Assignment Prompt & Instructions
[>Sociology homework help](https://www.sweetstudy.com/fields/social-science-sociology)
**files (2)**
– ## PolicySelectionandbackgroundinstructions.docx
– ## Explorationofsocialjusticepaper.docx
**## PolicySelectionandbackgroundinstructions.docx**
**Assignment Description**
Government policy impacts social justice problems. Some policies may create social justice problems just as they attempt to correct them. To successfully address social justice problems, social workers must have the knowledge and skills to locate, access, analyze, and interpret public policy.
Based on your analysis of the social justice problem in the Week 2 assignment, select a current enacted policy that is presently a law to analyze using relevant local, state, or federal policy resources. Your analysis must also address the problem that affects your chosen diverse cultural group (for example, based on race, religion, disabilities, gender orientation, socioeconomic status, or access to services). This will be the policy you analyze for not only this assignment, but the Weeks 6 and 9 assignments as well. Be sure to incorporate constructs that have been covered in this course into your analysis. You will compile all of the assignments you complete throughout the course in Week 9, so as you receive feedback for each assignment, revise your work as necessary.
If you need additional support for conducting your research, it may be useful to consult the following:
·
[Evidence and APA](https://lat.strategiced.com/redirect?linkid=1540).
·
[How Do I Find Peer-Reviewed Articles?](https://lat.strategiced.com/redirect?linkid=1650)
·
[Social Work Masters Program (MSW) Library Guide](https://capellauniversity.libguides.com/msw).
·
[What Is Scholarly?](https://lat.strategiced.com/redirect?linkid=2951)
By successfully completing this assignment, you will demonstrate your proficiency in the following CSWE EPAS competencies and general practices:
· CSWE EPAS Competency 5: Engage in policy practice.
· C5.GP.A: Use social justice, anti-racist, and anti-oppressive lenses to assess how social welfare policies affect the delivery of and access to social services.
· Related assignment criteria:
1. Describe the purpose of a currently enacted policy that addresses the social justice problem for a chosen population, using scholarly literature for support.
2. Describe how the policy connects to the chosen social justice problem, using scholarly literature for support.
3. Describe the historical issues and context that led to the creation of the social problem and policy development, including details about voting outcomes and legislative leaders, using scholarly literature for support.
4. Describe the programs and services provided through the policy, using scholarly literature for support.
5. Describe the impact of the historical influences on the implementation of the policy, using scholarly literature for support.
**Assignment Instructions**
To complete this assignment, select a local, state, or federal policy that targets the form of oppression and discrimination you described in Week 2 (for example, the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA), Veterans Millennium Healthcare Act, Affordable Care Act (ACA), Adoption and Safe Families Act, Medicare, Medicaid, Temporary Aid to Needy Families Act, Social Security Act, or a relevant state or local policy, such as state or local affordable housing policies or health and safety policies related to COVID-19).
Then, complete the following:
· Describe the purpose of a currently enacted policy that addresses the social justice problem for a chosen population, using scholarly literature for support.
· Remember, this policy must be enacted—in other words, it must be passed legislation.
· Describe the programs and services provided through the policy, using scholarly literature for support.
· What are examples of the programs and services that are being offered as a result of your chosen policy?
· Who is the target population for these programs and services?
· Describe how the policy connects to the chosen social justice problem, using scholarly literature for support.
· Connect the policy to the social justice problem you selected by giving a brief description of the problem. Is it a new problem, something that has recently arisen, or an old problem that has never been resolved?
· Describe the historical issues and context that led to the creation of the social problem and policy development.
· Include information about the voting outcomes for the policy and the legislative leaders who influenced the policy historically and in the present.
· Include the impact these historical features have had on the policy's implementation.
**Guidelines**
· Use scholarly, peer-reviewed literature to support your claims.
· Review the
**Policy Selection and Background** rubric for information on how your work will be graded.
· Remember that your instructor will be providing feedback on your assignments. Use that feedback to improve the content of your final assignment submission in Week 9,
**Policy Analysis and Recommendations**.
**Additional Requirements**
The assignment you submit is expected to meet the following requirements:
·
**Written communication:** Written communication is free of errors that detract from the overall message.
·
**APA formatting:** Resources and citations are formatted according to current APA style and formatting standards.
·
**Cited resources:** A minimum of five scholarly sources. Most literature cited should be current, with publication dates within the past five years.
·
**Length of paper:** 4–6 typed, double-spaced pages.
·
**Font and font size:** Times New Roman, 12 point.
·
**Due date:** Assignment must be submitted to your instructor in the courseroom no later than Sunday, 11:59 p.m. CST, this week.
**Competencies Measured**
By successfully completing this assignment, you will demonstrate your proficiency in the following course competencies and rubric criteria:
· Competency 1: Use social justice, anti-racist, and anti-oppressive lenses to assess how social welfare policies affect the delivery of and access to social services. (C5.GP.A)
· Describe the purpose of a currently enacted policy that addresses the social justice problem for a chosen population, using scholarly literature for support. (C5.GP.A)
· Describe the programs and services provided through the policy, using scholarly literature for support. (C5.GP.A)
· Describe how the policy connects to the chosen social justice problem, using scholarly literature for support. (C5.GP.A)
· Describe the historical issues and context that led to the creation of the social problem and policy development, including details about voting outcomes and legislative leaders, using scholarly literature for support. (C5.GP.A)
· Describe the impact of the historical influences on the implementation of the policy, using scholarly literature for support. (C5.GP.A)
· Competency 3: Communicate in a manner that is scholarly, professional, and consistent with expectations for members of the social work profession.
· Communicate in a manner that is scholarly, professional, and consistent with expectations for members of the social work profession.
**## Explorationofsocialjusticepaper.docx**
2
**Health Inequities Among Low-Income Communities and People of Color in the United States**
Taliegha Carter
Capella University
Social Welfare Hist Plcy Pract
Prof. Katti Carlson
7/26/26
**Health Inequities Among Low-Income Communities and People of Color in the United States**
Social justice problems may affect different populations in unique ways. Social workers need to know the issues that may come up in relation to these populations when trying to provide assistance and support to them. One of the social justice issues that exists in the United States is that of the health disparity between poor communities and racial minorities. These people tend to face problems accessing affordable health care, preventative measures, and quality care. Inequality results in adverse health consequences, more chronic illnesses, and unnecessary deaths (Ndugga et al., 2024). The issue of health inequality is affected by such factors as social, economic, and structural factors instead of just individual decisions. Social workers need to participate in the fight for equal access to care through advocacy and policymaking. Analysis of oppression, ethics, public policy, and advocacy gives insights into how to address health disparities.
**Forms and Mechanisms of Oppression and Discrimination**
Health inequities arise due to the system of oppression and discrimination that is prevalent since time immemorial. Structural inequities such as racism, poverty, unemployment, and disparity in health care services put at risk the well-being of economically underprivileged populations and minority groups. Minorities usually lack health care facilities like hospitals, primary care physicians, specialists, pharmacies, and mental health services in comparison with richer neighborhoods. Constraints to timely health care include limited health care access, difficulties in transportation, lack of health insurance, and poverty.
