ and the UNC Institute on Aging website: Quick facts http://www.aging.unc.edu/infocenter/data/factsfigures.html Guest Speaker: Dennis Streets, MPH, MAT, Planning, Budget, & System Supports Section Chief NC Division of Aging and Adult Services Assignment Due: Op Ed Assignment 1 February 5, 2013 Local Planning and Services to Aging & Area Agencies on Aging Readings: Policies affecting community-based social services, housing and transportation (UNC Library Reserves) Hudson Chapter 14 “The Older Americans Act and the Aging Services Network” Review: Triangle J Area on Aging http://www.tjaaa.org/ Guest Speaker: Joan Pellitier, Director, Triangle Area Agency on Aging February 12, 2013 Aging, Retirement, and Medicaid Readings: Hudson Chapter 13 “The Politics of Aging within Medicaid” Policies Affecting Health, Mental Health, and Caregiving: Medicaid (UNC Library Reserves) Private Retirement Benefits (UNC Library Reserves) Federal Income Maintenance Policies (UNC Library Reserves) Review: HealthCare.Gov http://www.healthcare.gov/using-insurance/lowcost-care/medicaid/ February 19, 2013 Aging Advocacy Bootcamp Readings: Hudson Chapter 5 “Political Power and the Baby Boomers” Review: American Association of Retired Persons http://www.aarp.org/ Guest Speaker: Mary Bethel, Associate State Director for Advocacy, AARP North Carolina Assignment Due: Letter to Your Representative February 26, 2013 Aging & End-Stage Renal Disease – Current Policies & Trends Readings: Hudson Chapter 12 “Deservingness Encounters Cost Containment Policies Affecting Health, Mental Health, and Caregiving: Medicare (UNC Library Reserves) Review: ESRD Medicare Guidelines http://www.kidney.org/professionals/cnsw/pdf/ESRD_medicare_guidelines.pdf Medicare Coverage for Kidney Dialysis and Kidney Transplant Services (SKIM only) http://www.medicare.gov/publications/pubs/pdf/10128.pdf Guest Speaker: Caroline Jennette, MSW UNC Kidney Center March 5, 2013 Hospice & Palliative Care: Policies & Current Trends Readings: Policies Related to End-of-Life Care (UNC Library Reserves) Review: The Washington Home Center for Palliative Care Studies http://www.medicaring.org/whitepaper/ and North Carolina Division of Aging & Adult Services Advance Care Planning http://www.ncdhhs.gov/aging/direct.htm Guest Speaker: Jehanne Gheith, MSW P-LCSW PhD Associate Professor Duke University Assignment Due: Op Ed Assignment 2 March 12, 2013 SPRING RECESS - NO CLASS! March 19, 2013 Family Caregiving and Extended Helper Networks Readings: Hudson Chapter 10 “Caregiving and the Construction of Political Claims for Long-Term Care Policy Reform” Policies Affecting Families of Older Adults with Care Needs (UNC Library Reserves) Guest Speaker: Tandrea Hilliard, MPH UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health March 26, 2013 Navigating Medicare Part D Review: Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage http://www.medicare.gov/navigation/medicare-basics/medicare-benefits/partd.aspx?AspxAutoDetectCookieSupport=1 Guest Speakers: Julie C. Lauffenburger, PharmD; Drew Roberts, PharmD UNC School of Pharmacy Assignment Due: Op Ed Assignment 3 April 2, 2013 Federal Regulations & Policies in Long Term Care Readings: Policies Affecting Long-Term Care and Long-Term Care Institutions (UNC Library Reserve) Review: Nursing Homes http://www.medicare.gov/nursing/overview.asp Nursing Home Compare http://www.medicare.gov/NHCompare/ NCDHHS http://www.ncdhhs.gov/dhsr/ Guest Speaker: Cindy DePorter, MSSW Department of Health & Human Services Quality Evaluative Systems April 9, 2013 No Class – Prepare for Policy Day and Final Assignments April 16, 2013 Class Presentations Assignment Due: Final Presentations April 23, 2013 Class Presentations Assignment Due: Final Presentations April 29, 2013 Policy Day! North Carolina General Assembly Legislative Building at 16 West Jones Street in Raleigh, NC 27601 at 10am Alternate Date: April 22