policy Project Part IV i unloaded the instruction all this is apart 4, which means part 1,2,3 This part is policy analysis. read the other three and it will be same policy just like 1,2,3 i als

Running head: Policy Analysis: “aid to pregnant women” 0

Policy Analysis: “Aid to Pregnant Women”

STUDENT NAME

University of North Dakota

April 10th, 2016

Policy Analysis: “Aid to Pregnant Women”

“Aid to Pregnant Women” is section 50-08.1 of the North Dakota Century Code. This law was introduced as a bill by Senator Tim Mathern, a social worker and Democrat from Fargo. It was passed by the 1991 North Dakota Legislative Assembly. “Aid to Pregnant Women” states that information be collected about all organizations that provide services to women who are experiencing problems in connection with their pregnancies due to medical, economic, social, or psychological factors. The information gathered should be organized based on geographical regions, disseminated to the public, and a toll free hotline number created to help connect pregnant women to services (North Dakota Century Code). The directives and programs in “Aid to Pregnant Women” are not currently function due to lack of funding. A structurally similar policy, “Alternatives to Abortion” took the place of “Aid to Pregnant Women.” Despite the structural similarity, “Alternatives to Abortion” is markedly different from the original policy in term of goals, intent, and outcomes (North Dakota Department of Human Services). This paper examines and compares the goals and ethical considerations of “Aid to Pregnant Women” and “Alternatives to Abortion.”

Both “Aid to Pregnant Women” and “Alternatives to Abortion” are legal. The North Dakota Legislative Assembly created these laws in 1991 and 2005 respectively.

The creation of both policies was democratic, the North Dakota legislature, which is made up of officials elected by their respective districts, voted on both of these laws and the popular vote won. The goals “Aid to Pregnant Women” are just. The goal of “Aid to Pregnant Women” is to help struggling pregnant women have healthy pregnancies and giving children a level starting point. One study found that prenatal stress due to poor housing, food insecurity, or domestic violence can impact an infant’s biological, psychological, and social health (Lefmann & Combs-Orme, 2014). Children should not have to struggle from birth due to their mother’s lack of resources. All children should have an even playing field so that they can make their mark on the world based on their skill, talent, and hard work. By connecting low income women with the resources they need, North Dakota could make progress towards the just cause of giving each child a fair start.

Do the Goals of the Policy Contribute to Greater Social Equality?

The goals of “Aid to Pregnant Women” contribute to greater social equality by giving children a fair start in life. “Aid to Pregnant Women” also helps to correct past inequalities by addressing the current needs of the woman. A pregnant woman could face social inequality because of her race, gender, sexual orientation, or socioeconomic status. By connecting a pregnant women to resources like Women, Infants, and Children Food Supplementation (WIC) or housing assistance, her overall well-being can improve.

Do the Goals of the Policy Positively Affect the Redistribution of Income, Resources, Rights, Entitlements, Rewards, Opportunities, and Status?

“Aid to Pregnant Women” would successfully redistribute wealth and resources because it would use state funding, that is collected by taxation, to aid low income pregnant women who lack funds to get the resources they need for a health pregnancy.

“Alternative to Abortion” does not positively affect the redistribution of wealth because it uses federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) funding for services that are incongruent with the intent of the TANF program. TANF is designed to help needy families care for children in their homes, reduce parental dependency by promoting job training, working, marriage, and reducing out-of-wedlock pregnancies. (Office of Family Assistance). “Alternatives to Abortion” was created to offer services to women that provide an alternative to abortion (North Dakota Department of Human Services). The funding that North Dakota receives from the federal government through TANF should be spent elsewhere on programs that benefit low income individuals or “needy families.” The goal of “Alternatives to Abortion” is to reduce the rate of abortions in North Dakota, not redistribute wealth or provide aid to low income, pregnant women.

Do the Goals of the Policy Contribute to a Better Quality of Life for the Target Population?

