a history of social work in the united

8/13/2019 A History of Social Work in the United

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A History of Social Work in the

United States

Presented by John MundahlUnited States Peace Corps Volunteer


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1776The United States becomes a country.


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There Were no Social WorkersFamilies and churches took care of the poor.


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1776-1860a. Informal social work began to expand.

b. People called Friendly Visitors helped the poor and needy.


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1861-1865. The Civil WarThe United States split into two countries.


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There Were Massive Casualties650,000 dead.

500,000 wounded.

200,000 widows.

400,000 orphans.46,000 at Gettysburg.


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The Start of Large Scale Social Work in

the United StatesAmerican Red Cross

U.S Sanitary Commission

Freedmen Bureau


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1865-1910

Four million blacks slaves were now free. They needed health care,

schools and jobs.


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1865-191025 million new immigrants arrived, poor and hungry, not speaking

English.


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The Settlement Housesa. These were actual houses for poor people so they didnt have to live on the streets.

b. Two most famous were: The Neighborhood Guild in New York City

and Hull House in Chicago

c. The organizers were political. They conducted research on the causes of poverty.

They helped establish the juvenile court system, created widows pension programs,

promoted legislation prohibiting child labor, and introduced public health reforms and

the concept of social insurance.


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The Settlement Housesa. By 1910, there were more than 400 settlements.

b. They created national organizations like the Women's Trade Union League, the National

Consumers' League, the Urban League, and the National Association for the

Advancement of Colored People (NAACP).

c. They were instrumental in establishing the Federal Children's Bureau in 1912. Settlement

leaders also played key roles in the major social movements of the period, in peace,

labor, civil rights, and temperance including women's suffrage

d. This later became the foundation for Group work.


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The Growth of the Professiona. The first formal social work training program was established in 1889.

b. It became the Columbia University School of Social Work in New York City.

c. It emphasized case work and practical work in addition to course work.


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The Growth of the Professiond. By 1919, there were 17 schools offering training in social work.

e. In the 1920s, a common core training was formalized and case work was

established as the major purpose of social work.

f. By 1927, there were more than 120 child guidance clinics in which teams of

social workers, psychiatrists and psychologists were helping children.


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The Great Depressiona. In 1929, the United States stock market crashed.

b. The entire world went into a deep depression, the worst in the 20thCentury.

c. 12 million were without work in the United States. 25% of the work force.


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Our View of Poverty Changeda. Poverty was no longer viewed as the result of personal failure. It was also

viewed as the result of economic failure.

b. Widespread social work became more acceptable.

c. Receiving help became more acceptable.

d. The role of government became more important.


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The Growth of the Profession

Continueda. The number of social workers doubled from 40,000 to 80,000.b. Salaries and working conditions improved.

c. Its status as a profession increased.


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World War II: 1940-1945a. 16 million American men and women served in World War II. 406,000 were killed.

600,000 were wounded.

b. Thousands of social workers were given a special status to serve in the military.

c. Thousands more were hired to work in communities hardest hit by the war.

d. Thousands worked with veterans and families after the war.


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New ProgramsThe Job Corps

Upward Bound

The Neighborhood Youth Corps,

Community Action,

Head Start,

Legal Services,

Foster Grandparents

The Office of Economic Opportunity (OEO).

In 1965Medicare and Medicaid

The Older Americans Act

The Food Stamp Program .VISTA.

The Peace Corps


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The 1970sPresident Nixon shifted the burden of social programs to the States.

The Federal Government gave money to the States and each State ran

their own social programs.


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The 1980sa. President Reagan dismantled Federal help to the poor.

b. Social workers relied on private sector money and solutions for social

programs.

c. Poverty rates in the United States increased dramatically.


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Compassionate ConservatismPresident George H. Bush refocused on domestic issues. He called it

compassionate conservatism.


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1990sa. President Clinton passed welfare reform, limiting the amount of time

someone can be on welfare. It was called welfare to work.

b. He tried to pass universal health care, but failed.


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2000-2008

a. President George W. Bush engaged the United States in two wars. Domestic

spending was not a high priority.

b. 46 million Americans didnt have health insurance.


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2008-2012a. President Obama passes Universal Health Care coverage for all Americans.

b. He ends the war in Iraq, places a deadline for American involvement in

Afganistan and refocuses on domestic spending.


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Working as a Social Worker Today in the

United Statesa. We have 650,000 social workers.

b. This is a 30% increase in the last 10 years.

c. Their mission is: "to enhance human well-being and help meet the basic human needs of all people,with particular attention to the needs and empowerment of people who are vulnerable, oppressed,

and living in poverty."d. Only 3% are unemployed.


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What Do They Do?a. Residential social work.The care and supervision of a group of persons in a residential

home or school. (children, elderly people, the mentally or physically handicapped, peoplesuffering from alcohol or drug addiction, etc)

b. Field social work. Dealing with problems of individuals or groups, e.g. child care,

mental welfare, finding foster homes, advising those adopting children. Trying to

restore acceptable or improved social conditions for the individual family or

community.


