Challenges Policy-makers Face
One of the greatest challenges that a policy-maker face when making policy from a perspective of social empathy is societal heterogeneity. It is almost impossible to find a society that exhibits homogeneity as different kinds of people with different beliefs and thought patterns often find themselves living together. The policy-maker will, therefore, face a challenge on who to empathize with, to what extent, and what to do about it. Context is another major challenge as the policy-maker who operates through observation may not be able to understand the actual context of every scenario (Segal, 2011). This may lead to lack of empathy in deserving cases as well as misplaced empathy due to a wrong context. A tendency towards scapegoating is another challenge in policymaking . When in a rush to identify whom to blame, it is easy for a policy-maker to forget that there are victims involved. Scapegoating will, therefore, replace empathy.
How to Improve the Policy-making Process
For the problem of societal heterogeneity, the solution to the same lies in establishing a balance after compartmentalization. A forest is a large dark dangerous place but upon compartmentalization, it becomes a wonderful collection of flora and fauna. Looking at a community from a distance can make it look chaotic with only the most obvious issues being identified. Taking a closer look at the situation will p resent issues in a clear manner. Once the matters are understood, then policies can be developed that seeks to create a balance so that the aiding of a segment of the community does not come at the cost of inconveniencing another. The solution to the context problem is research and investigation. Most things are not what they seem. For instance, a man who collects boys together might either be a humanitarian or a pedophile. Only research and investigation prior to the drawing of a conclusion enables telling the difference between the two (Segal, 2011). Finally, scapegoating must be avoided with the focus being made on solutions not blame.
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How Social Workers Can Play a Role in that Process
According to Segal (2016), adherence to ethics is one of the core competencies for social workers. This enhances the obligation of the social worker to advice and directs both the policy makers and the society at large to pursue social empathy. This exhortation should also be made by example, as competency two relates to having an understanding of divergences. Members of the community may not understand one another and the policymakers may be conflicted hence the need for the social worker to be a trailblazer in social empathy. Human rights and social justice are also key subjects within social justice (Segal, 2016). Having an understanding of the same as the social worker does will also enable facilitation of social justice. The social worker will act as an instrument of social cohesion and elimination of presuppositions thus facilitating social empathy.
What social empathy might mean in terms of creating social welfare policies and programs
In most cases, social welfare is mainly about the distribution of resources to the less fortunate as well as those who need them. As a basic rule, public resources are never enough and the issue of prioritization begins. It will be incumbent upon a policy-maker to decide which social welfare activity will get which resources (Segal, 2011). The issue of what is more urgent between two important issues will also arise. Social empathy will enable policymakers to place themselves in the shoes of the communities they seek to help. They will then have a better and more comprehensive understanding of the issues these communities are facing. This better understanding will enable the policy-makers to establish policies that ensure that social welfare monies are put to the best and most expedient uses (Segal, 2011). Further, the manner in which the monies are expended will neither result in societal conflict nor more bad than good.
References
Segal, E. A. (2011). Social empathy: A model built on empathy, contextual understanding, and social responsibility that promotes social justice. Journal of Social Service Research , 37 (3), 266-277
Segal, E.A. (2016). Policy Practice and the Impact of Social Welfare Policy. In Social Welfare Policy and Social Programs . 4th Edition. Belmont, CA: Thomson Brooks/Cole