Discrimination occurs in the healthcare sector as well. Studies have shown that implicit bias impacts the impression of diagnosis, decision-making regarding treatment and pain management, and interaction with healthcare professionals for ethnic minorities (Job et al., 2024). Cultural diversity and communication barriers can also cause delays in treatment and low patient satisfaction.
The implications of these effects are many. According to the estimates by the U.S. Census Bureau in 2023, there are some 25.7 million people in the United States who lack health insurance (Tolbert et al., 2024). The rate of lack of insurance in Hispanic, Black, and lower socio-economic groups is much higher than among those in higher socioeconomic status and the white population. As per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), blacks have higher incidences of high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, and stroke (Sells et al., 2023). Black women have three times the risk of death during pregnancy than white women. The consequences are dire for the family economics, disabilities, and mortality rate of the population groups. The impact on communities of health inequities on communities' productivity, education, and lives can be damaging.
**Ethical Problems Associated With Health Inequities**
The issue of inequities in health has important ethical implications for social work. Among the values promoted in the NASW Code of Ethics are social justice, dignity and worth of the person, service, integrity, and the value of human relationships. Social workers are ethically responsible for opposing discrimination, claiming equal access to services, and ensuring health policy proactively disseminates services to marginalized groups.
An ethical issue may include unequal healthcare provision depending on income level, race, or employment. Everybody has to receive good medical care irrespective of their socio-economic background. Furthermore, there is an ethical problem associated with existing obstacles in the system that keep disadvantaged groups from accessing preventive care, medicines, and other special services. These inequalities are contrary to the principles of fairness and respect for human rights. Another problem relates to the need for social workers to develop their skills in cultural competency and implicit bias. Social workers should know about different factors that influence the way they perform their work (National Association of Social Workers, 2025). Ethical practice calls for culturally responsive communication, respect for clients’ autonomy, and working with the individual and the community to create care plans.
The implications for practice are significant. Social workers can improve client outcomes by connecting individuals with community resources, assisting with insurance enrollment, advocating for culturally appropriate services, and addressing social determinants of health such as housing, food security, employment, and transportation. Ethical Advocacy boosts trust, improves health care access, and contributes to healthier communities.
**Current Enacted Policies**
Various federal policies have been enacted to minimize health disparities in the United States. One of the significant laws enacted to improve health service accessibility is the Affordable Care Act (ACA), enacted in 2010. Some of the changes made by the Affordable Care Act include expansion of Medicaid to cover more people in states opting for the change, a ban on insurance discrimination based on existing medical conditions, promotion of preventive care, and Health Insurance Marketplaces (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2022).
The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 makes health coverage more affordable for low-income Americans and their families by increasing premium subsidies for ACA coverage (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2022). Additional subsidies and reduced Medicare prescription drug costs were further extended in the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) of 2022. Medicaid, another key federal-state program, is health coverage for low-income individuals, children, pregnant women, older adults, and people with disabilities, and is also important. States that increased Medicaid eligibility have generally seen more gains in insurance rates than have states that failed to expand eligibility. Such policies remain in place, and their impact continues to improve health care access to the poor and disadvantaged and to reduce cost barriers to health care services.
**Effectiveness of Current Policies**
Improvements in current policies provide greater access to insurance coverage and better access to preventive services, but there are significant gaps. Medicaid expansion has been associated with decreased uninsured status, increased preventive services use, better chronic disease management, and fewer unnecessary hospitalizations among low-income adults (Tolbert et al., 2026). Additional insurance expansion has also included increased availability of medications through the system and regular medical attention.
Nevertheless, the success of policies is inconsistent from state to state, as Medicaid extension is an optional policy. People living in non-expanding states may experience coverage gaps which restrict healthcare access. Coverage alone also cannot address disparities stemming from provider shortages, transportation, language barriers, or provider discrimination within the health care system. According to Hayre et al. (2026), policies on broader social determinants of health, in addition to policies on health financing, are required to reduce health inequities. Investments in education, the community, housing, employment, and health infrastructure are tied to long-term health outcomes. As a result, health inequalities that disproportionately affect low-income communities and people of color continue to be present and part of current policy.
**Policy Impact and Constraints**
Currently, policies have enhanced health insurance coverage and increased access to preventive services for many among these vulnerable populations. Within recent changes, more people receive routine, chronic disease management, maternal and behavioral health services than before reform (Osmani, 2025). These enhancements have helped with early detection and control of many chronic diseases.
However, policy limitations exist as well. The eligibility rules for the Medicaid program differ depending on the state and, consequently, depending on geographic location. Provider shortages affect many individuals, particularly those living in rural and underdeveloped urban areas. Lower payments reduce the willingness of some medical institutions to treat Medicaid recipients. Another factor that affects healthcare eligibility is immigration status. Furthermore, factors such as administration issues, lack of transport options, lack of access to the Internet, and language barriers prevent eligible people from accessing healthcare services. These barriers make the policies ineffective as a whole and exacerbate inequities.
**Comparison of Advocacy Methods**
Various types of advocacy can be used to deal with health inequalities. Advocacy through policies involves urging legislators to introduce new legislation aimed at ensuring insurance coverage, increased funding in healthcare, and protection from discrimination. Community organizing provides community members the opportunity to identify issues that impact them and to demand better health care services (Jimenez & Heller, 2025). The goal of health education is to increase awareness of health disparities and preventive strategies. Evidence-based policy development, research, and legislative engagement are supported through advocacy by social workers and health professionals.
These two approaches come with their pros and cons. Policy advocacy can lead to systemic, long-term change, and may require the cooperation of policymakers, as well as time to implement. Community organizing is useful because it helps to build trust and empower communities that could be affected but may lack the funds to act independently. Public education can make a difference for awareness but cannot address structural problems alone.
Further advancements require better collaboration between healthcare professionals, social workers, policymakers, and the community. Expanding culturally competent care, growing workforce diversity, better transport facilities, and better investment in disadvantaged areas will build on current efforts. These methods help to foster health equity by addressing the root cause of healthcare inequities.
**References**
Hayre, J., Canning, E., Pearce, H., Khera, R., & Ford, J. (2026). Public health policies and interventions to address health inequities in high-income countries: An umbrella review.
_BMC Public Health_,
_26_(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-25876-2
Jimenez, C., & Heller, J. C. (2025). Community organizing and public health: A rapid review.
_BMC Public Health_,
_25_(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-21303-8
Job, C., Adenipekun, B., Cleves, A., Gill, P., & Samuriwo, R. (2024). Health professionals' implicit bias of patients with low socioeconomic status (SES) and its effects on clinical decision-making: A scoping review.
