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The Social Welfare System

The Social Welfare System. Social Welfare addresses the well-being of people in society Social Welfare Services are created through public laws and policies, which are developed in response to large scale social needs. Two Approaches to Social Welfare. Institutional:

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The Social Welfare System

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  1. The Social Welfare System • Social Welfare addresses the well-being of people in society • Social Welfare Services are created through public laws and policies, which are developed in response to large scale social needs

  2. Two Approaches to Social Welfare • Institutional: • In place to prevent problems • Proactive • Available to all, regardless of need • Examples: Social Security and Public Education

  3. Two Approaches to Social Welfare • Residual: • Designed to address already identified problems • Reactive • Only available to those in need • Examples: TANF and Food Stamps

  4. History of American Social WelfareBegins in England

  5. England • Early aid to needy was assumed by the Church • Aid to travelers • Numerous monastery/hospitals • Alms given to church meant salvation • Means for church to raise funds to care for needy • Begging became a very widespread activity • Beggars everywhere • Interfering with social activity • Beggars become somewhat insistent • Big problems between church and state

  6. Elizabethan Poor Law of 1601 • Codified all previous legislation related to the poor • Historically previous legislation was sporadic and fragmented • Stop-gap measures without overall plan

  7. Elizabethan Poor LawProvisions • Family Responsibility • Government last—family first • Categories of the poor • Able bodied poor • Impotent poor • Mothers and children • Severe penalties for giving alms to beggars • Residency requirements • Local parish responsibility • Warn away—return to parish

  8. Elizabethan Poor LawProvisions Cont’ • Overseers of the Poor • Established eligibility • Workhouses, almshouses, etc • Indoor relief • No outdoor relief

  9. Elizabethan Poor LawTransported to the Colonies

  10. Social Values Influence Social Welfare Policy

  11. Eight Periods Characterized by: • Specific Values • Social Welfare Policies

  12. Colonial Period1690-1800 • Social Policies: Elizabethan Poor Law Rules –almshouses, workhouses, etc • Values: Individualism, individual responsibility for condition • Individual effort highly regarded • Abundant, limitless natural resources

  13. Colonial Period • Values: consistent with WASP traditions • Morality • Work ethic • Carnal nature of humankind

  14. Pre-Civil War1801-1860 • Social Policy: Residential Institutions • Values: placing people with similar problems together • Ease of managing needy in institutions

  15. Civil War/Postwar Period1861-1874 • Social Policy: First Federal Intervention • Values: segregation, federal govt. as resources for those in need. • South in shambles—huge problems • Poor and freed slaves

  16. Progressive Era1875-1925 • Social Policy: Birth of Social Work profession—social needs of immigrants/poor etc., focus of concern • Values: • Importance of environment and structural factors. • Govt. help in correcting economic imbalances. • Worker rights. • Social Responsibility

  17. Progressive Era1875-1925 • Considerable prosperity • industrial production/overproduction • Credit buying • Spending rather than saving • Needs for durable goods satisfied

  18. Great Depression/New Deal1926-1940 • Social Policy: Social Insurance and Public Assistance • Values: social and economic conditions contribute to economic distress • Economy collapses

  19. Great Depression/New Deal1926-1940 • FDR: “only thing to fear is fear itself” • Federal govt. should help financially • Infuse money back into the economy • Put people back to work • Public works projects WPA, CCC, many others

  20. WWII and After1941-1959 • Social Policy: GI Bill • Values: Individual well-being • WWII may have helped end depression • Industrial production revitalized • Women working in industry/war effort

  21. WWII and After1941-1959 • Home/family life—particularly nuclear families • Service personnel honored and supported

  22. Social Reform Period1960-1975 • Social Policy: War on Poverty, civil rights, voting rights • Values: social responsibility, question authority • Strong effort to end poverty • Numerous social welfare programs • Johnson administration

  23. Retrenchment Period1976-2000 • Regan Administration • Social programs terminated • External aid only for “worthy” poor

  24. Retrenchment Period1976-2000 • Social Policy: Cutbacks and local control • Values: Individual and Family responsibility • More decision making given to states • Reduced Federal programs and controls

  25. Social Welfare in the New Millennium 2000-present • Social Policy: Terrorism, War, Financial Struggles • Values????

  26. Predominant American Values • Individualism • Competition • Progress • Materialism • Capitalism/Free market

  27. Cash assistance In-kind benefits Entitlements Three Types of Packaging/ Delivering Assistance

  28. Public Assistance Programs • Designed to alleviate poverty • “means-tested” must be poor to qualify • Usually carries stigma • Examples: TANF, Medicaid, food stamps, public housing

  29. Values and Social Welfare • Change the Person or the System? • Worthy or Unworthy? • Religious Values or Separation of Church and State? • Impartial Professional or Advocate? • Helping people we know or helping strangers? • Crisis or ongoing need?

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