Module1

Exercise 1.1: Societal Problem and Societal Categories Your Total Score: __________ (Maximum: 10 points)

A. Define the term “societal problem” by quoting directly from the Maxwell Manual. (2 points) Part A score: ____

Place quote:

“A societal problem is when some aspect of our society, or, as we call it, “a societal condition,” fails to meet one or more of the six goals.”

(Coplin 2007: p. 4)

B. Choose one of the following societal categories: Crime, Education, Environment, Health, Housing, Jobs and Economic Development, or Poverty. Find, reference, and attach the first page of a newspaper article from a print or electronic source that discusses some aspect of the societal category. Attach the first page of the article behind the entire 1.1 exercise. In a paragraph of no more than 200 words, explain your interest in the societal category and quote one full and relevant sentence from the article. (8 points) Part B score: _____

Write the societal category you choose, exactly as it is stated in the Part B directions:

Health

Write a paragraph of no more than 200 words explaining why you are interested in that societal category (including newspaper article quote). Start your answer on the next line.

The health field has always been in my personal interest. As a doctor or a nurse, I can help patients in need by sharing knowledge and helping them pursue their lives in a more healthy way. Patients stay healthier when someone checks whether they are taking their medications, watching their weight, and coming in for check-ups or follow-up appointments. Electronic health records make care management more effective, and can help avoid expensive duplicate tests and procedures. Making primary care more accessible, managing care and using technology effectively will reduce emergency-room use, specialist visits and hospitalizations. Also, as a health care worker I can perform researches which can help progress in cures for illnesses, diseases, etc.

Gottfried, Richard (2010) “Hospitals And Health Care System Reform: More Money For Primary Care.” September 29, 2010. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/wires/2010/09/29/issue-forum-hospitals_ws_743851.html. Accessed on October 10, 2010, 11:56 AM.

Exercise 1.2: Identifying Public Policy Your Total Score: __________ (Maximum: 20 points)

A. Define the term “public policy” by quoting directly from the Maxwell Manual. (2 points) Part A score: _____

o Place quote:

“A public policy is an actual or proposed government action intended to deal with a given societal problem.”

(Coplin 2007: p. 6) B. Describe and reference (using any print or electronic newspaper) a legislative, administrative, and judicial action that relates to some aspect of your societal category. Attach the first page of each article(s) used. Articles may be used more than once at any point during this module. If an article is used more than once, place it behind the entire exercise where it is first used. (9 points) Part B score: ______

Describe and reference a legislative action:

Voters in three states will have the opportunity to take a largely symbolic stand against the federal health care law approved this year by declaring that individuals or business cannot be compelled to buy health insurance.”

Sulzberger, A.G.. (2010) “Voters Face Decisions on a Mix of Issues.” New York Times. October 5, 2010 http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/06/us/politics/06ballot.html. Last Accessed on October 8, 2010 at 1:00 PM.

Describe and reference an administrative action:

Government health insurance for children is no longer available for the poorest households. Now middle-class families like the McCreas, strugglingthrough the recession, can benefit as well.

Alderman, Lesley. (2010). “Government Helps to Insure Children, Even Above the Poverty Line.” October 8, 2010. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/09/health/09patient.html?ref=health. New York Times. Last Accessed on October 8, 2010 at 1:00 PM.

Describe and reference a judicial action:

A federal judge in Michigan on Thursday dismissed one of more than 15 legal challenges to the new health care law, becoming the first to rule that the law is constitutional.

Sack, Kevin. (2010). “Judge Rules Health Law is Constitutional.” New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/08/health/policy/08health.html. October 8, 2010. 1:00 PM.

C. Describe and reference (using any print or electronic newspaper) a national, state, and local public policy that affects your societal category. Attach the first page of the article(s) following the directions from 1.2B. (9 points) Part C score: _______

Describe and reference a national (federal) public policy:

For women, the reform law ranks alongside such advances as the creation of Medicaid and Medicare in 1965 and the recognition of women’s legal right to abortion in 1973. Like these landmarks, the law increases self-determination and economic security for women while diminishing anguish, danger, and financial burden.

(2010). “Health Reform is in the Making, Starting Now.” http://www.womensradio.com/articles/Health-Reform-Is-in-the-Making,-Starting-Now/6556.html. Last accessed on October 8, 2010 at 1:15 PM.

