רשויות מקומיות כזירה לפרקטיקת מדיניות בעבודה סוציאלית

Background: The social work profession regards involvement in the formulation of policy as a vital component of the professional role of social workers. Local government is one of the key arenas in which the policy engagement of social workers takes place.Aims: This article seeks to provide knowledge relevant for social workers engaged in local policy practice.Methods: The article is based on knowledge drawn from international and Israeli research literature on local government, on studies undertaken on the policy practice of social workers in local government in Israel, and on the experiences of one of the authors, who is currently a local council member in an Israeli city.Findings: Despite the limited power of local government in Israel, it does have a role in social policy formulation. Diverse policy actors participate in local policy formulation processes. Social workers have served as policy actors in the formulation of local social policy in different fields. They have collaborated with other policy actors, while addressing different challenges and employing various strategies.Implications for practice: The knowledge provided in this article should encourage social workers to perceive of local government as an arena in which policy practice is possible. Improved knowledge concerning the workings of local government and of the experience of social workers who have engaged in local policy practice can encourage social workers to participate in the formulation of local social policies that further the rights of service users.