The goals of “Aid to Pregnant Women” could greatly improve the quality of life for low income women. The hotline could connect low income mothers to programs like WIC. Kimberly, wife and mother of two, shares her experiences as a WIC recipient. “When I first found out I was pregnant it was very scary…” “Someone told me about WIC… When I first came here is seemed crazy… You mean I get all this?” “WIC is an amazing program... They will give you answers to everything... The information with breast feeding was very important, I am a first time breast feeding mom” (Texas Department of State Health Services). Kimberly’s health improved because of her access to nutritious food and her infant’s health was improved because of the information Kimberly received about breast feeding. This is just one example of how connecting low income pregnant women to the resources they need can improve their quality of life. (nice work)

Will the Goals Adversely affect the Quality of Life of the Target Population?

The goals of “Alternatives to Abortion” may adversely affect the quality of life for the targeted population, pregnant women. Because the policy only permits providers who do not counsel or refer to abortion services, pregnant women are not receiving information on all of their options. This prohibits women from choosing the option that is best for themselves and their families.

Does the Policy Contribute to Positive Social Relationships Between the Target Population and the Overall Society?

It can be argued that the social relationships between the tax payer and a citizen receiving government benefits is unequal and conflictual. Tax payers are obligated to give money that they earned or inherited to the government to pay for programs that may not directly benefit them. It could also be argued that taxpayers benefit from the “Aid to Pregnant Women” policy and should feel positively about pregnant women receiving the services they need. Everyone could benefit from this program because it can enable pregnant women to have healthy pregnancies. As previously discussed, stress during pregnancy can impact a child’s biological, psychological, and social well-being (Lefmann & Combs-Orme, 2014). “Aid to Pregnant Women” could be considered a preventative program because although this program would cost tax payers money upfront, it may also create considerable savings in the long run by helping women have healthier infants. Children whose mothers have the resources they need may have less social problems as they develop. This could save the taxpayer money by reducing the amount of children in the school system needing special attention, care, or counseling. Similarly a physically healthy pregnancy may mean that taxpayers ultimately spend less on medical expenses once the child is born. If the overall society saw the financial benefit of “Aid to Pregnant Women” the program could improve the social relations between society and the target population.

“Alternatives to Abortion” could improve relations between pregnant women and factions of the society who strongly oppose abortion. This relationship could improve because those individuals support preventing abortion and are willing to use their financial resources to do so. This is demonstrated by individuals of this faction using their financial resources to create marches, advertisements and donate charitably to providers included under “Alternatives to Abortion.” For individuals not in this faction, “Alternative to Abortion” would not improve relations between themselves and the target population.

Are the goals of the policy consistent with the values of Professional Social Work?

The National Association of Social Worker’s (NASW) defines social justice as “the view that everyone deserves equal economic, political and social rights and opportunities.” The goals of “Aid to Pregnant Women” are consistent with this core ethical principle. This policy gives low income pregnant women the opportunity to connect with resources that middle or higher income pregnant women access easily and quickly. For example, prenatal medical care for low income women may be nearly impossible to access without health insurance, but the hotline could connect clients to Medicaid or clinics with sliding fee scales.

The NASW code of ethics discusses Social Worker’s ethical responsibilities to clients. One of those responsibilities is self-determination. Self-determination is important because it affirms the dignity of a client as a human being who is capable of making their own choices, regardless of if those choices are in line with a social work’s personal values. “Alternatives to Abortion” is inconsistent with self-determination because the providers in the program do not inform clients of all available options. Clients are unable to determine their own future because one of their choices is automatically taken away based on the personal values of others.

The goals of “Aid to Pregnant Women” are more beneficial to the target population and society than the goals of “Alternatives to Abortion”. Additionally “Aid to Pregnant Women” is just and consistent with the NASW code of ethics. Social Workers should urge legislators to fund “Aid to Pregnant Women” so that the just goals of this policy can more to fruition.

References

Alternatives to Abortion. North Dakota Department of Human Services. https://www.nd.gov/dhs/services/abortionalternative/

Lefmann & Combs-Orme. Prenatal Stress, Poverty, and Child Outcomes. 2014.

TANF. Office of Family Assistance. http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ofa/programs/tanf

North Dakota Century Code, Aid to Pregnant Women, 50-08.1-01

Workers, N. A. (2008). NASW Code of Ethics (Guide to the Everyday Professional Conduct of Social Workers). Washington, DC: NASW. Texas Department of State Health Services. https://www.dshs.state.tx.us/wichd/