Social Welfare
Readings
From the Social Welfare: A History of American Response to Need text:
Read Chapter 7, "War and Prosperity: 1940–1968," pages 205–250.
Public Welfare Programs
1. In 1933, Harry Hopkins, one of FDR's top advisors, argued that
public welfare should not be a haven for professional social work
practice. In the 1960s, the Public Welfare Association asserted that
having social workers in public welfare programs would not only
improve the life of poor families, but also reduce the number of
welfare recipients.
Why did the NASW support the separation of social services from cash
assistance in the 1970s?
Has this separation helped or hindered the social welfare profession? The poor?
Why or why not?
2. Respond and comment to at least two of your peers. Comment on
whether you agree with their analysis and why, supporting your
arguments with scholarly readings.
PEER 1- The NASW was in support of selected social services, not in financial
assistance. The primary reason for the support was due to individuals who needed social
services, and others may need financial services (Axinn,2017). n 1940, only 58 percent of
the workforce was covered; by 1970, more than 90 percent of all workers were included.
Coverage was extended to most self-employed, ministers, doctors, farmers, domestic
workers, employees of nonprofit organizations, members of the armed forces, and,
optionally, state and municipal workers. The number of beneficiaries rose from only
220,000 in 1940 to 3.5 million in 1950 and well over 25 million in 1970.