_BMJ Open_,
_14_(7), e081723. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2023-081723
National Association of Social Workers. (2025). Standards and indicators for cultural competence in social work practice. In
_National Association of Social Workers_. https://www.socialworkers.org/Practice/NASW-Practice-Standards-Guidelines/Standards-and-Indicators-for-Cultural-Competence-in-Social-Work-Practice
Ndugga, N., Pillai, D., & Artiga, S. (2024). Disparities in health and health care: 5 key questions and answers. In
_KFF_. https://www.kff.org/racial-equity-and-health-policy/disparities-in-health-and-health-care-5-key-question-and-answers/
Osmani, A. R. (2025). Unequal gains? A literature review on the Affordable Care Act’s effects on healthcare utilization across racial and ethnic groups.
_International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health_,
_22_(7), 1059. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph22071059
Sells, M., Blum, E., Perry, G. S., Eke, P. I., & Presley-Cantrell, L. (2023). Excess burden of Poverty and hypertension, by Race and ethnicity, on the prevalence of Cardiovascular disease.
_Preventing Chronic Disease_,
_20_(20). https://doi.org/10.5888/pcd20.230065
Tolbert, J., Bell, C., Cervantes, S., & Singh, R. (2024). The uninsured population and health coverage | KFF. In
_KFF_. https://www.kff.org/uninsured/health-policy-101-the-uninsured-population-and-health-coverage/
Tolbert, J., Cervantes, S., Bell, C., & Damico, A. (2026, June 16).
_Key facts about the uninsured population_. KFF. https://www.kff.org/uninsured/key-facts-about-the-uninsured-population/?entry=financial-implications-of-being-uninsured-financial-insecurity
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2022). About the Affordable Care Act. In
_U.S. Department of Health & Human Services_.
[https://www.hhs.gov/healthcare/about-the-aca/index.html](https://www.hhs.gov/healthcare/about-the-aca/index.html)
**## Explorationofsocialjusticepaper.docx**
2
**Health Inequities Among Low-Income Communities and People of Color in the United States**
Taliegha Carter
Capella University
Social Welfare Hist Plcy Pract
Prof. Katti Carlson
7/26/26
**Health Inequities Among Low-Income Communities and People of Color in the United States**
Social justice problems may affect different populations in unique ways. Social workers need to know the issues that may come up in relation to these populations when trying to provide assistance and support to them. One of the social justice issues that exists in the United States is that of the health disparity between poor communities and racial minorities. These people tend to face problems accessing affordable health care, preventative measures, and quality care. Inequality results in adverse health consequences, more chronic illnesses, and unnecessary deaths (Ndugga et al., 2024). The issue of health inequality is affected by such factors as social, economic, and structural factors instead of just individual decisions. Social workers need to participate in the fight for equal access to care through advocacy and policymaking. Analysis of oppression, ethics, public policy, and advocacy gives insights into how to address health disparities.
**Forms and Mechanisms of Oppression and Discrimination**
Health inequities arise due to the system of oppression and discrimination that is prevalent since time immemorial. Structural inequities such as racism, poverty, unemployment, and disparity in health care services put at risk the well-being of economically underprivileged populations and minority groups. Minorities usually lack health care facilities like hospitals, primary care physicians, specialists, pharmacies, and mental health services in comparison with richer neighborhoods. Constraints to timely health care include limited health care access, difficulties in transportation, lack of health insurance, and poverty.
Discrimination occurs in the healthcare sector as well. Studies have shown that implicit bias impacts the impression of diagnosis, decision-making regarding treatment and pain management, and interaction with healthcare professionals for ethnic minorities (Job et al., 2024). Cultural diversity and communication barriers can also cause delays in treatment and low patient satisfaction.
The implications of these effects are many. According to the estimates by the U.S. Census Bureau in 2023, there are some 25.7 million people in the United States who lack health insurance (Tolbert et al., 2024). The rate of lack of insurance in Hispanic, Black, and lower socio-economic groups is much higher than among those in higher socioeconomic status and the white population. As per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), blacks have higher incidences of high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, and stroke (Sells et al., 2023). Black women have three times the risk of death during pregnancy than white women. The consequences are dire for the family economics, disabilities, and mortality rate of the population groups. The impact on communities of health inequities on communities' productivity, education, and lives can be damaging.
**Ethical Problems Associated With Health Inequities**
The issue of inequities in health has important ethical implications for social work. Among the values promoted in the NASW Code of Ethics are social justice, dignity and worth of the person, service, integrity, and the value of human relationships. Social workers are ethically responsible for opposing discrimination, claiming equal access to services, and ensuring health policy proactively disseminates services to marginalized groups.
An ethical issue may include unequal healthcare provision depending on income level, race, or employment. Everybody has to receive good medical care irrespective of their socio-economic background. Furthermore, there is an ethical problem associated with existing obstacles in the system that keep disadvantaged groups from accessing preventive care, medicines, and other special services. These inequalities are contrary to the principles of fairness and respect for human rights. Another problem relates to the need for social workers to develop their skills in cultural competency and implicit bias. Social workers should know about different factors that influence the way they perform their work (National Association of Social Workers, 2025). Ethical practice calls for culturally responsive communication, respect for clients’ autonomy, and working with the individual and the community to create care plans.
The implications for practice are significant. Social workers can improve client outcomes by connecting individuals with community resources, assisting with insurance enrollment, advocating for culturally appropriate services, and addressing social determinants of health such as housing, food security, employment, and transportation. Ethical Advocacy boosts trust, improves health care access, and contributes to healthier communities.
**Current Enacted Policies**
Various federal policies have been enacted to minimize health disparities in the United States. One of the significant laws enacted to improve health service accessibility is the Affordable Care Act (ACA), enacted in 2010. Some of the changes made by the Affordable Care Act include expansion of Medicaid to cover more people in states opting for the change, a ban on insurance discrimination based on existing medical conditions, promotion of preventive care, and Health Insurance Marketplaces (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2022).
The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 makes health coverage more affordable for low-income Americans and their families by increasing premium subsidies for ACA coverage (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2022). Additional subsidies and reduced Medicare prescription drug costs were further extended in the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) of 2022. Medicaid, another key federal-state program, is health coverage for low-income individuals, children, pregnant women, older adults, and people with disabilities, and is also important. States that increased Medicaid eligibility have generally seen more gains in insurance rates than have states that failed to expand eligibility. Such policies remain in place, and their impact continues to improve health care access to the poor and disadvantaged and to reduce cost barriers to health care services.
**Effectiveness of Current Policies**
Improvements in current policies provide greater access to insurance coverage and better access to preventive services, but there are significant gaps. Medicaid expansion has been associated with decreased uninsured status, increased preventive services use, better chronic disease management, and fewer unnecessary hospitalizations among low-income adults (Tolbert et al., 2026). Additional insurance expansion has also included increased availability of medications through the system and regular medical attention.
Nevertheless, the success of policies is inconsistent from state to state, as Medicaid extension is an optional policy. People living in non-expanding states may experience coverage gaps which restrict healthcare access. Coverage alone also cannot address disparities stemming from provider shortages, transportation, language barriers, or provider discrimination within the health care system. According to Hayre et al. (2026), policies on broader social determinants of health, in addition to policies on health financing, are required to reduce health inequities. Investments in education, the community, housing, employment, and health infrastructure are tied to long-term health outcomes. As a result, health inequalities that disproportionately affect low-income communities and people of color continue to be present and part of current policy.