Describe and reference a state public policy (indicate which state):

While a massive reduction in Medicaid spending might make for intriguing campaign rhetoric, I firmly believe that a governor has the responsibility to pursue real reforms that achieve significant savings without decimating New York’s health care system and jeopardizing the lives of Medicaid recipients.”

“Statement from Governor David A. Paterson.” October 7, 2010. http://readme.readmedia.com/Statement-from-Governor-David-A-Paterson/1741709. Last accessed on October 8, 2010 1:20 PM EDT.

Describe and reference a local public policy (indicate which local government):

The Health Improvement Plan describes the goals and potential strategies to address the four priority health issues identified from the Community Health Needs Assessment: health literacy, access to health systems, public policy, and community economic development. (Wampsville, NY)

Johnson, Chrystal. (2010) “Improving Health Through Public Policy.” Madison County Courier. September 24, 2010. http://www.madisoncountycourier.com/madison-county-new-york-news/improving-health-through-public-policy-18489/. Last accessed on October 11, 2010 4:42 PM EDT.

Exercise 1.3: Identifying Players and Stakeholders Your Total Score: __________ (Maximum: 17 points)

A. State the major difference between a “player” and a “stakeholder” by quoting directly from How You Can Help or the Maxwell Manual. (4 points) Part A score_____

Place quote:

“All players are stakeholders because they are affected by public policies. Players have a stake in the policies that are made by their organizations, because these policies can affect their power. However, not all stakeholders are players. Stakeholders do not have power over the policies that are made by organizations.”

(Coplin 2007: p. 7)

B. Choose one of the policies you described in Exercise 1.2B or C and restate it below. Identify three different and distinct players that may be directly influencing the policy. The player must be an individual, not a group, and the player does not have to be mentioned in the article you used. Write a one sentence justification explaining what makes each of them a player. No source is needed for this exercise. (7 points) Part B score_____

Restate the Policy from Exercise 1.2B or C:

National Healthcare Reform

Player #1: Name: Rex Duncan

Title: State Representative of Oklahoma, chairman of the state judiciary panel

Justification:

State Represenative Duncan is trying to ban the Islamic law of Sharia, believing that practices such as fasting and certain diets would affect how Muslims would be taken care by hospitals and other health care facilities.

Player #2: Name: Jocelyn Guyer

Title: Co-executive Director of the Center for Children and Families

Justification:

Co-executive director Guyer controls part of the program Center for Children and Families which developed in the past year to help families to make health care affordable no matter how much income the family gets.

Player #3: Name: George C, Steeh

Title: Judge in Federal District Court

Justification:

Judge Steeh, as part of the Supreme Court, is making a law involving health care and ruled to make changes to require every American to obtain a type of health insurance by the year 2014.

C. For the policy you stated in Part B, identify three different and distinct local stakeholders who are not players. Write a one sentence justification for each stakeholder stating why they are stakeholders and not players for the policy you have identified. Stakeholders do not have to be mentioned in the article you used. No source is needed for this exercise. (6 points) Part C score______

Stakeholder #1: Ms. Mirusha Mujaj, Yorktown High School/PNW BOCES student

Justification: Ms. Mujaj is a citizen who is under her parent’s insurance, Empire (Blue Cross, Blue Shield). She does not have control over health care policies as she’s not even able to vote yet. After she turns 26, she must be on her own health care coverage where she still won’t be able to change any health care policies as a stakeholder.

Stakeholder #2: Mr. Dean McCrea, Age 55, Cobra Holder

Justification: Mr. McCrea recently lost his job and 30 years ago his wife passed away. He is covered by the Cobra health insurance program which is very expensive to keep up with financially. He can barely pay his mortgage with his job let alone pay for his health insurance. He cannot make the Cobra premiums cheaper therefore he must get health care coverage from Healthy Kids which covers Mr. McCrea and his son, Henry.

Stakeholder #3: Deepak Kapur, doctor working in Peekskill, NY

Justification: Dr. Deepak Kapur works with and knows the health care system very well. However, she has no control over health insurance as they control the payments and policies while she works with the patients that have these health insurances and she has health insurance herself.

