Deck 2: The History of the Social Welfare System and the Social Work Profession

Question 1

Eight time periods of U.S. history were described in the chapter (Colonial, Pre-Civil War, Civil War, Progressive, Great Depression and New Deal, World War II and Postwar, Social Reform, Retrenchment). Choose one of these periods and discuss some of the values and social welfare responses seen during that time. Briefly discuss how any of the values and/or social welfare responses can still be seen today.​
Time Period                                                     Key Social Welfare Response
​
Colonial Period (1690 - 1800)                       Elizabethan Poor Laws
Values:  Individualism, the individual is responsible for his or her condition and individual effort is highly valued. Abundant, limitless natural resources.​
​
Pre-Civil War Period (1801-1860)               Residential Institutions
Values: Placing similar people with similar problems together.​
​
Civil War/Postwar Period (1861-1874)       First Federal Intervention
Values:  Segregation. Importance of federal government as a resource for those in need.​
​
Progressive Era (1875 -1925)                       Birth of Social Work Profession
Values:  Importance of environmental or structural factors on individual's lives. Workers should have basic rights. Need for social responsibility.​
​
Great Depression/New Deal (1926 -1940)   Social Insurance & Public Assistance
Values:  Social and economic conditions contribute to economic distress. The federal government should help correct economic imbalances.​
​
World War II & After (1941 - 1959)           GI Bill
Values:  Individual well-being and home/family life, particularly nuclear families. Soldiers/veterans should be honored and supported.​
​
Social Reform Period (1960 - 1975)             War on Poverty
Values:  Social responsibility. Question authority.​
​
Retrenchment Period (1976 - 2000)             Cutbacks & Local Control
Values: Individual and family responsibility. External aid only for the "worthy" poor.)           

Answer 1

answer will vary

Question 2

The value or belief that work conditions should be safe for employees developed out of the Progressive Era.

Answer 2

True

Question 3

In 1996, significant welfare reform legislation was passed which created Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), replacing Aid to Families with Dependent Children. Briefly describe the differences between the two programs, and how those changes might impact poor families.

Answer 3

answer will vary

Question 4

Which of the following is not true about Mary Richmond:

A)She wrote the book Social Diagnosis.
B)Her primary concern was with how poor working conditions affected people's lives
C)She was a leader in the Charity Organization Societies
D)She was an important leader in the development of the social work as a profession

Question 5

The 1980s can be described as a time period with new interest and support for public assistance programs.

Question 6

Which of the following does not represent institutional (non-residual) services:

A)Public education
B)Social security benefits
C)Food stamps
D)Commercial campaigns regarding health risks for smoking

Question 7

Which of the following is not true about Jane Addams?

A)She directed the Hull House in Chicago
B)She was concerned with how external surroundings were linked to an individual's well-being
C)She was a leader in the development of social work
D)Her primary focus was to help people in her community by teaching them to make better choices in their lives

Question 8

Which of the following laws or programs were NOT instituted in the 1960s as the value of social responsibility was more accepted?​

A)Voting Rights Act
B)Civil Rights Act for Gays and Lesbians
C)Food Stamps
D)Economic Opportunity Act

Question 9

Social workers must negotiate many contrasting values as they consider helping to improve the well-being of people in the United States.

Question 10

Institutional services focus on addressing the current problems that people face in their lives.

Question 11

The incremental development of the social welfare system has resulted in the fragmentation of services.

Question 12

OASDI or Social Security provides benefits in which of the following situations?​

A)When people are near retirement
B)For survivors when a family member who is working dies
C)When someone is born with a disability
D)For single mothers

Question 13

Social workers often encounter clients with multiple needs. For example, a single mother who has recently been evicted from her apartment may be eligible for several types of assistance to help meet housing, financial, medical and/or nutrition needs. List and briefly describe at least three such assistance programs.

Question 14

The social and economic reforms that resulted from the Great Depression are known as _______________________.

Question 15

Briefly describe the difference between the residual and institutional approaches to providing social welfare services.

Question 16

Social Insurance programs seek to prevent poverty rather than alleviate it.

Question 17

Which of the following provisions were not part of the Social Security Act of 1935?

A)Retirement benefits
B)Unemployment insurance
C)Economic Regulations
D)Financial assistance based on need

Question 18

Medicare refers to the medical insurance program established to help low income families.

Question 19

According to Elizabethan Poor Laws, which of the following groups would be considered "worthy"?​

A)African Americans
B)Unmarried women with children
C)Single adults
D)Orphans