**Policy Impact and Constraints**
Currently, policies have enhanced health insurance coverage and increased access to preventive services for many among these vulnerable populations. Within recent changes, more people receive routine, chronic disease management, maternal and behavioral health services than before reform (Osmani, 2025). These enhancements have helped with early detection and control of many chronic diseases.
However, policy limitations exist as well. The eligibility rules for the Medicaid program differ depending on the state and, consequently, depending on geographic location. Provider shortages affect many individuals, particularly those living in rural and underdeveloped urban areas. Lower payments reduce the willingness of some medical institutions to treat Medicaid recipients. Another factor that affects healthcare eligibility is immigration status. Furthermore, factors such as administration issues, lack of transport options, lack of access to the Internet, and language barriers prevent eligible people from accessing healthcare services. These barriers make the policies ineffective as a whole and exacerbate inequities.
**Comparison of Advocacy Methods**
Various types of advocacy can be used to deal with health inequalities. Advocacy through policies involves urging legislators to introduce new legislation aimed at ensuring insurance coverage, increased funding in healthcare, and protection from discrimination. Community organizing provides community members the opportunity to identify issues that impact them and to demand better health care services (Jimenez & Heller, 2025). The goal of health education is to increase awareness of health disparities and preventive strategies. Evidence-based policy development, research, and legislative engagement are supported through advocacy by social workers and health professionals.
These two approaches come with their pros and cons. Policy advocacy can lead to systemic, long-term change, and may require the cooperation of policymakers, as well as time to implement. Community organizing is useful because it helps to build trust and empower communities that could be affected but may lack the funds to act independently. Public education can make a difference for awareness but cannot address structural problems alone.
Further advancements require better collaboration between healthcare professionals, social workers, policymakers, and the community. Expanding culturally competent care, growing workforce diversity, better transport facilities, and better investment in disadvantaged areas will build on current efforts. These methods help to foster health equity by addressing the root cause of healthcare inequities.
**References**
Hayre, J., Canning, E., Pearce, H., Khera, R., & Ford, J. (2026). Public health policies and interventions to address health inequities in high-income countries: An umbrella review.
_BMC Public Health_,
_26_(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-25876-2
Jimenez, C., & Heller, J. C. (2025). Community organizing and public health: A rapid review.
_BMC Public Health_,
_25_(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-21303-8
Job, C., Adenipekun, B., Cleves, A., Gill, P., & Samuriwo, R. (2024). Health professionals' implicit bias of patients with low socioeconomic status (SES) and its effects on clinical decision-making: A scoping review.
_BMJ Open_,
_14_(7), e081723. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2023-081723
National Association of Social Workers. (2025). Standards and indicators for cultural competence in social work practice. In
_National Association of Social Workers_. https://www.socialworkers.org/Practice/NASW-Practice-Standards-Guidelines/Standards-and-Indicators-for-Cultural-Competence-in-Social-Work-Practice
Ndugga, N., Pillai, D., & Artiga, S. (2024). Disparities in health and health care: 5 key questions and answers. In
_KFF_. https://www.kff.org/racial-equity-and-health-policy/disparities-in-health-and-health-care-5-key-question-and-answers/
Osmani, A. R. (2025). Unequal gains? A literature review on the Affordable Care Act’s effects on healthcare utilization across racial and ethnic groups.
_International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health_,
_22_(7), 1059. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph22071059
Sells, M., Blum, E., Perry, G. S., Eke, P. I., & Presley-Cantrell, L. (2023). Excess burden of Poverty and hypertension, by Race and ethnicity, on the prevalence of Cardiovascular disease.
_Preventing Chronic Disease_,
_20_(20). https://doi.org/10.5888/pcd20.230065
Tolbert, J., Bell, C., Cervantes, S., & Singh, R. (2024). The uninsured population and health coverage | KFF. In
_KFF_. https://www.kff.org/uninsured/health-policy-101-the-uninsured-population-and-health-coverage/
Tolbert, J., Cervantes, S., Bell, C., & Damico, A. (2026, June 16).
_Key facts about the uninsured population_. KFF. https://www.kff.org/uninsured/key-facts-about-the-uninsured-population/?entry=financial-implications-of-being-uninsured-financial-insecurity
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2022). About the Affordable Care Act. In
_U.S. Department of Health & Human Services_.
[https://www.hhs.gov/healthcare/about-the-aca/index.html](https://www.hhs.gov/healthcare/about-the-aca/index.html)
**## PolicySelectionandbackgroundinstructions.docx**
**Assignment Description**
Government policy impacts social justice problems. Some policies may create social justice problems just as they attempt to correct them. To successfully address social justice problems, social workers must have the knowledge and skills to locate, access, analyze, and interpret public policy.
Based on your analysis of the social justice problem in the Week 2 assignment, select a current enacted policy that is presently a law to analyze using relevant local, state, or federal policy resources. Your analysis must also address the problem that affects your chosen diverse cultural group (for example, based on race, religion, disabilities, gender orientation, socioeconomic status, or access to services). This will be the policy you analyze for not only this assignment, but the Weeks 6 and 9 assignments as well. Be sure to incorporate constructs that have been covered in this course into your analysis. You will compile all of the assignments you complete throughout the course in Week 9, so as you receive feedback for each assignment, revise your work as necessary.
If you need additional support for conducting your research, it may be useful to consult the following:
·
[Evidence and APA](https://lat.strategiced.com/redirect?linkid=1540).
·
[How Do I Find Peer-Reviewed Articles?](https://lat.strategiced.com/redirect?linkid=1650)
·
[Social Work Masters Program (MSW) Library Guide](https://capellauniversity.libguides.com/msw).
·
[What Is Scholarly?](https://lat.strategiced.com/redirect?linkid=2951)
By successfully completing this assignment, you will demonstrate your proficiency in the following CSWE EPAS competencies and general practices:
· CSWE EPAS Competency 5: Engage in policy practice.
· C5.GP.A: Use social justice, anti-racist, and anti-oppressive lenses to assess how social welfare policies affect the delivery of and access to social services.
· Related assignment criteria:
1. Describe the purpose of a currently enacted policy that addresses the social justice problem for a chosen population, using scholarly literature for support.
2. Describe how the policy connects to the chosen social justice problem, using scholarly literature for support.
3. Describe the historical issues and context that led to the creation of the social problem and policy development, including details about voting outcomes and legislative leaders, using scholarly literature for support.
4. Describe the programs and services provided through the policy, using scholarly literature for support.
5. Describe the impact of the historical influences on the implementation of the policy, using scholarly literature for support.
**Assignment Instructions**
To complete this assignment, select a local, state, or federal policy that targets the form of oppression and discrimination you described in Week 2 (for example, the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA), Veterans Millennium Healthcare Act, Affordable Care Act (ACA), Adoption and Safe Families Act, Medicare, Medicaid, Temporary Aid to Needy Families Act, Social Security Act, or a relevant state or local policy, such as state or local affordable housing policies or health and safety policies related to COVID-19).