Exercise 1.4: Identifying Players Your Total Score: _____ (Maximum: 18 points)

A. Using How You Can Help or other sources from the “Research Guide” section of the 101 web site, find a public interest/lobby organization that seeks to influence governmental policy on your societal category, and identify a player within the organization. You may want to contact this player later in the course. No source is needed for this exercise. (4 points) Part A score:_____

Write the exact name of the organization and its geographic location:

American Association of Retired Persons (AARP)

601 E Street, NW Washington DC 20049

Briefly describe one of the organization’s lobby goals:

AARP functions as a resource to members by providing job training, tax preparation assistance, job skills training classes, elder attorney services, housing assistance and financial information. Through its wide network of volunteers, the association delivers services designed to foster its philosophy that everyone deserves to age with dignity.

http://www.ehow.com/about_4587922_what-is-aarp.html

Write the name and title of the player you could contact:

John Penn, Chairman

B. Using How You Can Help or other sources from the “Research Guide” section of the 101 web site, find a nonprofit organization (other than a public interest group) that provides direct assistance or raises money to deal with the societal category you have chosen, and identify a player within the organization. You may want to contact this player later in the course. No source is needed for this exercise. (4 points) Part B score:_____

Write the exact name of the organization and its geographic location:

The American Medical Association (AMA)

515 N. State Street Chicago, IL 60654

Write the name and title of the player you could contact:

Nancy H Nielsen MD, PhD. President, American Medical Association

Briefly describe a specific service provided to the organization’s clients:

The American Medical Society ensures physician competency in caring for every patient.

C. Identify a governmental department (administrative) office at either the federal, state, or local level that has a clear role in the societal category you are studying, and identify a player within the department. You may want to contact this player later in the course. No source is needed for this exercise. (5 points) Part C score: ___

Write the exact title of the administrative office and its geographic location:

New York State Department of Health

Corning Tower Empire State Plaza, Albany, NY 12237

Write the name of the player in the department:

Dr. Richard F. Daines. Commissioner of Health

Write the e-mail address and phone number of the player:

(917) 862-8302

Webpage to contact Commissioner Daines http://www.health.state.ny.us/contact/

D. Identify an elected federal, state, or local government official who is a player in the societal category you are studying. You may want to contact this player later in the course. No source is needed for this exercise. (5 points) Part D score: ____

Write the exact title of the elected office: Senator (D-NY)

Write the name of the elected official: Kirsten Gillibrand

Write the e-mail address and phone number with area code of the elected official. If the official can only be emailed through a webpage, indicate this and provide the web address:

780 Third Avenue Suite 2601 New York, New York 10017 Tel. (212) 688-6262

Webpage to contact Senator Gillibrand http://gillibrand.senate.gov/contact/ Exercise 1.5: References Your Total Score:_____ (Maximum: 10 points)

Prepare a list of references that includes all sources for this module. Follow the APA format. Include all sources used in the exercises.

Start the References page on the next line or on the next page.

Coplin, William (2007). The Maxwell Manual for Good Citizenship: Public Policy Skills in Action. Policy Studies Associates: Croton-on-Hudson, NY. Gottfried, Richard (2010) “Hospitals And Health Care System Reform: More Money For Primary Care.” September 29, 2010. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/wires/2010/09/29/issue-forum-hospitals_ws_743851.html. Accessed on October 10, 2010, 11:56 AM.

(2010). “Health Reform is in the Making, Starting Now.” http://www.womensradio.com/articles/Health-Reform-Is-in-the-Making,-Starting-Now/6556.html. Last accessed on October 8, 2010 at 1:15 PM.

Johnson, Chrystal. (2010) “Improving Health Through Public Policy.” Madison County Courier. September 24, 2010. http://www.madisoncountycourier.com/madison-county-new-york-news/improving-health-through-public-policy-18489/. Last accessed on October 11, 2010 4:42 PM EDT.

Sack, Kevin. (2010). “Judge Rules Health Law is Constitutional.” New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/08/health/policy/08health.html. October 8, 2010. 1:00 PM.

“Statement from Governor David A. Paterson.” October 7, 2010. http://readme.readmedia.com/Statement-from-Governor-David-A-Paterson/1741709. Last accessed on October 8, 2010 1:20 PM EDT.

Sulzberger, A.G.. (2010) “Voters Face Decisions on a Mix of Issues.” New York Times. October 5, 2010 http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/06/us/politics/06ballot.html. Last Accessed on October 8, 2010 at 1:00 PM.