For your final paper, you will select a target population from the following list:

• Women and children
• Elderly
• African Americans
• Hispanics/Latinos
• Immigrants
• Veterans
• Mentally Ill
• Disabled

You will prepare a research paper in which you will:

• Research and examine the history of social welfare policy as it pertains to this population, discussing their specific needs from a social welfare program.  (For example, have they been oppressed or discriminated against, suffered from lack of income or homelessness, or have they had other needs, such as access to healthcare?)
• Identify the laws that have been passed and programs put into place that have either helped or restricted their access to care and support.
• Identify the philosophical attitudes and perspectives that have led to either the support or lack of understanding for and marginalizing of this group.
• Identify the types of resources currently available in your area for this population.
• Discuss any relevant personal experiences or insights you have had relating to this population, if applicable.
• Explain the types of roles that human service workers perform in working with them, as well as highlighting the characteristics they would have as human service workers.
• Discuss the types of interventions or strategies that are beneficial.
• Include a discussion of how you feel this population could be better served and list at least two ways in which a human service worker could work as an agent for change in their behalf.