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What Do They Do?a. They help individuals, couples, families, groups, communities and organizations to

become productive members of society.

b. They provide counseling, therapy and referral to other agencies.

c. They respond to unemployment, racism and poverty.

d. They work in hospitals, schools, social service agencies, child welfare organizations,

correctional facilities, community agencies, employee assistance programs and inprivate practice.


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What Training Do You Need?a. You need a four-year university degree in social work.

b. The first two years are general studies.

c. The last two years you study social work.

d. You can also get a Masters Degree and a Doctorate.

A Typical Degree is 120 credits :40 credits in General Education

45 credits in social work courses

30 credits as an apprentice

2.00 GPA


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How Much Do They Make?a. The salary range is $27,000-$70,000.

b. The average salary is $41,000.


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Special Skills Neededa. A desire to help the less fortunate.

b. Good verbal communication.

c. Ability to get along with others.

c. Listening, with the desire to help.

d. Ability to establish rapport with all kinds of people.

e. Concern for the feelings of others without becoming emotionally over-involved.

f. Willingness to work outside the normal 9-5 pattern.

g. Good writing skills.


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Famous Social Workers in the United

Statesa. Clara Barton---founded the American Red Cross after the Civil War.

b. Jane Addams---founded Hull House in Chicago. The first women to receive the Nobel Peace Prize ---

1931

c. Frances Perkins---the first woman appointed to the cabinet of a U.S. President (FD Roosevelt. 1940)

d. Dorothy Height---founded the National Council of Negro Women.e. Jeanette Rankin---the first woman elected to the U.S. Congress.


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To Summarize:a. Social work in the United States developed when compassionate people, mostly women,

wanted to help the poor, the sick and the dying.

b. This desire, to relieve the suffering of others, is spiritual and has its roots in all the major

religions of the world.

c. This desire is the foundation of social work.


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Social Work in Romania

a. You are a special generation.

b. You are the first generation of social workers born after the revolution.

c. You can, and will, shape the social services in Romaniafor the better.

d. Some of you will become like Jane Adams, Francis Perkins and Clara Barton.

e. Remember: There were no social workers under Communism.


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First: Dont Be Ashamed of Your

CountryThe social problems in Romania are the same all over the world:

Homelessness---15,000 people are homeless in Romania. 5,000 in Bucharest. 300

homeless people die in Bucharest every year.

In Los Angeles, 18,000 people are homeless. In one city.

In Moscow, 13, 000 people are homeless. 3 million children are homeless in Russia.


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PovertyRomania:

a. Almost half of Romanians (8.89 millions) are at risk of poverty or social exclusion.

b. Thirty-one per cent of Romanians are severely materially deprived.

The world:

a. Over one billion people on earth make less than $1.25 a day.

b. 12 million people live in Mumbai, India. Half of them live in slums.


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UnemploymentRomania: 7%

Spain: 25% . 50% among young people.

Greece: 26%

European Union: 11.5%

United States: 7.7%


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Stray Dogsa. Bucharest---10,000 ?b. Bangkok, Thailand---120,000

c. Bali---500,000

d. Moscow---35,000

e. Detroit---30,000

f. Belgrade---17, 000


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Sexual Assault of Womena. Every 22 minutes a woman in India is raped.

b. One woman in three in New Delhi, the capital, has been sexually assaulted.


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So, Keep the Social Problems in

Romania in PerspectiveIt may not be as bad here as you think.

Then, with a positive, but realistic attitude, study your profession:

a. Where are the jobs?

b. How much do I need to live on?

c. Is there an issue Im particularly interested in?


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Be Well-Informeda. Know whats going on in your profession.

b. Promote yourself.

c. Have a business card.

d. Attend conferences.

e. Network

f. Volunteer in different areas and see if you like the work, or that part of the work.g. Nothing will come from a negative attitude.


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Some Fun IdeasWrite a book

a. Research a social issue that you are interested in and write a book.

b. You can self publish one as an e-book.

c. Become an expert in something.


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Some Fun IdeasStart a thrift store

a. Thrift stores are popular in the United States.

b. Owners accept free donations.

c. They then sell clothes and household goods at a fraction of their cost.


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Some Fun Ideas

Take Pictures and Publish Them on the Net

a. What is it like inside a Romanian hospital? Is it clean and safe?

b. What kind of air are we breathing in Bucharest?

c. How dangerous is the lead in the water pipes of Bucharest?

d. What is life like on the streets of Bucharest for the homeless?


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Some Fun IdeasSponsor a food dr ive for Thanksgiving.

Sponsor a toy drive for Christmas.

Sponsor a blanket dri ve and clothing drive for the homeless.

Get involved!


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Some Fun Ideas

Start your own organization.


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a history of social work in the united

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