Family Impact Institute Using Research to Build Better Public Policy for Families

Teaching Family Policy – Activities & Assignments

Family policy instructors from across the country have shared some of their favorite classroom activities and assignments. These innovative ideas are organized in the categories of careers in family policy, current events, discussion and reflection, family demographic changes, family impact analysis, policymakers and the policymaking process, public meetings and hearings, and values underlying family policy. Family policy instructors also provided a number of final projects and papers.

Careers in Family Policy

Assignments

• Careers in Policy Paper– Sarah Halpern-Meekin

Activities

• Family Policy Roles and Careers– Deborah Gentry

Current Events

Assignments

• Analysis of a Current Policy Issue– Karen Bogenschneider
• Current Events– Elaine Anderson
• Media Coverage Assessment– Kristy Burkholder
• News Reviews– Denise Skinner

Activities

• Application of Frameworks to Family Problems– Shirley Zimmerman
• News Analysis: Policy Values– Shirley Zimmerman
• News Analysis: Problems Experienced by Families in Relation to Society– Shirley Zimmerman

Discussion and Reflection

Assignments

• Reading Analysis– Elaine Anderson

Activities

• Discussion Leader and Questions– Elaine Anderson
• Grandparent Visitation Rights Debate– Tammy Henderson
• Literary Circles– Deborah Gentry
• Weekly Discussion/Bulletin Board– Nancy Gonzalez

Family Demographic Changes

Activities

• How Much Have Families Changed in Your Lifetime?– Karen Bogenschneider
• How Demographic Changes in Families Affect One’s Political Views– Karen Bogenschneider

Family Impact Analysis

Assignments

• Agency Analysis– Debra Berke
• Analysis of a Controversial Family Policy– Karen Bogenschneider
• Family Impact Analysis– Elaine Anderson
• Family Impact Analysis– Karen Bogenschneider
• Family Impact Analysis– Denise Skinner
• Research Paper and Presentation– Denise Skinner

Activities

• Case Study of Family Impact Analysis– Karen Bogenschneider

Policymakers and the Policymaking Process

Assignments

• Advocacy Involvement– Debra Berke
• Amicus Curiae Brief– Preston Britner
• Chapter/Article Analysis– Denise Skinner
• Current Policy Reports– Jana Darrington
• Legislative Biographies– Kristy Burkholder
• Letter to the Editor or Goverment Official– Karen Bogenschneider
• Letter to Policymaker– Denise Skinner
• Presidential Debates– Elaine Anderson
• Studying a Presidential Election– Steven Wisensale
• Who Represents You?– Jill Steinberg

Activities

• Elections, Candidates, & Family Values– Steven Wisensale
• Identifying the Trade-offs Policymakers Face– Karen Bogenschneider
• Intergenerational Relations and Family Policy– Steven Wisensale
• Issue Debates– Kathy Piercy
• Local Policy Development: Welfare Reform Simulation Project
• Theory of Paradox– Mark Lederer

Public Meetings and Hearings

Assignments

• Legislative Hearing and Summary– Shirley Zimmerman
• Report of Policy Meetings– Karen Bogenschneider

Values Underlying Family Policy

Assignments

• Individualism and Familism in American Culture– Karen Bogenschneider

Activities

• Constructing a Family Policy Map based on Walljasper’s American Political Landscape– Karen Bogenschneider
• Culture Clash– Steve Wisensale
• Legislators & Family Values– Steve Wisensale
• The Role of Facts, Myths, and Values in Public Policy– Barry Flinchbaugh

Final Projects and Papers

Assignments

• Comparative Policy Analysis Final Paper– Dan Meyer
• Fact Finding Trip– Steve Wisensale
• Graduate Student Paper– Shirley Zimmerman
• Final Paper– Elaine Anderson
• Major Project in a Planning Course– Steve Wisensale
• Paper Presentation– Elaine Anderson
• Policy Brief– Bethany Letiecq
• Policy Project– Jana Darrington
• Policy Proposal– Lindsay Monte
• Position Paper– Deanna Williamson
• Student Research Proposal– Shirley Zimmerman

Activities

• Understanding Disparate Impact– Nancy Wicklund Gonzalez