Featured Resources
- Older Americans Act: Background and Overview
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Public Opinion Sources
Featured Document
It combines historical source materials with contemporary reflections on impact of the legislation on child protection,
APA 7th Edition Handbook
The Concise APA HandbookCall Number: OnlinePublication Date: 2021The guidebook explains the basics of APA in simple, easy-to-understand language and provides the information about the concept of plagiarism, how to find sources and evaluate the sources, as well as use sources in effective ways.
Federal Legislation & Regulations
- Congress.govCongress.gov is the official source for federal legislative information including Congressional bills, Public Laws, & Congressional Record from 101st Congress (1989) forward;
- United States CodeThe codification of the general and permanent laws of the United States, divided by broad subjects into 53 titles. [for US Code, by title and section]
- The Statutes at Large - from 1951 - 2011Every public and private law passed by Congress is published in the Statutes at Large, in order of the date it was enacted into law. [for US Statutes, by volume and page number]
- Code of Federal Regulations (CFR)The annual edition of the general and permanent rules published in the Federal Register by departments and agencies of the U.S. Government.
Social Sciences Librarian
Liya's Presentation Slides
Library Instruction Online Evaluation Form
Reference & News Resources - background information on social problems
- Encyclopedia of Social Work This link opens in a new windowEncyclopedia of Social Work is a continuously updated online collaboration between the National Association of Social Workers and Oxford University Press. It includes over 800 articles that cover every facet of social work policy and practice, brief biographies of over 200 key figures in social work history, and references and links to related social work resources. Encyclopedia of Social Work is regularly updated with new and revised articles.
- CQ Researcher -- 1923-present This link opens in a new windowArticles from this magazine; each weekly issue covers one current event or policy topic.
Encyclopedia of Social ProblemsCall Number: Online accessPublication Date: 2008"This encyclopedia covers topics from terrorism to social inequality and from health care to environmental issues, and many other social problems that are a continuing concern in our lives.
Social Problems: Selections from CQ ResearcherCall Number: OnlinePublication Date: 2010This book investigates important and controversial policy issues. For example: Global Food Crisis: What's causing the rising prices? Affirmative Action: Is it time to end racial preferences? Regulating Toxic Chemicals: Do we know enough about chemical risks?
Oxford Handbook of U. S. Social Policy
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Call Number: OnlinePublication Date: 2014The first substantive part of the handbook offers an historical overview of U.S. social policy from the colonial era to the present. The three following parts of the volume focus on concrete social programs for the elderly, the poor and near-poor, the disabled, and workers and families.
Encyclopedia of Social Welfare History in North America- This link opens in a new window
Call Number: OnlinePublication Date: 2005Topics covered include: Child welfare, Economic conditions and social welfare, Health Policy, Landmark social welfare legislation, Poverty, Race and social inequality, Social problems, Social welfare reform, etc.
- Newspaper Source Plus (EBSCOhost) This link opens in a new windowSelected full-text articles from U.S. newspapers, along with over one million radio and television transcripts.
Finding Peer-Reviewed Articles in Subject-specific Databases - Policy Analysis
- Academic Search Ultimate (EBSCOhost) This link opens in a new windowAcademic journals, magazines, periodicals, reports, books, and videos in all subjects.
- PsycInfo - APA (EBSCOhost) -- 1806-present This link opens in a new windowA large and comprehensive index of peer-reviewed psychology journals, plus selected book chapters, books, and dissertations, in some cases back to the 1800's. Produced by the American Psychological Association.
- SocINDEX with Full Text (EBSCOhost) This link opens in a new windowDatabase for sociology, with solid coverage for social work, social psychology, addictions, and criminal justice issues. Full text for journals dating back as far as 1908, with selective text and abstracts for others going back as far as 1895, plus numerous books, conference papers, and other monographs.
- Social Work Abstracts (EBSCOhost) -- 1965-present This link opens in a new windowSelectively indexes journals for articles relating to social work and human services.
- Criminal Justice Abstracts with Full Text (EBSCOhost) This link opens in a new windowArticles from criminal justice magazines and journals, with indexing/abstracting from others.
- Google Scholar This link opens in a new window
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Use Google Scholar to search for scholarly articles across the Web (this can be a good complement to subscription databases). Note the citation tracking feature. This link includes Eastern Washington University indicators. You will see "Find it @ EWU" in your results, if we have the article full text in one of our databases.
Policy Advocacy Groups and Think Tanks
- Washington State Institute for Public PolicyA research agency authorized by the Washington state legislature to create programs and reports that address policy questions relating to child welfare, criminal justice, health and education.
- The Urban Institute - Policy Debates"Non-partisan economic and social policy research" on urban issues including crime, economy, education, health care, housing, welfare, and work.