Then, complete the following:
· Describe the purpose of a currently enacted policy that addresses the social justice problem for a chosen population, using scholarly literature for support.
· Remember, this policy must be enacted—in other words, it must be passed legislation.
· Describe the programs and services provided through the policy, using scholarly literature for support.
· What are examples of the programs and services that are being offered as a result of your chosen policy?
· Who is the target population for these programs and services?
· Describe how the policy connects to the chosen social justice problem, using scholarly literature for support.
· Connect the policy to the social justice problem you selected by giving a brief description of the problem. Is it a new problem, something that has recently arisen, or an old problem that has never been resolved?
· Describe the historical issues and context that led to the creation of the social problem and policy development.
· Include information about the voting outcomes for the policy and the legislative leaders who influenced the policy historically and in the present.
· Include the impact these historical features have had on the policy's implementation.
**Guidelines**
· Use scholarly, peer-reviewed literature to support your claims.
· Review the
**Policy Selection and Background** rubric for information on how your work will be graded.
· Remember that your instructor will be providing feedback on your assignments. Use that feedback to improve the content of your final assignment submission in Week 9,
**Policy Analysis and Recommendations**.
**Additional Requirements**
The assignment you submit is expected to meet the following requirements:
·
**Written communication:** Written communication is free of errors that detract from the overall message.
·
**APA formatting:** Resources and citations are formatted according to current APA style and formatting standards.
·
**Cited resources:** A minimum of five scholarly sources. Most literature cited should be current, with publication dates within the past five years.
·
**Length of paper:** 4–6 typed, double-spaced pages.
·
**Font and font size:** Times New Roman, 12 point.
·
**Due date:** Assignment must be submitted to your instructor in the courseroom no later than Sunday, 11:59 p.m. CST, this week.
**Competencies Measured**
By successfully completing this assignment, you will demonstrate your proficiency in the following course competencies and rubric criteria:
· Competency 1: Use social justice, anti-racist, and anti-oppressive lenses to assess how social welfare policies affect the delivery of and access to social services. (C5.GP.A)
· Describe the purpose of a currently enacted policy that addresses the social justice problem for a chosen population, using scholarly literature for support. (C5.GP.A)
· Describe the programs and services provided through the policy, using scholarly literature for support. (C5.GP.A)
· Describe how the policy connects to the chosen social justice problem, using scholarly literature for support. (C5.GP.A)
· Describe the historical issues and context that led to the creation of the social problem and policy development, including details about voting outcomes and legislative leaders, using scholarly literature for support. (C5.GP.A)
· Describe the impact of the historical influences on the implementation of the policy, using scholarly literature for support. (C5.GP.A)
· Competency 3: Communicate in a manner that is scholarly, professional, and consistent with expectations for members of the social work profession.
· Communicate in a manner that is scholarly, professional, and consistent with expectations for members of the social work profession.
**## Explorationofsocialjusticepaper.docx**
2
**Health Inequities Among Low-Income Communities and People of Color in the United States**
Taliegha Carter
Capella University
Social Welfare Hist Plcy Pract
Prof. Katti Carlson
7/26/26
**Health Inequities Among Low-Income Communities and People of Color in the United States**
Social justice problems may affect different populations in unique ways. Social workers need to know the issues that may come up in relation to these populations when trying to provide assistance and support to them. One of the social justice issues that exists in the United States is that of the health disparity between poor communities and racial minorities. These people tend to face problems accessing affordable health care, preventative measures, and quality care. Inequality results in adverse health consequences, more chronic illnesses, and unnecessary deaths (Ndugga et al., 2024). The issue of health inequality is affected by such factors as social, economic, and structural factors instead of just individual decisions. Social workers need to participate in the fight for equal access to care through advocacy and policymaking. Analysis of oppression, ethics, public policy, and advocacy gives insights into how to address health disparities.
**Forms and Mechanisms of Oppression and Discrimination**
Health inequities arise due to the system of oppression and discrimination that is prevalent since time immemorial. Structural inequities such as racism, poverty, unemployment, and disparity in health care services put at risk the well-being of economically underprivileged populations and minority groups. Minorities usually lack health care facilities like hospitals, primary care physicians, specialists, pharmacies, and mental health services in comparison with richer neighborhoods. Constraints to timely health care include limited health care access, difficulties in transportation, lack of health insurance, and poverty.
Discrimination occurs in the healthcare sector as well. Studies have shown that implicit bias impacts the impression of diagnosis, decision-making regarding treatment and pain management, and interaction with healthcare professionals for ethnic minorities (Job et al., 2024). Cultural diversity and communication barriers can also cause delays in treatment and low patient satisfaction.
The implications of these effects are many. According to the estimates by the U.S. Census Bureau in 2023, there are some 25.7 million people in the United States who lack health insurance (Tolbert et al., 2024). The rate of lack of insurance in Hispanic, Black, and lower socio-economic groups is much higher than among those in higher socioeconomic status and the white population. As per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), blacks have higher incidences of high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, and stroke (Sells et al., 2023). Black women have three times the risk of death during pregnancy than white women. The consequences are dire for the family economics, disabilities, and mortality rate of the population groups. The impact on communities of health inequities on communities' productivity, education, and lives can be damaging.
**Ethical Problems Associated With Health Inequities**
The issue of inequities in health has important ethical implications for social work. Among the values promoted in the NASW Code of Ethics are social justice, dignity and worth of the person, service, integrity, and the value of human relationships. Social workers are ethically responsible for opposing discrimination, claiming equal access to services, and ensuring health policy proactively disseminates services to marginalized groups.
An ethical issue may include unequal healthcare provision depending on income level, race, or employment. Everybody has to receive good medical care irrespective of their socio-economic background. Furthermore, there is an ethical problem associated with existing obstacles in the system that keep disadvantaged groups from accessing preventive care, medicines, and other special services. These inequalities are contrary to the principles of fairness and respect for human rights. Another problem relates to the need for social workers to develop their skills in cultural competency and implicit bias. Social workers should know about different factors that influence the way they perform their work (National Association of Social Workers, 2025). Ethical practice calls for culturally responsive communication, respect for clients’ autonomy, and working with the individual and the community to create care plans.
The implications for practice are significant. Social workers can improve client outcomes by connecting individuals with community resources, assisting with insurance enrollment, advocating for culturally appropriate services, and addressing social determinants of health such as housing, food security, employment, and transportation. Ethical Advocacy boosts trust, improves health care access, and contributes to healthier communities.
**Current Enacted Policies**
Various federal policies have been enacted to minimize health disparities in the United States. One of the significant laws enacted to improve health service accessibility is the Affordable Care Act (ACA), enacted in 2010. Some of the changes made by the Affordable Care Act include expansion of Medicaid to cover more people in states opting for the change, a ban on insurance discrimination based on existing medical conditions, promotion of preventive care, and Health Insurance Marketplaces (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2022).
