Social policy practice: tasks and skills

The problem addressed is the gap between practice and social work education in state and local policy practice. The purpose of the study is to facilitate development of effective curriculum by providing baseline data in an area of policywork termed policy analysis/synthesis. Seventy-two policy practitioners completed two instruments allowing them to identify and describe their work tasks and skills. The findings support administrative training for even the most technical-oriented planning student and suggest educating baccalaureate social workers for this practice.