- Child Welfare Information Gateway"Provides access to information and resources to help protect children and strengthen families"
- Washington Policy CenterWashington Policy Center is an independent, non-profit think tank that promotes public policies based on free-market solutions.
- Center on Budget & Policy PrioritiesA nonpartisan research and policy institute covering a wide range of government policies and programs, with an emphasis on those affecting low- and moderate-income people.
- National Alliance to End HomelessnessThe Alliance is a leading voice on the issue of homelessness and analyzes policy and develops pragmatic, cost-effective policy solutions.
- Center for the Study of Social PolicyThe center focuses on the areas of family and children's services; income supports, neighborhood-based services, education reform, family support, disability and health care policy, and long term care for the elderly.
Government Research Reports - Policy Analysis
- Congressional Research Service (CRS) Reports
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The Congressional Research Service (CRS), a federal legislative branch agency located within the Library of Congress, provides research reports on a broad range of national policy issues for Congress. - Congressional Research Service - Federation of American ScientistsThe CRS issues publications that include background studies, pro/con arguments, policy/legislative analysis and legislative histories on subjects of interest to Congress. Searchable source of CRS reports-enter "crs and your topic." Also, many relevant reports will be listed on the "𝐌𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐞𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐓𝐨𝐩𝐢𝐜𝐬" page.
- Government Accountability Office (GAO) Reports and Testimonies
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Reports discuss the efficiency, effectiveness, and cost-benefit of selected legislation. Browse reports by date and search by topic. - USA.gov
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Portal to government information and services. Browse by agency to find research reports and policy briefs on agency websites.
Federal Laws and Welfare Policies
- How Laws Are Made and How to Research ThemLearn how laws, regulations, and executive orders are made and how to look them up.
- Congress.govCongress.gov is the official source for federal legislative information including Congressional bills, Public Laws, & Congressional Record from 101st Congress (1989) forward;
- Legislation by Subject and Policy Area from Congress.gov
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Find Bills by Subject and Policy Area provides guidance for using subjects in your research. - 2018 Green Book by the Committee on Ways and MeansThis important resource from the House Ways and Means Committee provides descriptions and historical information on major social and economic programs, e.g., Foster Care, TANF, Medicare, Social Security, etc.
Finding Washington State Laws and Regulations
- Revised Code of Washington (RCW)
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- Washington Administrative Code (WAC)
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- Washington State LegislatureOfficial site for both the House and Senate. Access bills, laws, and administrative regulations.
- Washington State Law Library
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Additional Sources for Policy Analysis
- Social Work Policy Institute
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A think tank to examine policy issues "that relate to the work of social workers." The site features news, press releases, and research reports. - A History of Social Welfare Digital Collection - Cornell
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The collection documents the history of social welfare in the United States. - Center for the Study of Social Policy
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- Center on Budget and Policy Priorities
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- National Center for Children in Poverty
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- The Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP)
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- National Association of Social Workers (NASW) Advocacy website
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Link to NASW Advocacy, which includes legislative alerts, updates and key federal & state issues. Select the Washington Update link.
APA Style 7th Edition
- Reference Examples - from apastyle.apa.orgExamples of the most common works that writers cite are provided on this page, including government reports, codes of ethics [under "Reports and Gray Literature"]; additional examples are available in the Publication Manual.
- In-Text Citations - from apastyle.apa.orgThe specific guidance for in-text citation is provided, including in-text citations in general; and paraphrases and direct quotations.
- Student Paper Format - from apastyle.apa.orgTo format your paper in APA Style, you need to keep consistency in the order, structure, and format of a paper, including order of pages, font sizes, line spacing, margins, and headings.
- Student Paper Title Page SetupA title page is required for all APA Style papers. Students should use the student version of the title page.
- Sample Papers - from apastyle.apa.orgThe APA Style website provides you with examples of APA formatted student papers and research papers for publication.
Legal References - Covered in Chapter 11 of the APA Style, 7th Edition
The APA Publication Manual, Chapter 11 provides information on how APA Style references differ from legal style references; general guidelines for creating APA Style legal references; in-text citation forms for legal materials; and examples of common legal references used in APA Style papers, including court decisions, statutes, legislative materials, administrative and executive materials, patents, constitutions, and charters, and treaties and international conventions.
More Sample Citations for Legal Sources - from University of Southern California Libraries
Citing Legal Materials in APA Style - from Regis College Library in Weston, Massachusetts
How to cite a law in APA Style - from Sribbr
Basic Legal Citation - from the Legal Information Institute at Cornell Law School
For more information on citing legal materials, see Chapter 11 of the APA Manual, 7th edition.
- Citing Government Documents in APA Style - Boston College LibrariesThis is a comprehensive guide for government information, including Congressional Research Service (CRS) Reports.