Federal Rulemaking: An Untapped Arena for Social Work Policy Education and Practice

Abstract

Administrative advocacy, including federal and judicial rulemaking, is an important yet underutilized tool for social work policy practice and advocacy. In June 2024, the Supreme Court overturned the Chevron doctrine through its ruling on two landmark cases. Chevron gave precedence to federal agencies to use federal rulemaking to interpret legislation. Overturning Chevron shifts power to the judiciary and has important consequences for social workers, who are trained in both direct practice and policy implementation. This policy brief offers two case examples to illustrate how the rulemaking process affects individuals and families with whom social workers interact. It concludes with recommendations for social work educators to address administrative advocacy and prepare practitioners to participate in this form of policy practice.