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 2014; Tuesdays 5:30 to 8:30 PM
INSTRUCTOR: Kate Wegmann, MSW
School of Social Work, UNC Chapel Hill
Office 245C, Tate-Turner & Kuralt Building, 301 Pittsboro St., CB 3550
Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3550
Email: wegmann@email.unc.edu (preferred contact method)
OFFICE HOURS: Thursdays 5:30-7:00 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
(MEDI297, 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: This book is available electronically through the UNC Library System, so all readings
are available for free—no need to purchase)
Additional weekly readings are available on Sakai.
The following websites are also 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. Guest speakers will represent a variety of disciplines,
given the interdisciplinary nature of the class. The remainder of each session is devoted to
discussion of course materials and topics and in-class activities/exercises. 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. The week prior to
Policy Day, you will be asked to turn in a checklist confirming your appointment with your
representative or his/her staff member and bullet-pointed talking points or questions that you
would like to discuss during your meeting.
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.
POLICY ON THE USE OF ELECTRONIC DEVICES IN THE CLASSROOM
Please turn off cell phones or set to vibrate and refrain from taking calls or texting during class.
Laptops, tablets, and similar devices should be used only for class purposes. Unrelated activities
such as reading email, IMing, tweeting, or playing games are distracting and discourteous. Use
of electronic devices for purposes other than class will count against your participation grade.
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 by 5pm on the due
date.
Date
Topic
January 14,
2014
Course Introduction
January 21,
2014
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 28,
2014
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 4,
2014
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
February 11,
2014
Local Planning and Services to Aging & Area Agencies on Aging
Readings: Policies affecting community-based social services, housing and
transportation (Berkman; available electronically via UNC Libraries)
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 Pellettier, Director, Triangle Area Agency on Aging
February 18,
2014
Aging, Retirement, and Medicaid
Readings: Hudson Chapter 13 “The Politics of Aging within Medicaid”
Policies Affecting Health, Mental Health, and Caregiving: Medicaid (Berkman)
Private Retirement Benefits (Berkman)
Federal Income Maintenance Policies (Berkman)
Review: HealthCare.Gov http://www.healthcare.gov/using-insurance/low-costcare/medicaid/
Assignment Due: Letter to Your Representative
February 25,
2014
Aging and Health Disparities
Review: Fighting Aging Stereotypes (World Health Organization)-http://www.who.int/world-healthday/2012/toolkit/background/en/index3.html
Readings (all available on Sakai):
Under the Radar: How Unexamined Biases in Decision-Making Processes in
Clinical Interactions Can Contribute to Health Care Disparities (Dovido &
Fiske)
A Life Course Perspective on How Racism May Be Related to Health Inequities
(Gee, Walsemann, & Brondolo)
Guest Speaker: To Be Determined
March 4,
2014
Hospice & Palliative Care: Policies & Current Trends
Readings: Policies Related to End-of-Life Care (Berkman)
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 11,
2014
NO CLASS—Happy Spring Break!
March 18,
2014
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 (Berkman)
Guest Speakers: Lindy Beyer, RN, BSN
UNC Hospitals
Christina Horsford, MSW, MPA
UNC School of Social Work
March 25,
2014
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 1,
2014
Federal Regulations & Policies in Long Term Care
Readings: Policies Affecting Long-Term Care and Long-Term Care Institutions
(Berkman)
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 8,
2014
Work Day: Prepare for Policy Day and Final Presentations
April 15,
2014
Final Class Presentations
Assignment Due: Final Presentations
April 22,
2014
Final Class Presentations
Assignment Due: Final Presentations
Policy Day checklist
April 30,
2014
Policy Day! North Carolina General Assembly Legislative Building at 16 West
Jones Street in Raleigh, NC 27601 at 9:30am
Please note this is a Wednesday, not a Tuesday.