The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 makes health coverage more affordable for low-income Americans and their families by increasing premium subsidies for ACA coverage (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2022). Additional subsidies and reduced Medicare prescription drug costs were further extended in the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) of 2022. Medicaid, another key federal-state program, is health coverage for low-income individuals, children, pregnant women, older adults, and people with disabilities, and is also important. States that increased Medicaid eligibility have generally seen more gains in insurance rates than have states that failed to expand eligibility. Such policies remain in place, and their impact continues to improve health care access to the poor and disadvantaged and to reduce cost barriers to health care services.
**Effectiveness of Current Policies**
Improvements in current policies provide greater access to insurance coverage and better access to preventive services, but there are significant gaps. Medicaid expansion has been associated with decreased uninsured status, increased preventive services use, better chronic disease management, and fewer unnecessary hospitalizations among low-income adults (Tolbert et al., 2026). Additional insurance expansion has also included increased availability of medications through the system and regular medical attention.
Nevertheless, the success of policies is inconsistent from state to state, as Medicaid extension is an optional policy. People living in non-expanding states may experience coverage gaps which restrict healthcare access. Coverage alone also cannot address disparities stemming from provider shortages, transportation, language barriers, or provider discrimination within the health care system. According to Hayre et al. (2026), policies on broader social determinants of health, in addition to policies on health financing, are required to reduce health inequities. Investments in education, the community, housing, employment, and health infrastructure are tied to long-term health outcomes. As a result, health inequalities that disproportionately affect low-income communities and people of color continue to be present and part of current policy.
**Policy Impact and Constraints**
Currently, policies have enhanced health insurance coverage and increased access to preventive services for many among these vulnerable populations. Within recent changes, more people receive routine, chronic disease management, maternal and behavioral health services than before reform (Osmani, 2025). These enhancements have helped with early detection and control of many chronic diseases.
However, policy limitations exist as well. The eligibility rules for the Medicaid program differ depending on the state and, consequently, depending on geographic location. Provider shortages affect many individuals, particularly those living in rural and underdeveloped urban areas. Lower payments reduce the willingness of some medical institutions to treat Medicaid recipients. Another factor that affects healthcare eligibility is immigration status. Furthermore, factors such as administration issues, lack of transport options, lack of access to the Internet, and language barriers prevent eligible people from accessing healthcare services. These barriers make the policies ineffective as a whole and exacerbate inequities.
**Comparison of Advocacy Methods**
Various types of advocacy can be used to deal with health inequalities. Advocacy through policies involves urging legislators to introduce new legislation aimed at ensuring insurance coverage, increased funding in healthcare, and protection from discrimination. Community organizing provides community members the opportunity to identify issues that impact them and to demand better health care services (Jimenez & Heller, 2025). The goal of health education is to increase awareness of health disparities and preventive strategies. Evidence-based policy development, research, and legislative engagement are supported through advocacy by social workers and health professionals.
These two approaches come with their pros and cons. Policy advocacy can lead to systemic, long-term change, and may require the cooperation of policymakers, as well as time to implement. Community organizing is useful because it helps to build trust and empower communities that could be affected but may lack the funds to act independently. Public education can make a difference for awareness but cannot address structural problems alone.
Further advancements require better collaboration between healthcare professionals, social workers, policymakers, and the community. Expanding culturally competent care, growing workforce diversity, better transport facilities, and better investment in disadvantaged areas will build on current efforts. These methods help to foster health equity by addressing the root cause of healthcare inequities.
**References**
Hayre, J., Canning, E., Pearce, H., Khera, R., & Ford, J. (2026). Public health policies and interventions to address health inequities in high-income countries: An umbrella review.
_BMC Public Health_,
_26_(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-25876-2
Jimenez, C., & Heller, J. C. (2025). Community organizing and public health: A rapid review.
_BMC Public Health_,
_25_(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-21303-8
Job, C., Adenipekun, B., Cleves, A., Gill, P., & Samuriwo, R. (2024). Health professionals' implicit bias of patients with low socioeconomic status (SES) and its effects on clinical decision-making: A scoping review.
_BMJ Open_,
_14_(7), e081723. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2023-081723
National Association of Social Workers. (2025). Standards and indicators for cultural competence in social work practice. In
_National Association of Social Workers_. https://www.socialworkers.org/Practice/NASW-Practice-Standards-Guidelines/Standards-and-Indicators-for-Cultural-Competence-in-Social-Work-Practice
Ndugga, N., Pillai, D., & Artiga, S. (2024). Disparities in health and health care: 5 key questions and answers. In
_KFF_. https://www.kff.org/racial-equity-and-health-policy/disparities-in-health-and-health-care-5-key-question-and-answers/
Osmani, A. R. (2025). Unequal gains? A literature review on the Affordable Care Act’s effects on healthcare utilization across racial and ethnic groups.
_International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health_,
_22_(7), 1059. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph22071059
Sells, M., Blum, E., Perry, G. S., Eke, P. I., & Presley-Cantrell, L. (2023). Excess burden of Poverty and hypertension, by Race and ethnicity, on the prevalence of Cardiovascular disease.
_Preventing Chronic Disease_,
_20_(20). https://doi.org/10.5888/pcd20.230065
Tolbert, J., Bell, C., Cervantes, S., & Singh, R. (2024). The uninsured population and health coverage | KFF. In
_KFF_. https://www.kff.org/uninsured/health-policy-101-the-uninsured-population-and-health-coverage/
Tolbert, J., Cervantes, S., Bell, C., & Damico, A. (2026, June 16).
_Key facts about the uninsured population_. KFF. https://www.kff.org/uninsured/key-facts-about-the-uninsured-population/?entry=financial-implications-of-being-uninsured-financial-insecurity
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2022). About the Affordable Care Act. In
_U.S. Department of Health & Human Services_.
[https://www.hhs.gov/healthcare/about-the-aca/index.html](https://www.hhs.gov/healthcare/about-the-aca/index.html)
**## PolicySelectionandbackgroundinstructions.docx**
**Assignment Description**
Government policy impacts social justice problems. Some policies may create social justice problems just as they attempt to correct them. To successfully address social justice problems, social workers must have the knowledge and skills to locate, access, analyze, and interpret public policy.
Based on your analysis of the social justice problem in the Week 2 assignment, select a current enacted policy that is presently a law to analyze using relevant local, state, or federal policy resources. Your analysis must also address the problem that affects your chosen diverse cultural group (for example, based on race, religion, disabilities, gender orientation, socioeconomic status, or access to services). This will be the policy you analyze for not only this assignment, but the Weeks 6 and 9 assignments as well. Be sure to incorporate constructs that have been covered in this course into your analysis. You will compile all of the assignments you complete throughout the course in Week 9, so as you receive feedback for each assignment, revise your work as necessary.
If you need additional support for conducting your research, it may be useful to consult the following:
·
[Evidence and APA](https://lat.strategiced.com/redirect?linkid=1540).
·
[How Do I Find Peer-Reviewed Articles?](https://lat.strategiced.com/redirect?linkid=1650)
·
[Social Work Masters Program (MSW) Library Guide](https://capellauniversity.libguides.com/msw).
·
[What Is Scholarly?](https://lat.strategiced.com/redirect?linkid=2951)
By successfully completing this assignment, you will demonstrate your proficiency in the following CSWE EPAS competencies and general practices:
· CSWE EPAS Competency 5: Engage in policy practice.
· C5.GP.A: Use social justice, anti-racist, and anti-oppressive lenses to assess how social welfare policies affect the delivery of and access to social services.
· Related assignment criteria:
1. Describe the purpose of a currently enacted policy that addresses the social justice problem for a chosen population, using scholarly literature for support.
2. Describe how the policy connects to the chosen social justice problem, using scholarly literature for support.
3. Describe the historical issues and context that led to the creation of the social problem and policy development, including details about voting outcomes and legislative leaders, using scholarly literature for support.
4. Describe the programs and services provided through the policy, using scholarly literature for support.
5. Describe the impact of the historical influences on the implementation of the policy, using scholarly literature for support.
**Assignment Instructions**
To complete this assignment, select a local, state, or federal policy that targets the form of oppression and discrimination you described in Week 2 (for example, the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA), Veterans Millennium Healthcare Act, Affordable Care Act (ACA), Adoption and Safe Families Act, Medicare, Medicaid, Temporary Aid to Needy Families Act, Social Security Act, or a relevant state or local policy, such as state or local affordable housing policies or health and safety policies related to COVID-19).
Then, complete the following:
· Describe the purpose of a currently enacted policy that addresses the social justice problem for a chosen population, using scholarly literature for support.
· Remember, this policy must be enacted—in other words, it must be passed legislation.
· Describe the programs and services provided through the policy, using scholarly literature for support.
· What are examples of the programs and services that are being offered as a result of your chosen policy?
· Who is the target population for these programs and services?
· Describe how the policy connects to the chosen social justice problem, using scholarly literature for support.
· Connect the policy to the social justice problem you selected by giving a brief description of the problem. Is it a new problem, something that has recently arisen, or an old problem that has never been resolved?
· Describe the historical issues and context that led to the creation of the social problem and policy development.
· Include information about the voting outcomes for the policy and the legislative leaders who influenced the policy historically and in the present.
· Include the impact these historical features have had on the policy's implementation.
**Guidelines**
· Use scholarly, peer-reviewed literature to support your claims.
· Review the
**Policy Selection and Background** rubric for information on how your work will be graded.
· Remember that your instructor will be providing feedback on your assignments. Use that feedback to improve the content of your final assignment submission in Week 9,
**Policy Analysis and Recommendations**.
**Additional Requirements**
The assignment you submit is expected to meet the following requirements:
·
**Written communication:** Written communication is free of errors that detract from the overall message.
·
**APA formatting:** Resources and citations are formatted according to current APA style and formatting standards.
·
**Cited resources:** A minimum of five scholarly sources. Most literature cited should be current, with publication dates within the past five years.
·
**Length of paper:** 4–6 typed, double-spaced pages.
·
**Font and font size:** Times New Roman, 12 point.
·
**Due date:** Assignment must be submitted to your instructor in the courseroom no later than Sunday, 11:59 p.m. CST, this week.
**Competencies Measured**
By successfully completing this assignment, you will demonstrate your proficiency in the following course competencies and rubric criteria:
· Competency 1: Use social justice, anti-racist, and anti-oppressive lenses to assess how social welfare policies affect the delivery of and access to social services. (C5.GP.A)
· Describe the purpose of a currently enacted policy that addresses the social justice problem for a chosen population, using scholarly literature for support. (C5.GP.A)
· Describe the programs and services provided through the policy, using scholarly literature for support. (C5.GP.A)
· Describe how the policy connects to the chosen social justice problem, using scholarly literature for support. (C5.GP.A)
· Describe the historical issues and context that led to the creation of the social problem and policy development, including details about voting outcomes and legislative leaders, using scholarly literature for support. (C5.GP.A)
· Describe the impact of the historical influences on the implementation of the policy, using scholarly literature for support. (C5.GP.A)
· Competency 3: Communicate in a manner that is scholarly, professional, and consistent with expectations for members of the social work profession.
· Communicate in a manner that is scholarly, professional, and consistent with expectations for members of the social work profession.
**## Explorationofsocialjusticepaper.docx**
2
**Health Inequities Among Low-Income Communities and People of Color in the United States**
Taliegha Carter
Capella University
Social Welfare Hist Plcy Pract
Prof. Katti Carlson
7/26/26
**Health Inequities Among Low-Income Communities and People of Color in the United States**
Social justice problems may affect different populations in unique ways. Social workers need to know the issues that may come up in relation to these populations when trying to provide assistance and support to them. One of the social justice issues that exists in the United States is that of the health disparity between poor communities and racial minorities. These people tend to face problems accessing affordable health care, preventative measures, and quality care. Inequality results in adverse health consequences, more chronic illnesses, and unnecessary deaths (Ndugga et al., 2024). The issue of health inequality is affected by such factors as social, economic, and structural factors instead of just individual decisions. Social workers need to participate in the fight for equal access to care through advocacy and policymaking. Analysis of oppression, ethics, public policy, and advocacy gives insights into how to address health disparities.
**Forms and Mechanisms of Oppression and Discrimination**
Health inequities arise due to the system of oppression and discrimination that is prevalent since time immemorial. Structural inequities such as racism, poverty, unemployment, and disparity in health care services put at risk the well-being of economically underprivileged populations and minority groups. Minorities usually lack health care facilities like hospitals, primary care physicians, specialists, pharmacies, and mental health services in comparison with richer neighborhoods. Constraints to timely health care include limited health care access, difficulties in transportation, lack of health insurance, and poverty.
Discrimination occurs in the healthcare sector as well. Studies have shown that implicit bias impacts the impression of diagnosis, decision-making regarding treatment and pain management, and interaction with healthcare professionals for ethnic minorities (Job et al., 2024). Cultural diversity and communication barriers can also cause delays in treatment and low patient satisfaction.
The implications of these effects are many. According to the estimates by the U.S. Census Bureau in 2023, there are some 25.7 million people in the United States who lack health insurance (Tolbert et al., 2024). The rate of lack of insurance in Hispanic, Black, and lower socio-economic groups is much higher than among those in higher socioeconomic status and the white population. As per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), blacks have higher incidences of high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, and stroke (Sells et al., 2023). Black women have three times the risk of death during pregnancy than white women. The consequences are dire for the family economics, disabilities, and mortality rate of the population groups. The impact on communities of health inequities on communities' productivity, education, and lives can be damaging.
**Ethical Problems Associated With Health Inequities**
The issue of inequities in health has important ethical implications for social work. Among the values promoted in the NASW Code of Ethics are social justice, dignity and worth of the person, service, integrity, and the value of human relationships. Social workers are ethically responsible for opposing discrimination, claiming equal access to services, and ensuring health policy proactively disseminates services to marginalized groups.
An ethical issue may include unequal healthcare provision depending on income level, race, or employment. Everybody has to receive good medical care irrespective of their socio-economic background. Furthermore, there is an ethical problem associated with existing obstacles in the system that keep disadvantaged groups from accessing preventive care, medicines, and other special services. These inequalities are contrary to the principles of fairness and respect for human rights. Another problem relates to the need for social workers to develop their skills in cultural competency and implicit bias. Social workers should know about different factors that influence the way they perform their work (National Association of Social Workers, 2025). Ethical practice calls for culturally responsive communication, respect for clients’ autonomy, and working with the individual and the community to create care plans.
The implications for practice are significant. Social workers can improve client outcomes by connecting individuals with community resources, assisting with insurance enrollment, advocating for culturally appropriate services, and addressing social determinants of health such as housing, food security, employment, and transportation. Ethical Advocacy boosts trust, improves health care access, and contributes to healthier communities.
**Current Enacted Policies**
Various federal policies have been enacted to minimize health disparities in the United States. One of the significant laws enacted to improve health service accessibility is the Affordable Care Act (ACA), enacted in 2010. Some of the changes made by the Affordable Care Act include expansion of Medicaid to cover more people in states opting for the change, a ban on insurance discrimination based on existing medical conditions, promotion of preventive care, and Health Insurance Marketplaces (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2022).
The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 makes health coverage more affordable for low-income Americans and their families by increasing premium subsidies for ACA coverage (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2022). Additional subsidies and reduced Medicare prescription drug costs were further extended in the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) of 2022. Medicaid, another key federal-state program, is health coverage for low-income individuals, children, pregnant women, older adults, and people with disabilities, and is also important. States that increased Medicaid eligibility have generally seen more gains in insurance rates than have states that failed to expand eligibility. Such policies remain in place, and their impact continues to improve health care access to the poor and disadvantaged and to reduce cost barriers to health care services.
**Effectiveness of Current Policies**
Improvements in current policies provide greater access to insurance coverage and better access to preventive services, but there are significant gaps. Medicaid expansion has been associated with decreased uninsured status, increased preventive services use, better chronic disease management, and fewer unnecessary hospitalizations among low-income adults (Tolbert et al., 2026). Additional insurance expansion has also included increased availability of medications through the system and regular medical attention.
Nevertheless, the success of policies is inconsistent from state to state, as Medicaid extension is an optional policy. People living in non-expanding states may experience coverage gaps which restrict healthcare access. Coverage alone also cannot address disparities stemming from provider shortages, transportation, language barriers, or provider discrimination within the health care system. According to Hayre et al. (2026), policies on broader social determinants of health, in addition to policies on health financing, are required to reduce health inequities. Investments in education, the community, housing, employment, and health infrastructure are tied to long-term health outcomes. As a result, health inequalities that disproportionately affect low-income communities and people of color continue to be present and part of current policy.
**Policy Impact and Constraints**
Currently, policies have enhanced health insurance coverage and increased access to preventive services for many among these vulnerable populations. Within recent changes, more people receive routine, chronic disease management, maternal and behavioral health services than before reform (Osmani, 2025). These enhancements have helped with early detection and control of many chronic diseases.
However, policy limitations exist as well. The eligibility rules for the Medicaid program differ depending on the state and, consequently, depending on geographic location. Provider shortages affect many individuals, particularly those living in rural and underdeveloped urban areas. Lower payments reduce the willingness of some medical institutions to treat Medicaid recipients. Another factor that affects healthcare eligibility is immigration status. Furthermore, factors such as administration issues, lack of transport options, lack of access to the Internet, and language barriers prevent eligible people from accessing healthcare services. These barriers make the policies ineffective as a whole and exacerbate inequities.
**Comparison of Advocacy Methods**
Various types of advocacy can be used to deal with health inequalities. Advocacy through policies involves urging legislators to introduce new legislation aimed at ensuring insurance coverage, increased funding in healthcare, and protection from discrimination. Community organizing provides community members the opportunity to identify issues that impact them and to demand better health care services (Jimenez & Heller, 2025). The goal of health education is to increase awareness of health disparities and preventive strategies. Evidence-based policy development, research, and legislative engagement are supported through advocacy by social workers and health professionals.
These two approaches come with their pros and cons. Policy advocacy can lead to systemic, long-term change, and may require the cooperation of policymakers, as well as time to implement. Community organizing is useful because it helps to build trust and empower communities that could be affected but may lack the funds to act independently. Public education can make a difference for awareness but cannot address structural problems alone.
Further advancements require better collaboration between healthcare professionals, social workers, policymakers, and the community. Expanding culturally competent care, growing workforce diversity, better transport facilities, and better investment in disadvantaged areas will build on current efforts. These methods help to foster health equity by addressing the root cause of healthcare inequities.
**References**
Hayre, J., Canning, E., Pearce, H., Khera, R., & Ford, J. (2026). Public health policies and interventions to address health inequities in high-income countries: An umbrella review.
_BMC Public Health_,
_26_(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-25876-2
Jimenez, C., & Heller, J. C. (2025). Community organizing and public health: A rapid review.
_BMC Public Health_,
_25_(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-21303-8
Job, C., Adenipekun, B., Cleves, A., Gill, P., & Samuriwo, R. (2024). Health professionals' implicit bias of patients with low socioeconomic status (SES) and its effects on clinical decision-making: A scoping review.
_BMJ Open_,
_14_(7), e081723. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2023-081723
National Association of Social Workers. (2025). Standards and indicators for cultural competence in social work practice. In
_National Association of Social Workers_. https://www.socialworkers.org/Practice/NASW-Practice-Standards-Guidelines/Standards-and-Indicators-for-Cultural-Competence-in-Social-Work-Practice
Ndugga, N., Pillai, D., & Artiga, S. (2024). Disparities in health and health care: 5 key questions and answers. In
_KFF_. https://www.kff.org/racial-equity-and-health-policy/disparities-in-health-and-health-care-5-key-question-and-answers/
Osmani, A. R. (2025). Unequal gains? A literature review on the Affordable Care Act’s effects on healthcare utilization across racial and ethnic groups.
_International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health_,
_22_(7), 1059. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph22071059
Sells, M., Blum, E., Perry, G. S., Eke, P. I., & Presley-Cantrell, L. (2023). Excess burden of Poverty and hypertension, by Race and ethnicity, on the prevalence of Cardiovascular disease.
_Preventing Chronic Disease_,
_20_(20). https://doi.org/10.5888/pcd20.230065
Tolbert, J., Bell, C., Cervantes, S., & Singh, R. (2024). The uninsured population and health coverage | KFF. In
_KFF_. https://www.kff.org/uninsured/health-policy-101-the-uninsured-population-and-health-coverage/
Tolbert, J., Cervantes, S., Bell, C., & Damico, A. (2026, June 16).
_Key facts about the uninsured population_. KFF. https://www.kff.org/uninsured/key-facts-about-the-uninsured-population/?entry=financial-implications-of-being-uninsured-financial-insecurity
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2022). About the Affordable Care Act. In
_U.S. Department of Health & Human Services_.
[https://www.hhs.gov/healthcare/about-the-aca/index.html](https://www.hhs.gov/healthcare/about-the-aca/index.html)